Head of principal gifts jobs

A senior member of the high-performing Trusts & Philanthropy team, you will be responsible for routinely raising significant revenue and capital funds from major donors. This key role will focus on working with prospects and donors with the motivation and capacity to invest in Maggie’s growth and will prioritise transformational gifts which can support our accelerated growth. You will be a strategic thinker with significant experience to deliver principal gifts to the value of £1million and above.  

 As Head of Philanthropy you will ensure the effective identification and cultivation of prospects through board or volunteer networks. You will commission a programme of engagement and stewardship events to inspire and enthuse potential supporters and invigorate current donors to continue support. You will also personally manage a prospect portfolio using exceptional communications, engagement and stewardship strategies in order to achieve our ambitious fundraising goals and objectives.

 You must be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of major gift portfolio management and principal gift development. A record of successfully expanding the donor base through cultivation and excellent stewardship is also essential. You will share your significant experience and insight where helpful to contribute to the successful development and implementation of Maggie’s overall fundraising strategy.
 
 Please note that interviews will held on Monday 16th and Wednesday 18th February in our Hammersmith office.

Please see the attached job description for further details.

Location: Preferably London, however will consider applications outside of London. Expectation to be in the office 40-60% of the week

Interviews: 02/02/2026

For more information or to apply, please click "apply now" to be directed to our website.

Step into one of the most exciting moments in The King's Trust’s history as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and our most ambitious philanthropic campaign yet. As our new Head of Principal Giving, you’ll be front and centre of a bold national movement to unlock transformational investment for young people; today, tomorrow and for generations to come. This is your chance to support a £150m campaign and help shape and lead a new global philanthropic income stream, paving the way for long-term impact that lasts well beyond our golden year.

In this high-profile role, you’ll build powerful, strategic relationships with philanthropists, trusts, foundations and senior volunteers, inspiring 7 and 8-figure gifts that change lives on a national scale. You’ll bring creative energy, ambition and polished storytelling to every proposal and boardroom pitch, while working closely with colleagues across fundraising to identify, shape and secure the biggest opportunities. With a personal annual income target of £2m+, you’ll love the thrill of big conversations, bold ideas and raising sights as well as funds.

Joining us now means joining a milestone moment. You’ll help write the next chapter of The King’s Trust, building on 50 years of empowering young people and setting the foundation for the next 50. If you’re a confident relationship-builder, with experience in global fundraising, who thrives on vision, strategy and high-value philanthropy - this is your opportunity to make history with us.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need a Head of Principal Giving? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of the Head of Principal Giving! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Equal Opportunities 

Here at The King's Trust, we're committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and sex. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can be themselves and do the best work of their lives. 

We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation and sector, such as candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.  

We’re a Stonewall Top 100 Employer and we are an employer that is Disability Confident. Our staff, volunteers and young people are supported by KT CAN (our Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network) and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 

Safeguarding 

The King's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake basic disclosure checks in accordance with the Codes of Practice for all roles within the Trust, and for our roles working directly with young people, at an enhanced level. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants. 

A NOTE FOR RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!

Starting Salary: £34,629-£41,768 (non-London weighting) - £38,613-£45,752 (Inc. London weighting) - FTE

The salary will be prorated based on the contracted hours

Contract: Permanent -  Part-time 28 hours per week (4 days)

Location: UK Hybrid

Job Profile

The Major Gifts (MGP) Executive – Corporates and Outreach (MGECO) is a hybrid role responsible for managing a small pool of corporate donors and prospects as well as working with colleagues to coordinate outreach within priority Major Donor audiences.

CAFOD’s Corporate Partnerships Portfolio has an annual target income of £858,000. The Executive will be responsible for a small group of Corporate Partners giving under £50,000/year, with the goal of maintaining and maximising the value and potential of these relationships

A key component of CAFOD’s continued MGP fundraising success is the identification and development of a strong pipeline of new major gift donors. Working with colleagues, the Executive role will identify and cultivate prospective donors with the goal of expanding the MGP Section portfolio. This will be achieved through strategic outreach work within CAFOD’s priority audiences.

