Director of philanthropy and partnerships jobs
Do you have demonstrable experience of new business development? Have you personally secured six figure partnerships in previous roles?
We're recruiting a New Partnerships Manager to be responsible for proactively identifying, prospecting, and cultivating leads in key sectors to secure new 5-6 figure, multi-year corporate partnerships with local and national businesses.
What does this role do?
As New Partnerships Manager, you'll:
- develop a prospect pipeline to raise a personal income target which contributes to an overall team target,
- support the Senior New Partnerships Manager in the identification and cultivation of new corporate partnerships, accessing a range of income streams and budget holders,
- support senior team members in attending meetings with potential corporate partners, including preparing relevant briefs in advance,
- prepare relevant and creative applications and proposals for pitches for potential corporate partners,
- work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Team to ensure the transition between new business and account management is seamless for both Dogs Trust and the new partner.
First stage interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for 16th and 17th March 2026, and will take place on Teams. Please note, this role is based at our London office, with office attendance at least one day per week and sometimes at short notice.
Could this be you?
To be successful in this role you'll have demonstrable experience of new business development, ideally in a charity setting, with a track record of securing six-figure partnerships. You'll be organised, articulate and credible, with a real appreciation of different budget holders within companies who may be interested in supporting Dogs Trust, and an understanding of different types of corporate partnerships. In addition, you'll have demonstrable experience of senior stakeholder management and negotiation skills, and you'll have the ability to write clearly and concisely, and to tailor written style to the needs of different audiences.
About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.
To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.
This is an exciting opportunity to establish RLSS UK’s first-ever corporate fundraising function. The Corporate Partnerships Manager will build, lead, and deliver a new programme that maximises income from corporate supporters and aligns partners with our mission to save lives. You will be responsible for developing the strategy, creating the tools and foundations, proactively generating new business, and delivering excellent stewardship as partnerships are secured.
This role requires a commercially aware, results-driven individual who understands how to position partnerships in a way that delivers mutual value and translate opportunity into income through focused action, strong relationship building, and a clear understanding of corporate priorities.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a build from scratch environment, combining strategic thinking, creativity, and hands on delivery.
ROLE OVERVIEW
As the Corporate Partnerships Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of RLSS UK’s new corporate fundraising function, create a sustainable strategy, and build a strong pipeline from the ground up.
You will identify, secure, and grow high-value partnerships that align with corporate priorities, producing compelling and commercially compelling propositions that demonstrate clear mutual benefit. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will ensure partnerships support RLSS UK’s mission and contribute to long term income growth.
KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy and Planning
- Develop and deliver RLSS UK’s first corporate partnerships strategy, setting clear priorities and income targets for year one and beyond.
- Lead the development of a corporate partnerships income stream, building a sustainable portfolio of partnerships and relationships.
- Create the foundations for growth including a case for support, stewardship framework, pitch decks and templates and KPI and reporting tools.
- Establish systems and internal processes required for a corporate fundraising function.
- Use sector insights, benchmarking, and data to inform strategy and identify opportunities for growth.
Partnership Development
- Build and actively manage a new business pipeline from scratch, ensuring consistent prospecting and follow up.
- Conduct in-depth prospect research to identify target companies, align commercial priorities, and map key decision makers.
- Develop compelling, tailored proposals, pitches, and partnership packages that clearly articulate impact and mutual value.
- Secure a diverse portfolio of partnerships including multi-year strategic, six-figure, Charity of the Year, cause-related marketing, and sponsorship agreements.
- Create cultivation journeys for high-value prospects, maintaining momentum from first contact to close.
- Represent RLSS UK externally at meetings, events, and networking opportunities, confidently positioning the organisation with senior stakeholders.
- Work closely with commercial colleagues to ensure alignment and avoid overlap with existing commercial contracts.
Account Management
- Provide effective day-to-day relationship management to ensure partners feel supported, informed, and engaged with RLSS UK’s mission.
- Deliver clear partnership growth plans that maximise income, engagement, impact, and mutual benefit.
- Identify and activate opportunities to expand partnerships across corporate philanthropy, payroll giving, strategic volunteering, sponsorship, cause-related marketing, and employee engagement.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted and credible partner.
- Monitor partnership delivery against agreed KPIs and use insight to refine and strengthen activity over time.
