84 Head of development donor partnerships jobs

Rural Media is a Herefordshire-based charity and production company that empowers rural young people and underserved communities to find their voice, develop their creative talent and use digital creativity to drive social change. Through our proven creative participation model, developed and refined over three decades, we support early-career creative talent, young rural people and underserved groups to gain the skills, confidence, and platforms for personal growth and societal change.

Over the next three years, Rural Media Charity will focus on two interconnected strategic priorities:

• Youth Voice & Social Change – Supporting young rural people to drive social change through digital creativity, challenging stereotypes, influencing policy, and becoming leaders and changemakers in their communities
• Early-Career Artists/Creatives & Digital Platforms – Supporting early-career creatives from rural, regional and underserved communities to develop their practice, thrive on digital platforms, and build professional creative careers

Rural Media is looking for an ambitious Strategic Partnerships Manager to build a brand-new corporate partnerships function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to shape a role from scratch, backed by our CEO/Creative Director and a Strategic Partnerships Consultant, generating a six-figure income stream that will directly fuel our work with rural young people and underserved communities.

Working closely with our Development Director, Head of Youth Programmes and Head of Production, you'll identify, secure and grow partnerships with businesses who share our commitment to rural equality and youth opportunity — turning first conversations into lasting, mutually valuable relationships with a particular focus on supporting young people not in education, employment or training into real opportunities in the creative sector.

This is a varied role combining prospecting, pitching, negotiation, stewardship and ambassadorial work – whether that's crafting a partnership proposition, presenting to a board, or reporting back to a corporate supporter on the impact of their support.

We're looking for someone who is:

• A proven relationship-builder with a track record of generating income, sponsorship or partnership value.

• Confident engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including at director and board level.

• Skilled at developing compelling proposals, pitches and cases for support.

• Comfortable managing a varied pipeline from first contact through to signed agreement.

• Excited about widening opportunity for young people and underrepresented communities through corporate partnership.

At Rural Media, you'll join a friendly, ambitious team committed to using creativity to change lives and widen access to careers in the screen industries. If you'd like to help build a new income stream that transforms young lives, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply:

• Visit our website

• Deadline for applications: 9am 10th October

• Start date: Mid-late November

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process — such as accessible formats, extra time, or alternative ways to communicate — please contact Mel and she will be happy to accommodate you.

Every grant you win becomes someone's first conversation in English, their first step into a job interview, their first time speaking up at a housing tribunal.

English for Action (EFA) is looking for a Partnerships Manager to grow the funding that powers our free, participatory ESOL classes for around 400 migrants across London. Our classes don't just teach English, they build the confidence and collective power people need to organise around housing and employment rights.

About the role

Working closely with our Fundraising Lead, you'll take real ownership of relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate funders, while helping shape how we diversify our income going forward. This is a role with genuine scope to bring your own ideas and see them through, not just execute someone else's plan.

You will:
- Write compelling grant applications, funding proposals and reports that win and retain funding
- Research and build a realistic pipeline of trusts, liveries and corporate foundations
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing donors and prospects
- Contribute to EFA's fundraising strategy, including newer income streams such as statutory, corporate, individual giving, membership and events
- Liaise with our Executive Team, Hub Leads and Project Managers so funding proposals stay grounded in what's actually happening in our classrooms and communities
- Maintain accurate donor and grant records on Donorfy, and support monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes

About you

You don't need a degree, and you're not expected to tick every box, nobody does. We're looking for someone with a track record of successful grant writing, strong research and relationship-building skills, and the organisation to manage multiple funding deadlines at once. Knowledge of the UK charity sector and UK trusts and foundations is essential; experience with public sector or EU education funding is a bonus.

If you have lived experience of migration and/or learning English as an additional language, we'd love to hear from you and how you'd like to draw on it in this role.

About EFA

English for Action provides free, participatory, empowering ESOL classes for migrants in London, spaces where students build community and organise collectively around issues like employment and housing rights. We're a national centre of good practice for a radical, participatory approach to ESOL, and we share this approach through training, research and partnerships. We're a team of 11 staff, a wider team of volunteers, and 7 trustees, run through shared leadership rather than a CEO, decisions are made collaboratively, and we aim for our structure to reflect that.

What we offer

- 22.5 hours (3 days) a week, mostly remote, with just monthly in-person meetings in London
- 28 days' annual leave (pro rata) after probation, plus bank holidays, plus a full week's paid closure over Christmas
- 6% matched pension contribution
- Enhanced sick pay, and enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave
- Wellbeing allowance and full entitlement to leave for sickness, including mental ill-health
- A genuinely flat, non-hierarchical culture with collaborative decision-making on strategy and practice
- Tech and cycle scheme, and actively encouraged continuous personal development

Equal opportunities

EFA particularly encourages applications from people of colour, who are currently underrepresented at EFA and across the charity sector, and from people who have experienced moving to the UK or have English as an additional language. Where two or more candidates are of equal merit, priority may be given to a candidate from a less well-represented group. Please let us know about any access or other requirements we can accommodate.