The role sits within the Corporate Partnerships Team, a part of the Major Gifts and Philanthropy Section in the Fundraising and Participation Group. The post reports to the Corporate Partnerships Manager (CPM), working closely and in consultation with the Philanthropy Manager (PM) and MGP Research and Information Manager (MGPRIM). The post-holder will collaborate on strategic planning and cross-functional initiatives within the MGP section. They will also contribute to cross-team projects as agreed with the CPM.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in fundraising – ideally in major gifts and philanthropy donor management or external relationship development. They will have experience in operational planning and a collaborative mindset. They will be a confident self-starter capable of building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to develop and grow impactful relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Partnerships Relationship Management 

• Be responsible for the day-to-day management of a small portfolio of Corporate Partner Relationships with the goal of maximising the value of relationships. This includes proposal and report writing as well as written, telephone and face-to-face communication
• Facilitate engagement with corporate partner staff to feedback on CAFOD’s work and foster participation using both traditional and innovative methods.
• Work in collaboration with colleagues across communications and digital teams to promote CAFOD’s Corporate Partnerships offer.
• Work on and monitor KPIs for corporate donors.
• Support the CPM with wide Corporate Partnership work as required.

MGP Donor Outreach

• Work collaboratively with MGP team leads and wider organisation staff to deliver a prospecting strategy which successfully identifies and engages priority audiences. These audiences include Catholic Parishes, Diaspora Communities, Catholic School Alumni, and other audiences in which high-net-worth individuals may be engaged.
• This will include responsibility for:

• • Prospecting – carrying out desk research and working with necessary internal CAFOD stakeholders to identify priority audiences.
  • Planning – Strategising engagement plans with identified audiences, working with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Coordinating engagement – Working with colleagues across the MGP team and wider CAFOD staff as well as external stakeholders to coordinate the delivery of engagement activities that reach priority audiences and are in line with wider CAFOD engagement activity.

• Ensure that the MGP prospecting and outreach strategy is in line with the wider organisation strategy and priorities, communicating progress with colleagues across the organisation regularly.
• Establish and work to clear success measures and KPIs, set targets for the overall strategy and specific engagements, and ensure appropriate tools and resources are in place to achieve them.

 Administrative, Support, and Planning

• Support in the administration of corporate donor portfolio, working with CAFOD colleagues to transition donors out of and receive donors into the corporates portfolio when necessary.
• Work with the Corporate Partnership Manager and Philanthropy Manager to shape strategy, support forecast targets and activities as well as reporting,  planning and budgeting.

 Safeguarding

• All CAFOD staff share the responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Job Specific Competencies

Essential Criteria

• Clear understanding of corporate partnership and major donor fundraising and an ability to build relationships at various levels to achieve objectives.
• Comfortable in the major donor and business environments; understand what decision-making processes may influence the support for charities.
• Strong in writing effective supporter communication material and confident presentation skills.
• Strong research skills to identify potential donors and engagement opportunities within priority communities.
• A sound knowledge of the life, structures and networks of the Catholic communities of England and Wales and how to effectively engage those who may support through major gifts.
• Strong organisation skills and ability to co-develop tailored donor engagement plans with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with broader fundraising goals.
• Passionate about overcoming global poverty and injustice.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in a major gift environment.
• Proficient in using donor databases and internal systems to maintain accurate records and support reporting needs.
• Knowledge and awareness of the field of international development and humanitarian aid
• Experience using creative and innovative methods to foster engagement successfully.
• Understanding and operational experience with GDPR

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults  

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  If based in the UK the post holder is required to present or obtain a Disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).  If the post is based outside the UK the post holder will be subject to a different checking process. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures. 

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits 

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities. 

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

In September 2025 Oxford opened its new home for humanities, the state-of-the-art Stephen A.  Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. Building on our successes in recent years, we are growing the team with a new senior fundraising role that will work with world-class academics and artists in our faculties and in the Centre’s cultural programming.

In addition to housing a Humanities Library and 7 academic faculties, the Schwarzman Centre includes a world-class, purpose-built concert hall space, theatre, cinema and ‘black box’ performance space, creating a new home for music, film, performing arts and visual arts in Oxford and transforming the experience for students, academics and the local community. The building will create a step change in the visual and performing arts in Oxford, establishing a central base for the Music faculty and History of Art department while offering exciting potential for collaboration with the Ruskin School of Art.

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. We are looking for a new senior fundraiser to join our energetic team to raise major gifts for a range of posts, scholarships and other priorities across the Humanities Division.  Oxford is the world’s leading university for humanities teaching and research. The University’s scholarship in languages, literature, history, philosophy, religion, and the arts – from the earliest civilisation to the present day – enriches our understanding of humankind. Our research informs how we engage with historic issues and contemporary concerns, and contributes to our understanding of – and solutions to – some of the most complex global challenges, from climate change to the impacts of Artificial Intelligence.

 About the Role

This fundraiser will work closely with senior academics in the Humanities Division. The post will focus primarily on funding for posts and scholarships in the academic faculties as well as securing support for the activities of the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, including the programme of public events that will start taking place in the building from spring 2026. An interest and appreciation for the arts and humanities is essential. 