- Produce high-quality written communications, proposals, and impact reports tailored to individual partners.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, Education, and Commercial teams to ensure consistent and high-quality delivery.
Reporting and Evaluation
- Use data-driven insights and KPIs to evaluate and refine strategies for maximum impact, income growth, and return on investment.
- Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, UK GDPR, and RLSS UK policies.
- Maintain accurate pipeline and forecasting information within the CRM system.
- Deliver annual reviews for partnerships to demonstrate impact and ensure all partnerships are meeting agreed KPIS.
- Identify emerging trends and opportunities to diversify income streams and enhance brand visibility.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
- All other duties reasonably associated with your role, as directed by the Line Manager.
- Line management responsibility for the Supporter Engagement Executive, including performance and development, assigning day-to-day tasks and projects, and providing guidance and support.
- Ensure compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 by complying with internal information governance policies and maintaining up-to-date documentation as part of RLSS UK’s compliance programme.
- Demonstrate and uphold the Society’s values and behavioural standards at all times.
- Help create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute, and everyday actions ensure we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality.
This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of areas of activity and responsibility and will be amended in light of the changing needs of the organisation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes
- Experience in business development, fundraising, partnerships, or relevant commercial roles.
- Ability to build strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience securing and managing partnerships across at least two of:
-
- Charity of the Year
- Strategic partnerships
- Sponsorship
- Cause related marketing/ brand licensing
- Confident pitching and negotiating with senior corporate leaders.
- Strong strategic thinking coupled with hands‑on delivery.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to create persuasive proposals and cases for support.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- Strong understanding of return on investment (ROI) and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness, sustainability, and value of fundraising activity.
- Strong understanding of CRM systems and fundraising technologies, and how these support effective partnership programmes.
- Understanding of fundraising regulation, GDPR, and ethical fundraising practices.
- Experience managing budgets and ensuring effective allocation of resources.
- Comfortable working in an environment where systems, processes, and programmes are being built from the ground up.
Desirable Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes
- Knowledge and understanding of RLSS UK.
- Previous experience of line management.
- Experience of working in a charity or organisation where corporate fundraising or partnerships have been developed from the ground up, including building systems, processes, and pipeline momentum.
- Experience working in a small team or start-up environment.
- Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of the corporate landscape and the ability to shape compelling, mutually beneficial partnership opportunities that align business priorities with charitable impact.
ABOUT RLSS UK
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the leading charity for water safety and drowning prevention in the UK and Ireland. Our mission is to save lives by being the leader in lifesaving, lifeguarding, and water safety education so that everyone can enjoy water safely. We share our expertise, skills, and knowledge to empower people to enjoy water safely and achieve our vision; communities free from drowning.
With increasing corporate focus on ESG, community safety, and employee wellbeing, RLSS UK is uniquely positioned to build strategic partnerships that help companies keep their people and communities safe around water.
WHAT RLSS UK CAN OFFER YOU
RLSS UK is a national Charity based in Worcester, and we offer great staff benefits including -
- Annual Leave based on 27 days + Bank Holidays + a discretionary day off for your birthday
- Private Medical Scheme*
- Enhanced Society Sick Pay*
- Eye Care*
- Employee Assistance Programme via Health Assured
- Life Assurance Scheme
- Howdens Sports Benefits/Perks at Work
- Free RLSS UK Membership
- Free tea and coffee when working from HQ, including access to our wonderful Coffee Machine
- Free on-site parking when working from HQ
- Company Events and more!
*Subject to eligibility criteria
YOUR APPLICATION
Please send your CV along with a Cover Letter outlining why you should join our Income Generation and Engagement Team
Closing Date – 5.00pm, Tuesday 17th March 2026
Interview Date – Tuesday 31st March 2026 at our Worcester Head Office (subject to change)
Should you wish to discuss the role, any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process, or have any questions, please get in touch where a member of the RLSS UK HR Department will be happy to help.
RLSS UK are a Disability Confident Committed Employer and an INclusive Worcestershire Leader.
It is our vision to have nations without drowning where everyone can safely enjoy being in, on or near water.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Our vision is of a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a rewarding and fulfilled life.
Are you our next Chief Executive?
- Are you passionate about addressing issues around poverty and inequality?
- Do you have the experience and skills needed to lead this innovative place-based funder?