Closing date: 11.59pm, Wednesday 30th September 2026
Skills test: w/c 5th October 2026 (writing and budgeting)
Interviews: Friday 9th / 16th October 2026

Questions before applying? Email Gina Rodriguez (HR Lead)

Location: Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, TA2 6SF
Salary: £39,909
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (occasional evening and weekend work)
Contract: Permanent

To apply please complete the South West Heritage Trust application form which can be found together with the recruitment pack in the links at the bottom of this advert. Please note that CVs are not accepted as applications

About the role

South West Heritage Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Fundraising Manager to help strengthen our long-term financial sustainability and grow our charity fundraising activity. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust at a key point in its development and to shape our approach to fundraising as our first dedicated fundraising professional.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the Fundraising Manager will identify and secure funding from trusts and foundations, develop opportunities for individual giving and legacy support, and establish effective systems and processes to support successful charity fundraising. The role will build a strong pipeline of funding opportunities to support exhibitions, learning programmes, collections work and the Trust’s wider strategic priorities.

This post sits within the Central Services team and reports to the Head of Development and Partnerships.
The South West Heritage Trust is a charity which delivers a broad range of heritage services across Somerset and Devon. We are a growing organisation, founded on services that were previously delivered by Somerset and Devon County Councils. With a turnover exceeding £5 million, we manage and run three museums (including the Museum of Somerset), two Archives and Local Studies services and look after the historic environment in Somerset.

We are committed to building an organisation as diverse as the communities we serve. Your application for this role will be welcomed whatever your background and regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership.

If you would like to have an informal discussion or experience any difficulties with the recruitment process, please contact Ann Bradford (HR and Governance Manager)

About the Role

Our small Fundraising team has benefitted from significant investment in recent years and this maternity cover role will provide vital continuity as EIA develops and expands its network of philanthropic supporters and strategic partners. You will be joining EIA at a pivotal time, working closely with the Head of Fundraising to sustain momentum across philanthropy, support the launch of our giving circle, Nature Network, and help strengthen selected partnership opportunities that contribute to our fundraising ambitions.

The fundraising team at EIA, is responsible for raising income across trusts and statutory funders, as well as raising funds from individuals. The income raised from individuals has increased in recent years and we are investing further in this area so that we can conduct even more investigative and campaigning work to protect our planet.

The role will focus on developing and strengthening relationships with High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), inspiring supporters to give generously, and stewarding donors so they feel closely connected to EIA’s work to combat environmental crime and abuse around the world, as well as supporting partnership activity where it aligns with philanthropic giving, cultivation and long-term relationship development.

The Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager (Maternity cover) will lead the day-to-day delivery of EIA’s philanthropy programme during the maternity cover period. This will include tailored stewardship for HNWIs, prospecting and cultivation, donor funding propositions, implementing and growing the Nature Network giving circle following its launch in September, engaging our network of ambassadors, Future Stewards, and maintaining effective systems to support growth in philanthropy. The role will also contribute to a focused partnerships pipeline, ensuring partnership activity supports philanthropic income growth and deepens engagement with EIA’s mission.

Key areas of responsibility 

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Development of the existing supporter base:

• Develop and deliver a tailored stewardship programme for higher level donors.
• Establish appropriate KPIs to track progress and measure success.

Expand the donor base by acquiring new high value prospects:

• Conduct regular prospecting and cultivation to identify new potential supporters.
• Use network mapping to identify potential connections with existing stakeholders.
• Lead the development and delivery of cultivation events and exploratory meetings.

Develop donor funding propositions:

• Work with campaign teams and the wider fundraising team to develop funding propositions for HNWI and a Case for Support for the different areas of our work.

Launch and develop Nature Network and associated stewardship:

• Following the September launch of Nature Network, EIA’s giving circle, recruit new members and provide a compelling stewardship journey for supporters giving at this level.

Support aligned partnerships activity:

• Maintain and develop a focused pipeline of prospective partners where there is clear alignment with EIA’s campaigns, values and philanthropic priorities.
• Work with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues to support partnership cultivation, proposal development and stewardship.
• Lead the prospecting and stewardship of our brand ambassador programme, Future Stewards, including developing a social media communications plan with the Social Media and Digital Engagement Manager

Strategy development, budgeting and campaign reporting:

• Work with the Head of Fundraising to deliver philanthropy plans during the maternity cover period and contribute to wider fundraising strategy where relevant.
• Monitor income and expenditure across philanthropy, Nature Network and relevant partnership activity to ensure they meet budget and contribute to the mid-year reforecast process.
• Produce regular income reports that monitor performance against KPIs and feed back to the Head of Fundraising and wider organisation to share successes with the EIA team.

