Head of philanthropy and relationships jobs in Birmingham, west midlands
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About GSG Impact
GSG Impact is a global network of National Partners working to build impact economies that mobilise capital for measurable social and environmental impact. Through its network spanning more than 48 countries, GSG Impact works with governments, investors, regulators, development finance institutions, and ecosystem actors to strengthen the enabling conditions for impact-oriented economies, where capital flows to create positive social and environmental outcomes.
Position Summary
The Head of Fundraising will lead GSG Impact’s fundraising function at a critical stage of organisational growth and income diversification. The role is responsible for delivering GSG Impact's fundraising strategy, supporting the achievement of annual income targets of approximately £3 million per year, converting strategic priorities into fundable propositions, and building the systems, processes, relationships, and team capabilities required to secure sustainable long-term funding.
Working closely with the Chief of Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, senior leadership, fundraising team, Trustees, and National Partners, the Head of Fundraising will oversee the development of a diversified funding portfolio and will be responsible for building and managing a robust fundraising pipeline, strengthening donor stewardship, improving cost recovery, and ensuring fundraising activity is aligned with organisational priorities and financial sustainability goals.
This role requires a proactive fundraiser who can originate opportunities, open senior relationships, develop compelling narratives, lead complex proposal processes, and create a culture of shared fundraising responsibility across the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Business development, Prospecting and Pipeline Conversion
Build and maintain a prioritized list of top institutional, philanthropic, bilateral, multilateral, DFI, corporate, and family-office, and high-net-worth prospects aligned with GSG Impact's strategic priorities.
Proactively identify, research, qualify, and cultivate new prospects, with a particular focus on funders aligned with impact economies, domestic capital mobilisation, climate adaptation and resilience, impact transparency, policy reform, investment vehicles, and emerging markets.
Develop and manage a rolling pipeline of high-quality funding opportunities, moving prospects from initial identification through cultivation, concept development, proposal submission, negotiation, and grant close in collaboration with programme staff and National Partners.
Translate GSG Impact’s strategy into compelling fundable propositions, including unrestricted/core support, restricted programme grants, regional funding, National Partner support, and special initiatives.
Personally lead the development and conversion of the highest-value opportunities, especially prospects requiring senior-level cultivation.
Identify and develop new revenue opportunities, strategic partnerships, and funding models that support GSG Impact's long-term sustainability and income diversification
Proposal Development and Grant Acquisition
Lead the development of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes, and donor engagement materials.
Ensure strategic alignment of all proposals with organisational priorities and donor interests.
Ensure all proposal budgets meet or exceed GSG Impact's cost-recovery targets
Set and ensure implementation of standards for proposal quality, narrative framing, and budget methodology across the fundraising team
Donor Management and Stewardship
Support the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships with relationship management of GSG Impact's most significant donors and strategic prospects
Lead the annual stewardship strategy, ensuring renewal and growth of key funding relationships
Oversee narrative and financial reporting, ensuring high quality, consistency, and timeliness
Functional Leadership
Manage the fundraising team, providing coaching, oversight, performance management, and professional development
Ensure compliance with Fundraising Regulator, GDPR, and relevant UK legislation
In collaboration with colleagues across the organisation monitor and update the information in CRM for fundraising contacts and other relevant information.
Implement strong financial tracking, reporting, and forecasting processes
Foster a culture of fundraising responsibility across GSG Impact teams
Innovation & Growth
Identify new funding opportunities and diversify income streams
Explore digital fundraising and emerging trends
Drive continuous improvement in fundraising performance, effectiveness and operational excellence.
External Representation
The Head of Fundraising plays a key role in relationship management with GSG Impact's most significant funders and prospects. They represent the organization at key sector events and convenings as delegated by the Chief of Engagement and Partnerships.
Qualifications
Demonstrable track record of originating new donor relationships and converting them into six- or seven-figure grants.
Experience in building prospect pipelines from a limited starting base.
Strong understanding of institutional philanthropy, bilateral and multilateral funding, DFIs, and/or impact investing funders.
Proven ability to develop fundable propositions from complex, technical, organisational strategies, including on policy, systems-change, market-building, or ecosystem-development initiatives
Experience working directly with CEOs, Boards, Trustees, or senior principals on donor cultivation.
Strong commercial discipline: pipeline management, probability weighting, forecasting, and cost recovery.
Ability to write or lead the development of high-quality proposals under tight timelines.
Competencies
Alignment with GSG Impact mission and values
Proven fundraising track record in international development, impact investment, philanthropy or social sector
Strategic thinking and fundraising planning
Senior donor relationship management
Team leadership and coaching
Strong written communication and proposal development
Budget and cost-recovery literacy
Collaborative working style
How to apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for this role.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 22 June 2026.
We are committed to equality and diversity of opportunity and positively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. All applicants will also be asked to complete a short equality and diversity monitoring form, which is held separately from your application and plays no part in shortlisting decisions.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Salary: £41,884 – £46,538 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time
Location: Home based (with regular travel to London and across the UK)
Closing date: Rolling
Benefits: 27 days annual leave bank holidays with the option to buy another week & additional December closure day, enhanced parental leave, Cycling UK membership, Medicash Healthcare plan
We’re very excited to be recruiting a Philanthropy Manager to join the team at Cycling UK and play a pivotal role in shaping and growing the organisation’s major donor and legacy fundraising programme.