- Are you a creative thinker who thrives on working collaboratively and collegiately?
If so, then you might be the right person to lead Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Giving.
About Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Giving
Established over 500 years ago, Cripplegate Foundation has become a pioneering, place-based grantmaking foundation with a reputation for innovation and making a difference. It created Islington Giving, which was the first scheme of its kind, to work with residents and a coalition of funders, businesses and voluntary organisations to create better solutions to the challenges of poverty and inequality. We make grants of over £2 million a year and we have become a major influencer in the grant-giving sector, achieving significant progress, such as:
- Raising over £12 million since 2010.
- Partnering with Islington Council to promote community development and support residents
- Developing innovative and participatory grant programmes
- Pushing forward with ambitious Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) goals
It’s an exciting (and challenging) time to join us!
Given the challenges in Islington (and beyond), the next few years promise to be pivotal in shaping our future and there are many opportunities for the new Chief Executive to make a difference, including:
- Leading on considerations around the changing political landscape
- Working creatively and innovatively to explore the strategy for the coming years
- Building on our programme of Social Impact Investing and ethical Investing
- Leading a passionate, professional and committed team
About the role and person
The new Chief Executive could be someone with senior management experience who is ready to lead an organisation for the first time, or they may already have experience of being a Chief Executive.
Whatever your background you will need to demonstrate, amongst other things:
- Experience of leading and managing in a collaborative and collegiate style
- Skill at creating and delivering cross-sector partnerships
- An entrepreneurial style and a record of income generation
- A deep understanding of the issues arising in inner city areas, gained through lived and/or professional experience
- A pioneering, creative and innovative style and a commitment to DEI
If you feel you fit the role and are motivated by our work then we’d be excited to hear from you. Please find out more by looking at the Candidate Information Pack.
Our vision is of a society where everyone can live a rewarding and fulfilled life, free from poverty and inequality.
Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.
Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture. They are now seeking a senior corporate partnerships specialist to lead Acorns’ newly formed Partnerships Team, which combines corporate new business, account management and community income streams.
A member of the Fundraising Leadership Team, the role will be responsible for securing and managing high-value strategic partnerships with businesses while simultaneously driving engagement with local community groups, education partners, and faith groups, ensuring clear tiering, structured pipeline progression and robust income performance.
The role will also act as Partnerships lead for the upcoming £5m fundraising appeal, co-canvassing alongside the Head of Philanthropy and executive leadership, and mobilising corporate and community networks around key campaign moments.
As Head of Partnerships, you will:
- Report to the Associate Director of Fundraising and line manage a team of four (Senior Business Development Manager (Corporate), Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager Senior Community Partnerships Manager, Partnership Engagement Officer)
- Form part of the Fundraising Leadership Team, with shared accountability for strategic decision making, compliance and cross-directorate working
- Lead and integrate Corporate and Community fundraising into a cohesive partnerships strategy aligned to the wider Fundraising Strategy
- Design and implement a three-year corporate and community income plan, with full budget and forecasting responsibility
- Conduct an audit of current partnerships activity, pipeline and resource allocation to ensure effort aligns to regional and national potential
- Lead corporate new business acquisition, securing multi-year strategic partnerships, Charity of the Year agreements, cause-related marketing, sponsorship and stock generation partnership
Essential skills and experience:
- Strong corporate fundraising background within a charity setting
- Proven track record of securing six-figure corporate gifts
- Experience managing and motivating teams to deliver robust income targets
- Experience designing strategies, annual plans and budgets and adapting them as required
- Strong knowledge of the corporate landscape, regionally and ideally nationally
- Confidence leading high-value pitches, negotiations and senior stakeholder engagement
- Experience of forecasting, reporting and managing income performance
- Strong working knowledge of CRM systems and fundraising compliance
Desirable:
- Experience across both local AND national corporate partnerships
- Exposure to community fundraising or engagement programmes
- Experience working on appeal boards or high-value campaign activity
Employee benefits include:
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
- 7.5% employer pension contribution
- Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
- Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership
- Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support
Hybrid working with 2dpw at preferred location (Birmingham, Worcester or Walsall).
When applying via CharityJob, please ensure that your CV reflects the essential skills and experience outlined above. You can use the notes section to share any additional information. Suitable applicants will be contacted and given full support with the formal application process.