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience of identifying, cultivating and stewarding relationships with high value supporters and securing significant gifts.
• Considerable experience of developing and communicating high value funding propositions and writing compelling cases for support and applications.
• Strong verbal communication skills, confident in communicating effectively and passionately with supporters, team members across EIA and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent networking and presentation skills.
• Experience of planning and delivering stewardship events for HNWIs. 
• Experience of managing or supporting giving circles, membership-style donor programmes or structured supporter journeys would be advantageous.
• Experience of partnership development, corporate relationships or cross-sector collaboration, with the ability to identify opportunities that support philanthropic income growth.
• Driven to provide the very best supporter experience.
• Energetic self-starter able to work on own initiative with attention to detail.
• Dynamic and positive attitude. 
• Creative and innovative thinker.
• Well-organised, able to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• Fully proficient in Microsoft SharePoint and Office 365.
• Fully proficient in Fundraising databases (CharityCRM would be an advantage but not essential)
• Solid knowledge of Charity Law and Fundraising regulations
• Strong interest in or knowledge of wildlife trade and environmental issues
• Flexibility to work out of hours at a few events through the year.

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (New Business) provides strategic leadership for Impetus’ new business development, prospect pipeline and high-value funding opportunities. The postholder will have responsibility for identifying, cultivating and converting new corporate, trust and foundation, and high-net-worth donor relationships, as well as continued relationship management for key, established relationships.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in probono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus' growth ambitions, helping to increase philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear new business priorities, pipeline plans and prospect engagement approaches, ensuring a strong flow of qualified opportunities and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure prospects and strategic funding opportunities, while overseeing the stewardship and retention of current partners. 

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor acquisition, pipeline development, prospect conversion and stewardship, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

New Business, Pipeline & Conversion

• Personally lead on six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers, and networks to unlock introductions and new opportunities, providing clear support and follow-up to maximise success.
• Evolve Impetus’ new business strategy, driving the identification, cultivation, and conversion of new high-value donor and partner relationships.
• Translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base, and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for new audiences and sectors.

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth 

• Own and oversee select donor relationships at six and seven-figure levels within the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Ensure your donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Development and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

Research, Insight & Pipeline Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the Research & Insights function, ensuring prospect research, donor intelligence and market insight inform fundraising strategy, pipeline development and organisational planning.
• Lead the strategic development of fundraising pipelines, ensuring focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for long-term income growth, impact and strategic fit.
• Ensure donor intelligence and prospect research are used effectively to identify, qualify and prioritise new funding opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of gift acceptance, due diligence and fundraising compliance in relation to fundraising opportunities, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
• Identify and escalate strategic, reputational or compliance risks associated with donors and partners.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Development, providing strategic direction, coaching and performance oversight.
• Establish the Head of Development as the operational lead on new business, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across the wider team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for new business growth, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing team culture that balances pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising capability across your team through leadership, coaching and consistent, fair, and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen strategic partnerships and support long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insights inform decision making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic or reputational risks associated with prospective partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are leveraged and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Back Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach, and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across the Philanthropy team.

Strategic leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring new business delivers against organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of annual forecasting, budgeting, pipeline performance and resource planning, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support strategic relationship building and new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen organisational fundraising performance and capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the Philanthropy team, modelling Impetus' values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Rural Refugee Network (RRN) is a small local charity in East Hampshire, Havant and Portsmouth, working alongside refugees and people seeking asylum through the work of six board members, thirty operational volunteers, one part-time permanent employee and a small bank of project staff and contractors. The charity is widely recognised by stakeholders and the local community for sensitively and effectively addressing the many challenges people arriving in the UK face as they strive to resettle and thrive in our community.

RRN is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead its support for refugees and people seeking asylum. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a small charity through a period of significant change, with overall operational responsibility for the charity, including partnerships, funding, coordination of delivery, safeguarding and compliance. 

Working directly with a range of stakeholders and beneficiaries, the ideal candidate for this complex and high trust role will be self-reliant, adaptable, and able to engage and influence through excellent face-to-face and online communication skills. This is a genuinely flexible role, with significant autonomy over when and where work is undertaken. There will be regular opportunities for in-person team management and relationship-building, alongside substantial flexibility in how the wider working week is structured and where work is carried out. We are looking for someone who is confident working independently, manages their own time effectively and values the trust and responsibility that come with this level of autonomy.

A candidate who is energised by working flexibly and sensitively with a small team will thrive in this role, which offers the opportunity to make a direct and meaningful impact on people’s lives.

Experience in the refugee sector is desirable.

Deadline: 5pm Monday 21 September

To apply, please send your CV and a supporting statement of not more than 2 sides, explaining your motivation, reflecting on how you would approach being RRN’s only core employed leader, and demonstrating your fit against the specification below. Please use the email subject heading “Head of Operations Application”. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applications.

Job Description

Title: Rural Refugee Network Head of Operations

Reports to:  Board of Trustees

Hours:  Part-time (0.5 FTE, negotiable). Permanent contract.

Salary range: £40,000 - £45,000 FTE depending on experience.

Benefits: 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata to hours agreed). 3% employer pension contribution.

Location and expectations: Flexible hybrid working with frequent travel to projects, events and stakeholder meetings in Portsmouth, Havant, Petersfield and the wider Hampshire area. Occasional evening and weekend in-person working required.

Purpose: To lead the day-to-day operation, development and sustainability of Rural Refugee Network, working with trustees, volunteers, funders and partner organisations to ensure refugees and asylum seekers receive practical support and RRN maintains compliance and operational sustainability.

About the role:. 