This is a senior and influential role, offering the opportunity to build and embed philanthropy at the heart of Cycling UK. Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues across the organisation, you will help transform a developing programme into a mature, relationship-led income stream that delivers sustainable long-term growth.
You will lead the development and delivery of the philanthropy strategy, managing major donor and legacy pipelines, designing compelling stewardship and engagement opportunities, and securing high-value, multi-year gifts. The role combines strategic leadership with hands?on delivery and will suit someone motivated by building meaningful donor relationships, creating inspiring propositions and demonstrating impact.
To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager, you will need:
- Proven experience in major donor and relationship-led fundraising, with a strong track record of securing high-value gifts
- Understanding of legacy and trust & foundation fundraising, including pipeline management and stewardship
- Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders and supporters
If you would like to discuss this role with us, please email your CV to [email protected] or contact us quoting reference 2945JP
Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency. We use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs and are passionate about improving equality across the sector — you can read more about our commitment to diversity on our website.
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If enough applications are received, the charity reserves the right to close the application period early.
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Actively Interviewing
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This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future of Resources for Autism.
Since 1997, we have supported autistic people and their families through services that are safe, empowering and neuro-affirming. As demand for our work continues to grow, we are looking for an ambitious and strategic Head of Income Generation & Business Development to help us build a stronger, more diverse and sustainable future.
Reporting to the CEO and joining our Senior Leadership Team, you will lead the development of a progressive income generation strategy that expands new partnerships, income streams and opportunities for growth — ensuring we can continue delivering life-changing support to autistic people across London and the West Midlands.
We are looking for someone who combines commercial awareness with creativity, relationship-building and a genuine commitment to social impact.
LOCATION: London (or Birmingham with regular travel to London)
SALARY: £50,000 - £56,000 depending on experience
HOURS: Full time
The Role
You will design and deliver a new income generation strategy that unlocks growth across:
· Corporate partnerships
· Major donors and philanthropy
· Community, individual and digital giving
· Earned and paid‑for services
· Grants, trusts and public sector funding (as part of a balanced mix)
· Recurring /regular donations from committed individuals
You will take an “intrapreneurial” approach — spotting opportunity, building new propositions, testing ideas and learning quickly — while embedding a culture where income generation is seen as a shared organisational priority, not the responsibility of one team.
Essential Experience & Track Record
- A demonstrable track record of generating income and/or building sustainable revenue streams, across more than one income source.
- Evidence of developing and delivering an income or growth strategy, particularly in contexts requiring diversification or change.
- Experience of driving new opportunities — such as partnerships, products, services or supporter propositions — rather than only maintaining existing income.
- Proven success in building and stewarding senior relationships, including corporates, funders, donors, commissioners or strategic partners.
- Experience working at a senior level within an organisation, with exposure to executive decision‑making and governance (e.g. Board or Trustee engagement).
Essential Skills
· Demonstrable evidence of success and business growth
· Experience and success in one or more of the following:
• Corporate partnerships or sponsorship
• Major donor / philanthropy programmes
• Earned or paid for services/ sales
• Community or digital fundraising
· Experience developing and delivering successful strategies.
· Evidence of successful relationship-building skills with funders, donors, corporate partners or others.
· Experience managing or mentoring staff or volunteers.
· Strategic thinker with the ability to work collaboratively across teams and with senior stakeholders.
· Good market research and data analysis skills that have influenced decisions
· Experience contributing to or leading at organisational growth.
· Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
· Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) adaptable to different populations including: colleagues, external professionals, service users, families, volunteers, donors
Desirable Skills
· Understanding of and commitment to adhering to fundraising policies, ethical standards, and relevant regulatory frameworks (e.g. Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice, GDPR).
· Experience in minor/major donor fundraising and/or corporate partnerships.
· Familiarity with the autism or disability sector.
Staff Benefits
90% of our staff say that Resources for Autism is “a great place to work”.
Not only will the work you do ensure we are making vital differences and inspiring others, but our other benefits also include:
· 25 days of leave (pro rata for part time roles) each year plus 8 bank holidays and an additional 3 Celebration days that could be used between Christmas and new year, but may be used for other religious days or significant days such as your birthday
· access to ongoing training and progress in the areas that interest you
· access to our wellbeing initiatives and an Employee Assistance Programme
Application Process
Read more about us and the role on our website
To apply, you will need to complete our application form in full, including your full employment and education history. Any gaps in employment should be clearly explained within your application.
Please note that CVs may be included as supporting documents but will not be accepted in place of a completed application form.
As part of your application, we ask that you provide a personal statement outlining how your experience, skills and approach meet the requirements of the role and person specification.
To be considered for this role chosen applicants will need to complete our application form in full, including your full employment and education history. Any gaps in employment should be clearly explained within your application. Please note that CVs will be included as supporting documents but will not be accepted in place of a completed application form. Please see more about us and the role on our website.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
A society where autistic people can live happy and fulfilling lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.