Apply by Thursday 12th March.
Round 1 interviews – Tuesday 24 March & Wednesday 25 March
Round 2 interviews – Tuesday 31 March and Wednesday 1 April
An exciting opportunity to join the Rank Foundation team in London or Penrith as Head of Impact, Partnerships & Place.
The Head of Impact, Partnerships & Place is a senior leadership role responsible for driving collaboration & partnerships and ensuring measurable social impact. This position combines strategic vision with operational excellence to advance the Foundation’s mission. Our mission is rooted in trust, respect, and a belief in the collective power to drive positive change.
The creation of the Head of Impact, Partnerships and Place marks a pivotal moment in our journey. It signals our ambition to deepen how we understand, evidence and learn from our impact, and to use that learning to continually strengthen what we do. The role will ensure our place-based work is shaped by insight, collaboration and long-term thinking, so that communities have the best possible opportunities to thrive. By building strong partnerships with funders and collaborators, this role will help us grow and scale our work in ways that are purposeful and sustainable.
Please download the Recruitment Pack for the full description of the post and further information.
Key Responsibilities
Impact Measurement
o Design and oversee frameworks for monitoring and evaluating strategic outcomes.
o Prepare and present impact reports to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability.
o Support the wider staff team in gathering data to inform and underpin the Impact Framework.
Partnerships Development
o Build and maintain partnerships with RankNet members, other funders, government, and community organisations.
o Negotiate and manage collaborative projects to maximise reach and effectiveness.
Place-based Programmes
o Lead the place-based programmes (currently Plymouth and Sunderland) and design frameworks for monitoring and evaluating strategic outcomes.
o Collaborate with other funders and partners to achieve shared goals.
o Represent the Foundation at local, regional, and national events that focus on place-based work.
Community Engagement
o Develop and implement strategies to strengthen relationships with RankNet members, partners, and funders.
Strategic Leadership
o Contribute to organisational strategy, identify emerging trends and opportunities for social impact.
o Translate organisational strategy into clear, measurable objectives, ensuring alignment across teams and programmes.
o Manage strategic risk in relation to funders and partnerships, reputation and delivery, ensuring ethical, inclusive and sustainable practice.
Advocacy and Representation
o Serve as the public face of the Foundation at funder and partnership events.
o Advocate for causes aligned with the Foundation’s mission.
If you would like to apply, please state the role you are applying for and send your CV together with a supporting statement no longer than 2 sides of A4 that clearly demonstrates how you meet the knowledge, skills, and experience requirements of the role to recruitment@rankfoundation. com
To assist us in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we would be grateful if you could complete our EDI Form.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Assistant Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnership
Reporting To: Deputy CEO/Director of Fundraising and Communications
Manages: Head of Trusts and Foundations, Head of Corporate Partnerships
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week, flexible)
Salary band: £58,000 - £66,000 per annum
N.B. To ensure fairness and consistency across Home-Start UK, new colleagues usually join at the first point of the pay band for their role. This helps us maintain a clear and equitable approach to pay for everyone joining our team.
Location: Remote – with regular travel to meetings with donors, for events and to our central office in Leicester for collaborative meetings and team activities.
About Home-Start UK
Home-Start is a federated charity consisting of a central national office – Home-Start UK - and over 170 geographically dispersed local Home-Start organisations, all working together under the same identity.
We recognise that being a parent has never been easy. Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside parents to overcome the challenges they are facing. We work with parents to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need. We offer no judgement – just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. This peer-to-peer support is key to the difference Home-Start makes and often our volunteers have lived experience of the challenges their families are facing themselves.
About The Role
This is an important moment for us and for the families we support. Parents of babies and young children are facing huge pressures, and strong, values-driven partnerships matter more than ever. We’re looking for a senior leader who can help us meet this moment with confidence and ambition.
As Assistant Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships, you will help shape the future of our national work and support our federation of 170+ local Home-Starts working in communities across the UK. You will lead a talented team, build long-lasting relationships, and help make sure Home-Start has the funding, partnerships, and influence it needs to give every child the best possible start in life. This role will suit someone who is motivated by purpose, who values people and relationships, and who is comfortable working across a large and varied network.