In this small charity, the Head of Operations combines operational coordination, programme oversight, partnership development and income generation, with delivery shared across volunteers, trustees and contracted staff.The role offers a high degree of autonomy and flexibility, alongside the opportunity to shape how the organisation works and develops. It requires strong judgement in balancing opportunities, risks and priorities within limited capacity, and the confidence to work independently while bringing others with you.

RRN is volunteer-led, and the Head of Operations is the organisation’s only permanent employee, holding overall coordination and accountability for day-to-day operations. This is therefore a broad, high-trust role: rather than delivering everything directly, you will enable and coordinate others, working closely with trustees, volunteers and contractors who deliver significant elements of the activity you lead.

The role will suit someone who enjoys variety, autonomy and a flexible working pattern, and who is comfortable taking ownership while knowing when to collaborate, delegate or seek support.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership, coordination and partnerships

• Deliver agreed strategic objectives and support trustees in developing future priorities.

• Prepare quarterly Board reports.

• Coordinate relationships with statutory, voluntary and community partners.

• With the support of trustees, represent the charity in local forums, develop opportunities for collaboration and promote RRN in the local community.

Programme and volunteer coordination

• Provide oversight of funded and core programmes.

• Recruit, train and manage project staff (currently two youth workers) and contracted/sessional staff.

• Recruit, train, support and retain volunteers.

• Oversee referral pathways and access.

• Support volunteer-led communications activity including website, newsletters, social media, impact reports and case studies.

Income development and funding

• Write grant applications and manage reporting requirements (with volunteer/trustee input).

• Maintain and develop funding pipeline and actively develop new funding streams.

• Support relationship-building with donors and community supporters.

Finance and compliance 

• Monitor programme budgets, working with the Treasurer.

• Support trustees in governance, reporting and compliance responsibilities.

• Maintain organisational policies and procedures.

• Lead safeguarding practice and reporting, acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensuring policies are implemented by staff, volunteers, and contractors.

• Maintain oversight of organisational risk, compliance with Charity Commission, data protection, employment requirements and insurance arrangements.

• Ensure appropriate administrative systems are in place and followed, including maintaining up-to-date records in the CRM, Lamplight.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Substantial experience managing programmes or services in the charity/social impact sector, including line management, budgeting and financial oversight, and grant compliance/reporting.

• Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience leading and recruiting volunteer teams. 

• Deep understanding of safeguarding and compliance and recent experience leading safeguarding practice and decision-making. Up to date on requirements and best practice.

• Ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement about what trustees need to know and when, and to prioritise effectively within limited capacity and competing demands.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, IT proficiency.

Desirable

• Experience working with refugees, asylum seekers or other vulnerable groups.

• Understanding of immigration, integration or resettlement issues.

• Successful fundraising and bid-writing experience. 

• Experience of local authority commissioning or grant funding.

• Comfort and experience in IT, data and/or CRMs.

RRN is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. Appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check, including a check of the relevant barred list, two satisfactory references, including your most recent employer, and safer recruitment practice including verification of employment history and a right to work check. RRN is unable to sponsor work visas, so applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and innovative fundraising team? Do you want to raise money for some of society’s most pressing challenges and play a key role in an ambitious fundraising and volunteering campaign?

We are looking to recruit a Philanthropy Officer to join us at this very exciting time. The Philanthropy Officer will be responsible for the relationship management of a portfolio of around 100 prospective donors in order to raise funds for a range of key projects. They will be responsible for the entire prospect relationship management process including researching, cultivating, asking and stewarding. 

This role will play an integral part in supporting donations to improve student experience and across key areas of research.

As part of an award-winning team and led by some of the most respected names in higher education fundraising, you’ll get the chance to work across the team and wider university to encourage new donors to make long-term, sustainable and significant £10k plus gifts. You will also have the opportunity to work with our senior team on proposals to top donors enabling you to get experience of working with some of the most successful and experienced major gift fundraisers in the UK Higher Education sector. 

You will be provided with a robust induction and an ongoing training program that will include support from the University as well as expert external providers.

As a Philanthropy Officer you will have responsibility for managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors. You will have the confidence to ask for donations, be a strong communicator, and be passionate about making a difference to some of the biggest challenges the world faces.

The Philanthropy Officer will take ownership of the end-to-end relationship management process of a prospect, from initial research to stewardship activity:

1. Personally manage a portfolio of circa 100 of the University’s (4- and 5-figure) donors and prospective donors, maintaining close relationships with each prospect and integrating them with the University whenever possible to bring the prospective donors to the point where you can ask for philanthropic support.

2. Secure over £100,000 of donation pledges in the first year and develop a sustainable pipeline of prospects and philanthropic income.

3. Demonstrate an understanding that successful fundraising is based on building effective relationships, which match a prospective donor’s philanthropic interest with an area of strength and/or opportunity at the University. Be responsible for the end-to-end relationship management process of your contacts including:

· Identifying new prospective donors from your networks.

· Making the approach and managing a cultivation process, tailored to your prospect.

· Understanding the University’s campaign priorities and bringing them to life for individual supporters. through various communication channels.

· Asking confidently, passionately and effectively for key priorities.