To Be Successful You’ll Need:

· To be an experienced development professional with a strong track record of securing major gifts and the ability to secure gifts in the range of £100k-£1m+

· Confidence to work with people from a range of backgrounds, both internally and externally

· The ability to think creatively in prospecting, cultivation and stewardship by identifying and maximising opportunities

· To work well as part of a team, with the capacity to work independently on projects and priorities

· A passion for the arts and humanities, and an awareness of the funding landscape in the UK and internationally

What We Offer

As an employer, we value the wellbeing and development of all our employees. We offer a comprehensive range of benefits, including:

· 38 days annual leave (including public holidays)

· Hybrid working arrangements for a healthy work-life balance

· Extensive personal and professional development opportunities

· Membership to CASE to support your professional development as an educational advancement professional

· Supportive childcare services and other family-friendly leave schemes for working parents, guardians and those with caring responsibilities

· Generous family leave for maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave

· Excellent contributory pension scheme for your financial future

· Salary sacrifice scheme for additional savings

· Subsidised sports centre membership to promote well-being

· Cycle loan scheme to encourage sustainable commuting

· Discounted bus and transit travel

In addition, you will have access to a vibrant community with social groups and sports clubs fostering an inclusive atmosphere.

 Application process:

· Click the link to ‘Apply’ and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be taken to our online Applicant portal.

· Applications should consist of a full CV and a letter of application in your own words, in PDF format (maximum of 2 pages; no AI-written applications, please) outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.

Only applications received before 12.00 noon on Monday 19 January 2026 can be considered.

Interviews are currently scheduled to take place on Tuesday 27 January 2026, in person in Oxford.

 Development and Alumni Engagement is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply.

Please note there are two positions available: 1 Permanent and 1 Fixed Term Contract (12 Months)

Location: Office Based - London (Southwark) (due to the nature of this role, it cannot be offered on a home-working or hybrid basis)

Job Profile

Are you interested in an opportunity in the charity sector? Would you like to develop an understanding of internal processes and liaise with multiple teams in the organisation? Are you someone who likes to work with money, data and people?

The post holder will contribute to ensuring the Supporter Donations Team (SDT) manage and administer supporter donation activity on behalf of CAFOD, providing a high level of supporter care while delivering within agreed service levels and Key Performance Indicators. SDT has the overall responsibility for managing and thanking all supporter donations to CAFOD made through a variety of channels and schemes. SDT works within the Finance and infrastructure group, liaises across all teams in CAFOD, and external service providers to ensure donations are processed within agreed service levels and quality standards. Due to the nature of SDT’s role, SDT has particularly close ties to CAFOD Fundraising activities and actively engages in our fundraising programmes and schemes.

Key Responsibilities

Supporter Care:

• Handle telephone, email and postal enquiries from supporters; identifying and resolving queries in a prompt, warm and sensitive way.
• Provide phone cover to the Supporter Care team as required.
• Provide reception cover to the Supporter Care team as required.

Donations:

• Accurately code donations received, ensuring agreed departmental procedures are followed.
• Process, set up and administer instructions and payments through a variety of donations channels and schemes such as Online, Direct Debit, standing orders, BACs, Payroll giving schemes and online giving platforms.
• Input and maintain data on CAFOD’s supporter database, ensuring high degrees of accuracy on our donor records.
• File and archive financial data, while adhering to strict audit controls.

Gift Aid:

• Understand Gift Aid and its application within CAFOD.
• Assist with all aspects of tax effective giving, in accordance with agreed procedures and priorities, including preparation of regular tax claims for submission to HMRC.

Thanking:

• Produce and dispatch letters to thank and acknowledge donations received.
• Write bespoke letters of thanks to supporters to respond to exceptional donations and provide a personal touch.
• Contribute to ongoing enhancement and improvement of supporter thanking

Post/banking:

• Assist with all incoming and outgoing postal duties held by SDT to maximise effectiveness of processes and delivery of key service levels.
• Preparation of daily banking, cash handling and initial reconciliation of all monies received daily.

 All SDT staff are expected to:

• Attend and contribute to regular team, section, divisional and CAFOD-wide meetings and briefings.
• Work as a supportive member of the team, providing cover for and training of the section staff and volunteers as required.
• Participate in training and other activities as requested by the line manager
• Assist with the rapid set up of projects and work packages in response to major emergency and disaster appeals.
• Rotate through all key tasks within the team / section.

This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Job Specific Competencies 

• Displays a methodical approach to administrative tasks to meet processing deadlines, whilst maintaining an excellent standard of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate professionally with supporters, from individual givers to religious communities.
• Displays excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build strong collaborative relationships with colleagues.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with CRM software/ database

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.