We are looking for someone with a strong track record, someone who has already delivered high-value fundraising and partnerships at a senior level and is ready to take on a role with significant national influence. With responsibility for an annual income portfolio of circa £4 Million – with strong potential to grow this over the next 3-5 years to between £6Million-£8Million plus, you will work with a supportive Leadership Team and Board, who have already engaged external philanthropy expertise to develop a strategy and roadmap that you can build on. You’ll need to be confident working with high-value supporters: able to build trust, communicate clearly, and nurture long-term relationships with people who want to invest in families and early years support. You’ll bring the skills and confidence to grow a portfolio that is already strong and take it further, along with the ability to work well with others in a fast-moving environment.
You will be joining a warm, collaborative organisation that believes in the power of community, the strength of families, and the importance of early help. If you feel excited by the chance to make a national difference, to build partnerships based on trust and shared purpose, and to help shape the next chapter of Home-Start’s impact, we would be delighted to hear from you.
The people at Home-Start are its most important resource. Home-Start UK has been accredited with Investors in People since March 2005, which recognises the commitment we give to developing our staff.
Benefits of working for Home-Start
- Flexible working
- Family friendly policy
- PayCare health cash plan
- Enhanced employer contribution pension
- Learning and development
- DAS Employee Assistance
If it sounds like your type of challenge, we would be delighted to hear from you.
The closing date for applications is Friday 27th March at 4pm.
As part of our recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a full-day assessment centre at our Leicester office on Tuesday 14th April.
The assessment centre will include a mix of individual and group activities designed to understand your strategic thinking, relational approach, and leadership style.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Home-Start UK is committed to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity. We wish to encourage applications from all parts of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability.
No agencies please.
First Give
First Give is a national charity that partners with secondary schools to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to drive change. Through our structured programmes, students explore social issues, connect with charities, and take tangible steps to improve their community.
Empowering and equipping young people to meaningfully contribute to their community is a first step to addressing many of the challenges we face at this time of social disconnection and division. Our vision is of a more generous society where everyone is willing and able to give their time, money and skills to the causes they care about.
The Route to a Million Campaign
This is an exciting time for First Give, as we seek to expand and diversify our fundraising streams into Corporate and HNWI. To support this, we are launching the Route to A Million campaign in March, aiming to raise an additional £1.5 million over the next 3 years on top of our forecast income. The campaign is supported by a newly recruited campaign board, and the new Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships will spearhead the work required to achieve this target.
Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships
We are seeking a dynamic, strategic and entrepreneurial Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships to supercharge First Give’s next phase of income growth. This is a pivotal role at the heart of our mission, offering the opportunity to shape and deliver a multi‑year fundraising strategy that fuels real, measurable impact for young people and society as a whole. First Give is a small charity, with a growing fundraising team and big ambitions. You will therefore be someone who thrives in a start-up environment, brings new ideas to the table and is comfortable leading a brand-new team.
As the senior leader for all income streams, you will own and drive our major donor programme; unlock new philanthropic partnerships; and build a talented team across other income streams to achieve ambitious goals. Working closely with the Director and our emerging Campaign Board, you will play critical role in growing our £1m+ annual income, deepening donor engagement and building the culture, systems and relationships that will propel First Give into its next phase of expansion.
This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional fundraiser who thrives in a values‑driven, high‑ambition environment and wants to make a lasting contribution to a fast‑growing education charity.
Contract: Full time (35 hours per week), Permanent
Salary: £60K (+£2K London weighting if applicable)
Location: This is a hybrid contract. The successful candidate will be expected to work from our London office or attend in-person meetings and host donors at school Final events as required. The remainder of the week can typically be worked remotely, with flexibility as required.
The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we. We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented on our executive team, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates.
Please download the candidate pack for more details, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a chat about the role or any reasonable adjustments we can make before applying: contact details provided in the candidate pack.
Creating opportunities where young people are inspired and empowered to give their time, money or skills to charities and causes that they care about


First Give
First Give is a national charity that partners with secondary schools to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to drive change. Through our structured programmes, students explore social issues, connect with charities, and take tangible steps to improve their community.
Empowering and equipping young people to meaningfully contribute to their community is a first step to addressing many of the challenges we face at this time of social disconnection and division. Our vision is of a more generous society where everyone is willing and able to give their time, money and skills to the causes they care about.