· Building long-term relationships that are centred on the donor, including maximising volunteering opportunities where appropriate.

· Stewarding the donor once a gift is made, ensuring the individual remains connected to the University, the project, and the impact which they have made.

4. Responsible for adhering to relevant fundraising regulation and GDPR whilst ensuring fundraising processes are ethical and that due diligence is undertaken as necessary.

5. Deliver against set targets including money raised, asks made, meetings secured and gift close rate.

6. Communicate effectively with prospects, donors, volunteers, alumni, academics, researchers and businesses using a wide range of communication skills.

7. Communicate effectively with prospects and donors by phone, email, LinkedIn, letter and face-to-face.

8. Work internally with academics to showcase projects to potential donors and work with colleagues across the university to bring gifts to fruition.

9. Work closely with the Volunteering, Events, Campaign Management, Donor Experience, Regular Giving and Legacy Teams to maximise opportunities for collaboration with prospective donors.

10. Working in partnership with other fundraisers and members of DARO including sharing best practice and ensuring prospect development by playing in senior stakeholders at the right time.

11. Use Blackbaud CRM to record meetings and proposals effectively to allow accurate performance monitoring and reporting.

12. Take ownership of all processes and communications in relation to your prospects to include writing proposals, first approach communication, thank you letters and gift paperwork as appropriate.

13. Work with the Philanthropic Finance Team to ensure pledges are fulfilled and donations are correctly managed.

14. Being familiar with methods of tax efficient giving in the UK.

15. Seeking out opportunities for professional development.

16.  Fosters a fair and equitable workplace for all staff.

17.  Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.

18.  Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

CAHN is seeking an ambitious, creative and experienced Head of Fundraising & Events to lead our fundraising and events portfolio and help drive the organisation’s next phase of growth.

You will lead fundraising development, identify new income opportunities, build strong relationships with funders, corporate partners and supporters, and deliver high-profile events that generate income, engagement and impact.

Working closely with senior colleagues and external stakeholders, you will combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery to grow sustainable income, strengthen partnerships and maximise opportunities for CAHN.

We are looking for a confident and results-driven professional with a proven fundraising and events track record, excellent relationship-building skills and a passion for tackling health inequalities affecting Black Caribbean and African communities.

This is your opportunity to use your expertise, creativity and leadership to help create lasting change.

Want to use your fundraising experience to create real, visible change for thousands of Sri Lankan street dogs? Join a small, ambitious charity where your ideas, relationships and fundraising expertise can have a direct impact.

WECare Worldwide is looking for an experienced and hands-on Head of Fundraising to join us for a 12-month maternity cover and take ownership of our fundraising strategy and income generation.

We are a UK- and Sri Lanka-registered animal welfare charity providing international-standard veterinary care to street dogs in Sri Lanka. We are a small and collaborative organisation, so this is a role for someone who enjoys combining strategic fundraising leadership with hands-on delivery. You will work closely with the CEO and colleagues across WECare to help shape how we grow our income, while remaining actively involved in the day-to-day fundraising work needed to deliver results.

A major focus will be our individual giving and digital fundraising, including online donations, regular giving and fundraising appeals. This is currently one of our most important sources of income, and we’re looking for someone who can help us strengthen supporter engagement, improve donor journeys and identify opportunities to grow sustainable income.

You’ll also play a key role in developing our grants and trusts & foundations income, from identifying opportunities and building compelling applications through to reporting and stewardship. Alongside this, you’ll nurture and develop major donor relationships and explore the right corporate partnership opportunities for WECare.

This is very much a role for someone who enjoys both thinking strategically and getting things done. You might be developing the fundraising plan one day, working on a significant grant application the next, reviewing digital fundraising performance, shaping an appeal or speaking directly with a donor or potential partner.

You’ll work with colleagues across the organisation to turn the incredible work happening on the ground in Sri Lanka into compelling stories, funding propositions and campaigns that inspire people to support WECare.

We’d love to hear from you if you have a strong track record in fundraising, particularly across individual giving, trusts and foundations, major donors or other high-value income streams. You’ll be commercially aware, comfortable working with targets and forecasts, confident building relationships and happy taking initiative in a fast-moving environment.

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who genuinely wants to make an impact. WECare is an ambitious organisation with big plans, but we remain small enough that the person in this role can make a tangible difference to both our fundraising direction and the animals our work exists to help.

Location: Remote
Contract: Fixed-term, 12-month maternity cover
Reporting to: CEO

Please see the full Job Description for further details about the role and experience we’re looking for.

Head of Philanthropy
Prostate Cancer UK
Location: Hybrid – a combination of remote and in-person working at our London Bridge office at least 4 days a month.
Permanent and full-time role
Salary: Band 6 range of £60,250 - £70,750 pa

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the UK - stealing over 12,000 of our dads, grandads, brothers and friends every year.

As the largest men’s health charity in the UK, our ambition is clear: to create a world where no man dies from prostate cancer. And this is how we’re making that happen. We are the biggest public funder of prostate cancer research, investing millions to revolutionise testing, treatment, and care. We’re blazing a trail to a screening programme that could save thousands of lives with regular, accurate tests for all men at risk. And we work tirelessly to spread the word about risk and offer specialist support to people living with the disease.

