Supporter Acquisition & Development Manager
Reporting to:
Head of Fundraising
Location:
Hybrid / Leatherhead (UK-wide considered)
Salary:
£35,000 – £40,000 (dependent on experience)
Role purpose
This is a critical, income-generating role responsible for growing Perennial’s Individual Giving programme and increasing unrestricted income, with a primary focus on supporter acquisition and on supporter development and retention.
This role translates strategy into delivery by converting audiences into supporters, and supporters into income, so our Services team can provide meaningful impact in people’s lives and income into meaningful impact.
You will own and deliver acquisition income targets, and working with our Marketing team lead on the development of audience-led, multi-channel campaigns that attract, convert and retain supporters.
This is an opportunity to build and scale Perennial’s Individual Giving programme from an early stage, shaping propositions, channels and supporter journeys to drive sustainable growth.
Working closely with our marketing and digital teams, you will turn awareness of Perennial into measurable income and long-term supporter value.
Key responsibilities
1. Acquisition strategy, income ownership & growth
· Develop and deliver a data-led Individual Giving acquisition strategy, aligned to organisational income goals
· Own and deliver annual acquisition income targets, with clear accountability for ROI and performance
· Plan and work with our Marketing and Digital teams to deliver integrated, multi-channel campaigns, leading on the who and the why
· Build and scale regular giving acquisition, as a core long-term income stream
· Develop, test and refine compelling fundraising propositions that convert audiences into donors
· Work collaboratively to identify, test and scale new acquisition channels and opportunities
· Manage and optimise an acquisition budget, ensuring strong return on investment
2. Audience insight, segmentation & targeting
· Identify and prioritise high-value target audiences, including horticulture professionals, industry supporters and the wider public
· Develop clear audience segments and personas, based on behaviours, motivations and values
· Use CRM and campaign insight to drive targeted, personalised acquisition activity
· Ensure all activity is audience-led, insight-driven and performance-focused
3. Campaign delivery, testing & optimisation
· Lead end-to-end campaign delivery from planning through to evaluation and optimisation, working with Marketing to deliver effective branded, cross channel content.
· Implement a test-and-learn approach, continuously improving messaging and targeting
- Monitor and report on key performance metrics, including CPA,ROI and LTV
- Extend campaign lifecycles and maximise value through integrated, multi-channel planning
4. Supporter development & retention
· Design and deliver effective supporter journeys, moving individuals through a typical supporter lifecycle
· Deliver high-quality stewardship and supporter care, including welcome journeys
· Support progression into regular giving and mid-value giving
· Lead the development of legacy giving within the fundraising programme, working closely with the Head of Fundraising to build a sustainable pipeline.
5. Content, propositions & engagement
- Lead the development and testing of fundraising propositions that clearly communicate impact, urgency and relevance to the horticulture sector
· Work with Marketing & Communications to deliver storytelling-led, conversion-focused content
· Ensure messaging is audience-specific, emotionally engaging and income-driven
6. Data, CRM & insight
- Work closely with Data/CRM colleagues to ensure accurate segmentation and data selection and develop effective campaign tracking and reporting
- Use data and insight to optimise campaign performance, enhance audience targeting and conversion rates, and increase overall supporter lifetime value.
- Ensure all fundraising activity complies with relevant regulations and standards, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Fundraising Regulator guidance, and Gift Aid requirements.
Scope & resources
· Responsibility for Individual Giving acquisition performance and income growth
· Management of an annual acquisition budget (to be developed and scaled)
· Access to internal expertise across fundraising, marketing, digital and data
· Opportunity to shape agency relationships and campaign delivery
Success measures (KPIs)
· Delivery of annual acquisition income targets
· Growth in new supporters and donors recruited
· Improved cost per acquisition (CPA)
· Increased conversion rates and ROI
· Growth in regular giving numbers and value
· Improved retention and lifetime value (LTV)
Person Specification
Essential experience
· Proven track record of delivering successful acquisition or Individual Giving campaigns that meet income or growth targets
· Experience managing multi-channel marketing or fundraising campaigns
· Good understanding of digital acquisition and direct marketing techniques
· Experience managing budgets and analysing performance data
· Experience using CRM systems for segmentation, targeting and reporting
Skills & competencies
· Strong commercial and income-driven mindset
· Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills
· Ability to translate insight into high-performing campaigns
· Strong project and campaign management skills
Personal attributes
· Results-driven, proactive and accountable
· Comfortable working in a target-driven, performance-focused environment
· Collaborative and solutions-oriented
· Motivated by delivering measurable impact through income generation
· Interest in horticulture or the outdoors (desirable)
Why join Perennial
This is a unique opportunity to build and shape a growing Individual Giving programme within a respected national charity supporting people across the horticulture industry.
You will play a central role in turning engagement into income, helping ensure more people can access vital support before crisis happens.
The role offers:
· Real ownership and accountability
· Opportunity to shape strategy and delivery
· Scope to grow income and to make a tangible difference to people’s lives
Applications are invited for the role of Philanthropy Manager (Major Gifts) within the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Team (P&AE) at Royal Holloway, University of London.
P&AE plays a vital role in advancing the University’s RH2030s strategy and its ambition to be a university of social purpose, enabling world-class education and pioneering research through visionary philanthropic support. The team is driving significant growth in income from individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporate partners to help deliver impact that extends far beyond campus.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in an ambitious growth phase. Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, you will lead a small but talented team and oversee a dynamic major gifts programme.
You will be joining a team with strong foundations for success: a clear three-year plan, a loyal base of major donors, growing regular giving and legacy programmes, and strong support from senior University leadership. This is a high-impact role focused on securing major and transformative gifts, working closely with senior stakeholders across the institution to champion philanthropy and inspire support.
We are looking for a driven and inspiring fundraising leader with a track record of securing six-figure gifts within the higher education or charity sectors. You will be motivated by the difference philanthropy makes in higher education, enabling transformative opportunities in education and research that change lives and shape society.
You will bring exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to craft compelling, tailored cases for support. You will be confident using data to inform prospect strategy and pipeline development, and experienced in CRM systems, donor cultivation, and stewardship. Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to influence and collaborate across a wide range of stakeholders will be essential.
Above all, you will be strategic, proactive, and growth-focused—able to identify and secure philanthropic opportunities aligned with the University’s priorities, while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture.
Experience: 4 years required. If you thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment and are excited by the opportunity to engage supporters in meaningful ways, we’d love to hear from you.
In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Training and Development opportunities
- Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
- Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing.
- Free parking
The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the University is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.
Closing Date: 23:59, 1 July 2026
Interview Date: 14 July 2026 (in-person)
For more information and to apply, please visit our website using the button provided.
The university has adopted hybrid working for some roles therefore some remote working may be possible for this role.
Royal Holloway is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and encourages applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, parental status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or trans status or history. More information on our structures and initiatives around EDI, including information on staff diversity networks, can be found on our Equality and Diversity Intranet page.