Corporate Parnterships Manager
We are seeking a self-motivated and driven Corporate Partnerships Manager to lead on growing and stewarding First Give’s portfolio of high-value funders. This role will focus on developing corporate partnerships and will also support our Campaign Board and major donor activity.
First Give is a small charity, with a growing fundraising team and big ambitions. You will therefore be someone who thrives in a start-up environment, brings new ideas to the table and is comfortable setting up new systems and processes. You will play a pivotal role in shaping First Give’s income growth, working closely with our Head of Philanthropy and the Director. This role will also support key engagement activities, including hosting donors at student-led Final events and facilitating employee volunteering at schools.
This is an exciting opportunity for a confident fundraiser and communicator looking for the next step in their career. Someone who thrives on strategy, storytelling, and social impact.
Contract: Full-time, 35 hours per week. Permanent.
Salary: £40K (+£2K London weighting if applicable)
Location: The successful candidate will be expected to work from our London office or attend in-person meetings and host donors at school Final events for two days per week on average. The remainder of the week can typically be worked remotely, with flexibility as required.
Reporting to: Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships
The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we. We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented on our executive team, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates.
Please download the candidate pack for more details, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a chat about the role or any reasonable adjustments we can make before applying: contact details provided in the candidate pack.
Creating opportunities where young people are inspired and empowered to give their time, money or skills to charities and causes that they care about


At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for a Corporate Partnerships Officer (MAT cover) to join our Fundraising team.
You'll identify and cultivate corporate prospects, supporting on securing income through written application and pitches, whilst managing a portfolio of existing corporate partnerships. You'll build and maintain effective relationships to maximise corporate participation with current and prospective supporters.
You'll proactively identify funding opportunities and use your own initiative to make suggestions on our approach and/or suitable funding areas, devising innovative ways of accessing and engaging companies, as well as organising volunteering opportunities for corporate partners.
You will have:
- Experience of working successfully with corporate funders
- Experience of supporter relationship management with a track record in building successful relationships and raising funds from companies.
- Experience in accurate, timely data recording and CRM
- Excellent communication skills with good written and verbal communication.
In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!
This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.
If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.
Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.
Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.
Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.
We stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Neotree: The Digital Learning Health System
Neotree is an award-winning digital learning health system co-designed with frontline clinicians to end preventable newborn deaths in low-resource settings. Our open-source platform integrates real-time, knowledge-based clinical decision support (CDS), structured data capture, and visual dashboards into routine neonatal care. Currently active in 18 healthcare facilities, Neotree has supported care for 60,000 newborns and trained over 3,000 health workers to date. Neotree is the only platform of its kind with a defined pathway to embed AI-enabled decision support into routine neonatal care in sub-Saharan Africa.
Neotree: The Charity
The UK charity was established by core members of the University College London (UCL) Neotree research project to maximise the impact of their research on the quality of newborn care and newborn mortality. After five years of rapid growth and proven clinical impact, Neotree is seeking a visionary Executive Director to lead our next chapter. Having evolved from an innovative research pilot into a multi-country digital health intervention, integrated into routine neonatal care in Malawi and Zimbabwe, Neotree is poised for national-scale rollout and scale up, alongside rigorous ongoing monitoring and evaluation.
The Opportunity: Impact at Scale
By 2030 the ambition is for Neotree to be a fully integrated, sustainable standard of care across Malawi and Zimbabwe, having been handed over to, and owned by, their respective Ministries of Health. The incoming Executive Director will lead this transition, shifting the organisation from a research-led implementation partner to one able to scale up a digital public good (currently a DPGA Nominee with a full submission for DPG designation under review).
While the technological landscape, and specific delivery modules, will evolve, the Executive Director will ensure Neotree remains a safe, cost-effective, equitable, and evidence-based system that is successfully embedded within national digital health infrastructures.
The Executive Director's success will be measured collaboratively, focusing on KPIs related to impact and sustainability, and they will work alongside experienced clinical, technical, and academic leads.
Location: Remote within 2-3 hours of Central Africa Time (CAT), with approximately quarterly travel (including to Malawi, Zimbabwe and the UK).
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)
Key Responsibilities
1. Operations, Clinical Safety & Quality Assurance
1.1. Senior Operational Oversight: Provide high-level oversight of Neotree’s operations across 18 healthcare facilities in Malawi and Zimbabwe, ensuring that the "baby-first" mission is consistently delivered on the ground.