This is an exciting and pivotal moment for high value fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK.  Through our £100 million Raise the Game appeal, we are accelerating our progress over the next 5 years, to transform how men and their families navigate prostate cancer.  We are now seeking a new Head of Philanthropy to lead the strategic direction and performance of the philanthropy team, ensuring that we deliver ambitious, long-term and sustainable income growth in line with our priorities.  You will also cultivate your own major donor portfolio, and work with other senior leaders across the Philanthropy, Appeals and Partnerships team, to ensure a coordinated approach in driving a culture of excellence, accountability, and donor focus across all fundraising activity. 

About you
You are an experienced, collaborative fundraiser and people leader, who thrives in ambitious organisations and the major gifts arena. You’ll bring a strong track record of securing six-figure gifts and above, alongside the experience of designing and activating robust strategies and overseeing operational excellence that turns ambition into impact. A skilled and compelling communicator, you build trusted relationships easily and confidently with donors, colleagues and partners alike. You’re comfortable navigating the new and uncertain, bringing flexibility, curiosity and adaptability to a changing environment.

These qualities will be key to building credibility and strong relationships across the organisation and beyond. Experience in health or medical fundraising would be valuable, but it’s not essential. What is essential is your ability to interpret complex, specialist information into compelling funding propositions.  Underlying this all is your passion for driving positive change and belief in the power of philanthropy to make it happen.

What we offer
Join our team and be part of an award-winning charity. We’ll support you to develop your skills and expertise.
We offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave entitlements that increase with service
• One ‘development day’ a month to use for training or personal development
• Enhanced contributory pension scheme
• Life insurance and group income protection
• Health Cash Plan
• Life and wellbeing advice and support via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted gym membership and high street shopping discounts
• Loans for season tickets or cycles

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
At Prostate Cancer UK we’re committed to righting health inequalities across the UK, starting with those faced by Black men. This includes ground-breaking research into Black men's risk and working with communities directly to overcome barriers to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. To make this happen, we're dedicated to being an inclusive, proactive organisation, as we strive to be Allies to Black communities. We’ll achieve this by advocating and working alongside those communities to promote change. We're also working to be Allies to each other, not only protected groups. In 2024, we launched our New Allyship Training Programme. All colleagues at Prostate Cancer UK will be trained to act and identify as an Ally.

We've also signed Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter, as a dedication to our Black health equity work and wider EDI priorities. As a signatory, we're responsible and accountable for driving positive change.

Our people networks
We’re continuously learning more about the needs of our colleagues, and have three amazing People Networks, sponsored by our Leadership team:

• Pride – A safe space where LGBTQ+ colleagues – and our allies – can share their diverse lived experiences, celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and history, and create new ideas about how our organisation can be more inclusive and representative of LGBTQ+ people
• Mind and Body – Here to increase awareness, promote wellbeing and support colleagues affected by neurodiversity, mental health problems, disability and long-term illness
• Culture Club – Here to increase awareness and celebrate the different cultures and beliefs that we have in the organisation, so that we all have our cultures felt and feel welcomed

This is a career defining opportunity to work with us and you’ll see your efforts pay off as we give men and their families the power to navigate prostate cancer.  We are partnering with Richmond Associates for this search.  To request a copy of the candidate information pack or to apply, please visit their website by following the Application button, or contact Sonja Dunphy, the Managing Director or Nicola Reames, Senior Consultant for more details.

Closing date for applications is 9am FRIDAY, 18 SEPTMEBER 2026 

Interviews are currently scheduled to take place on 2nd October 2026.

Job Purpose

We are looking for a fundraising specialist with the abilities and ambition to grow our charitable income generation and take ANT to our next level of impact.

Our current fundraising strategy is focused around corporate partnerships, individual giving campaigns (in particular crowdfunders where we have a strong track record), philanthropists and trusts and foundations.

We are particularly interested in individuals with experience and skillsets in areas that would complement and build on existing strengths and experience in the team; generating new leads in relationship fundraising context, developing and diversifying our individual giving offering and building excellent stewardship journeys.

You will help grow out impact by inspiring and influencing others to follow us in our ambitious plans for change.

Main responsibilities

• Lead from the front to grow our fundraising operations and strategy
  • Work with the Director of Income and fundraising team to review and refresh our fundraising strategy, as we enter its third year
  • Carry out a stocktake of recent performance and identify areas for growth 
  • Develop workstream plans for the year across different fundraising areas including generating new corporate partners and mid to high level philanthropist supporter leads, testing new individual giving channels and developing excellent donor stewardship
  • Look at continuing sustainable growth of unrestricted income, with an eye to further diversifying our fundraising streams longer term
  • Develop and foster relationships with new and existing strategic partners, funders and supporters
• Leadership of the fundraising team at ANT, providing clear strategic vision, guidance and support
• Line management of two fundraising leads, supporting them to develop and grow their skills
• As part of the senior leadership team, work with the Chief Executive and other Heads on organisational strategy, fundraising and communications planning
• Develop strong working relationships across the organisation and bring together relevant people in matrix working style groups, to avoid siloed ways of working

Working relationships and expectations

• As a member of the senior leadership team, you will work closely with the Chief Executive and other Heads, helping to lead the organisation in an exciting period of change and growth
• As a member of the Income team, you will work closely with the Director of Income. You will  manage two direct reports at Lead level. You will collaborate more widely across the organisation coordinating comms needs from different teams. 
• Hybrid working between home and our office at Lower Chew Forest, Compton Dando with the expectation of being present in our office or on site at least one day in a typical week
• Occasional evening and weekend working will be required but this is not a substantial feature of your role
• Our staff maintain an appropriate level of confidentiality, professionalism and discretion at all times
• Our staff comply with organisational policies, procedures, and guidance, and external regulations and laws

Person specification

Essential

• Passion and commitment to addressing the climate and nature emergencies in general and woodland creation in particular 
• Ambitious and positive about new opportunities and challenges, especially driving new projects
• Strong track record of charity fundraising management and growing income streams, including strategic planning, forecasting, management of fundraising workstreams and reporting on performance against targets
• Demonstrable experience developing in managing and growing relationship based charity fundraising, especially corporate partnerships, philanthropy and individual giving
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build and maintain strong, productive relationships with supporters, funders and strategic partners. 
• Excellent knowledge of data protection and GDPR considerations
• Strong people management and leadership skills, backed up by your own experience of line managing others
• Experience managing complex projects 
• Ability to work proactively on own initiative, continually learning and evaluating projects to improve delivery of our projects

Desirable

• Technical knowledge and understanding of the climate and biodiversity crises
• An understanding of the charity sector, the challenges specific to it and fundraising channels
• Experience of managing communications across paid, owned and earned channels including digital, press & PR at a local and national level
• Experience maintaining and developing CRM systems to support excellent supporter journeys
• Experience with analytics platforms to track all stages of the lead acquisition journey and inform optimisations
• Experience managing paid search accounts and the Google Grant
• A valid UK driver’s licence and access to a vehicle would facilitate travel to our sites where required

Our commitment to equality and equity

Your application will have all personal details redacted before being assessed by our short-listing panel. 

As a Disability Confident employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the  essential criteria for the role. 

To address any diversity gaps in our team we will also offer an interview to candidates who meet  the essential criteria and are from under-represented groups. At this time this applies to those from  Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. 

Avon Needs Trees is a Living Wage and Disability Confident accredited employer, and a supporter  of the West of England Good Employment Charter. We especially welcome applications from under-represented group

We are looking for a senior partnerships officer who will ensure our vital work to address the
environmental crisis is well funded, working to secure new partnerships and stewarding existing
funder relationships.

This multifaceted role works across teams to coordinate and deliver Green Alliance’s fundraising
activities and grant management. Collaborating with the organisation’s policy and political
experts, you support the creation of creative and impactful new project proposals that address
environmental problems and support the organisation’s strategy. You will identify funders for this
through prospecting and relationship building and will guide proposals through processes to
secure funds. You will monitor the organisation’s progress against fundraising targets and lead on
management of our funding pipeline.

Stewardship of existing funding relationships is a significant part of this role which means
ensuring we have excellent communication with our funders, making sure they receive high
quality reports on Green Alliance’s impact and supporting the team to see our funders as partners.
You will manage our Business Circle and maintain relationships with its members and support
efforts to recruit new business members into Green Alliance Task Forces.

Excellent communication skills are at the heart of this role, both written and verbal. You will be
confident, efficient, and resourceful; calm under pressure and enjoy building strong relationships
with a variety of senior stakeholders, as well as working independently. Strong skills in relation to
organisation, administration and prioritisation are essential.

You will need to understand, or be willing to learn about, the political and environmental policy
contexts we work in.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early and interview suitable candidates as applications are received. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Purpose of the role 

The Literacy Pirates is an educational charity working across the UK to develop the literacy, confidence and perseverance of children who are falling behind in school and have fewer opportunities in their personal lives. We offer in-person and online literacy programmes that support children to meet age-related expectations in reading and writing, succeed in school, and thrive beyond the classroom. 

Literacy Pirates is at an incredibly exciting point in its 15-year journey, as we embark on year two of our five-year national expansion plan, with a target to quadruple the number of young people we support over the next four years and double our fundraised income.

About the Fundraising & Communications Department 

The Corporate Partnerships Manager reports to the Head of Development and is part of the broader fundraising and communications team along with the Trusts & Foundation Manager and Communications Manager.

Corporate partnerships revenue accounts for 40% of our fundraised income and is a key strategic target for growth. The Corporate Partnerships Manager role is therefore critical to achieving our national expansion ambitions.

This role is office-based in London, with the option to work from remotely two days a week. 

Key Purpose 

• To manage, renew and deepen existing corporate partnerships. 

• To generate additional revenue through identifying new business and income growth opportunities. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

• To manage a portfolio of existing corporate partnerships, building excellent relationships with all levels of stakeholders in order to renew and grow partnerships. 

• Secure new fundraising income through developing and managing a portfolio of prospects; and by demonstrating effective networking and relationship development approaches. 

• To manage and deliver standalone corporate volunteering days, projects and event; building strong relationships with clients and participants in order to develop deeper partnerships. 

• Design and develop new corporate volunteering events and manage special annual events, such as the Hackney Half Marathon fundraiser 

• Oversea the individual giving tracking and donor engagement process, supervising and providing guidance on process improvements. 

• Research and identify corporate foundations to apply to, writing and submitting compelling proposals.  

• Draft and submit engaging written progress reports to corporate partners and foundations. 

• Be a strong advocate for team and department objectives, looking for new fundraising opportunities and working effectively with colleagues outside of the fundraising team. 

• Manage and monitor agreed partnership income and associated expenditure to ensure ROI and cost effectiveness across all relationships. 

General 

• A commitment to high standards of service delivery and customer care 

• Regularly monitor and update all financial and KPI data on departmental reporting documents 

• Participate actively in regular departmental meetings and support colleagues on broader fundraising and communications work.  

Person Specification 

• Minimum 3 years-experience of managing and developing corporate partnership relationships in a charity fundraising department 

• Ability to effectively manage external partner meetings, taking a confident and proactive approach, being responsive and accountable and looking for opportunities to deepen relationships 

• A confident and enthusiastic networker, always looking to develop new relationships, with an enterprising approach to corporate fundraising 

• Interest in, and enthusiasm to, identify and develop new corporate fundraising strategies and initiatives.

• Proven track record of securing income and managing partnerships and sponsorships within a target driven environment 

• Experience of delivering events, both standalone and as a part of a wider partnership. 

• Knowledge of effective individual giving processes and donor engagement approaches.  

• Good organisational skills, excellent task management and follow up, and demonstrating the ability to set and manage conflicting priorities 

• Excellent writing skills and experience of developing written funding proposals.  

• Commercial awareness with knowledge of a range of commercial and business sectors 

• Proficiency in the use of MS Office, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint 

• Knowledge of fundraising database e.g. Salesforce or similar 

• An interest in children's literacy and passionate about addressing poverty and inequality 

• Self-starter, able to work proactively and intuitively 

Salary: £40,000 - 42,000 (incl. London Weighting)

Contract: Full time, permanent

Location: London based, three days in the office, with the option to work remotely two days.

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (Philanthropy) provides strategic leadership across Impetus’ philanthropy and stewardship portfolio, with responsibility for relationship management, renewal, growth and selected new business activity. The postholder will work with high-value funders, including corporate partners, trusts and foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in pro bono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus’ growth ambitions, supporting the increase in philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear stewardship, renewal, relationship-growth and selected new business plans, ensuring strong donor retention, high-quality engagement and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will oversee the donor lifecycle across the philanthropy portfolio, with particular focus on strategic stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and the effective transition of selected prospects into long-term donor relationships. They will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure donor relationships and selected funding opportunities, while working with colleagues to ensure the philanthropy pipeline, stewardship plans and account management disciplines are strong.

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and selected donor acquisition, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth

• Own and oversee strategically significant donor and partner relationships at six and seven-figure levels, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Set and embed best practice stewardship standards, ensuring donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Philanthropy and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

New Business: Pipeline & Conversion 

• Personally lead on select six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers and networks to support warm introductions, relationship development and follow-up, in line with agreed new business and stewardship priorities.
• Work with colleagues to translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for donors, prospects and priority audiences.

Performance and KPI Reporting

• Accountable for ensuring effective implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of fundraising performance frameworks, KPIs and reporting disciplines.
• Use performance data and insight to improve team effectiveness, inform portfolio planning and resource recommendations, and identify opportunities for retention, renewal and growth.
• Oversee philanthropy portfolio data quality, reporting and forecasting, ensuring robust systems and processes.
• Ensure robust systems, processes and performance disciplines are in place to support delivery of agreed philanthropy portfolio objectives and wider fundraising goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and evidence-led decision-making across the philanthropy portfolio and direct team.

Donor Communications

• Provide strategic oversight of donor communications for the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring messaging is clear, compelling, timely and aligned to Impetus’ voice, values and evidence base.
• Work with Communications and Philanthropy colleagues to design and continuously improve philanthropic communications, including cases for support, proposals, pitches, stewardship materials and donor updates.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Philanthropy, providing direction, coaching and performance oversight within agreed strategy and priorities.
• Develop the Head of Philanthropy as the operational lead for stewardship, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across their team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and portfolio delivery, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, balancing pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising and stewardship capability across the team through coaching and consistent, fair and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen donor relationships, partnership value and long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure philanthropy and selected new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate philanthropy pipeline reporting, forecasting and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insight informs portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic, financial or reputational risks associated with donors, prospects and partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are well managed and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Model Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion across the philanthropy portfolio.

Strategic Leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring stewardship, renewal and relationship growth contribute to organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of philanthropy portfolio forecasting, budgeting input, pipeline performance and resource recommendations, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and escalated proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support donor stewardship, relationship growth and selected new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen philanthropy portfolio performance and wider fundraising capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, modelling Impetus’ values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.