1.2. Clinical Safety & Ethical Governance: Lead the overarching strategy for clinical safety and ethical compliance. Ensure the platform remains a safe and effective clinical tool, and that all operations comply with international data protection and health governance best practices.
1.3. Quality & Effectiveness: Oversee the continuous improvement and optimisation of the Neotree platform based on real-world feedback from frontline clinical staff, ensuring the system remains highly acceptable and trusted by healthcare professionals.
2. Management: People, Grants & Finance
2.1. International Team Leadership: Lead, oversee and inspire a multi-disciplinary, multi-country team (UK, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa), fostering a culture of agility, collaboration, and excellence.
2.2. Develop local leadership and support the growth of country-based teams, ensuring long-term sustainability through in-country capacity building.
2.3. Financial & Grant Management:
2.3.1. Provide robust oversight of the charity’s finances, including budget setting and cash flow.
2.3.2. Lead the management of complex institutional grants (e.g. FCDO, Gates Foundation), ensuring all milestones and reporting requirements are met.
2.3.3. Manage relationships with multiple downstream partners.
3. Governance & Accountability
3.1. Statutory Compliance: Lead Neotree’s reporting and compliance with the Charity Commission, HMRC, Companies House, donors and other relevant legislation. Oversee internal and external audits.
3.2. Board Development & Relations: Act as the primary link to the Board of Trustees, providing transparent reporting on risks, financial performance, and strategic progress. Work proactively with the Chair to strengthen the board, supporting its growth and ensuring its membership is representative of the diverse international contexts and communities Neotree serves.
3.3. Risk Management: Serve as the ultimate lead for organisational risk, identifying and mitigating risks to protect the charity’s reputation, clinical safety, and financial health.
3.4. Organisational & Innovation Governance: Responsible for the continuous review and implementation of all policies (HR, due diligence, safeguarding, clinical and data governance etc.). Ensure policies are legally compliant across international operations.
4. Strategy & Impact Scaling
4.1. Overall Strategy: Lead the development and execution of Neotree’s business model and strategy to scale impact globally, ensuring the sustainable growth and wider adoption of Neotree as a digital public good.
4.2. Evidence base: Work closely with Neotree’s academic team at University College London to identify and address evidence gaps, to support on Neotree research grants (e.g. NIHR, Gates Foundation), and to ensure academic insights are translated directly into clinical impact and national policy.
4.3. Tech Strategy & Interoperability: Lead the development and execution of Neotree's digital strategy. A key focus will be driving the roadmap for system interoperability to ensure Neotree is a future-proofed platform. This includes FHIR compatibility and integration with national systems, such as DHIS2 and national EHRs, to support seamless data exchange.
4.4. Fundraising Strategy: Design and deliver a diverse fundraising strategy that further moves the organisation toward financial resilience and reduced dependence on major academic grants.
4.5. Partnerships & External Relations: Serve as one of the primary ambassadors for Neotree, alongside our Principal Investigators and co-founder Professor Michelle Heys. Define priority stakeholders, and build and maintain relationships with those high-level strategic partners to drive adoption and raise Neotree’s profile.
Key Priorities for the First 12-18 Months
The new Executive Director will focus on the following key priorities during their initial 12-18 months:
1. Successful Project Delivery & Ministry of Health Partnerships. Ensure successful delivery of the projects currently in flight, in both Malawi and Zimbabwe. This includes partnerships with the Ministries of Health in both countries to build and hand over neonatal modules in their EHR systems based on Neotree, and support their successful rollout.
2. Strategic Plan Development. Develop a 3-5 year plan with the Board, academic partners, and wider project team to build on our existing foundation to expand Neotree – including addressing research gaps, using AI to improve clinical decision support, and finding ways to expand the adoption of the technology in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and beyond. Sustainability is a core part of that strategy.
3. Strategic Plan Execution. Execute on that plan, including securing funding, building partnerships, and further developing the Neotree team.
Person Specification
Personal attributes and skillset
- Overall: Values-driven, mission alignment, humility, and commitment to equitable partnership.
- Visionary Leadership: An inspiring leader who can balance day-to-day operations with a long-term strategic focus. You can articulate a clear future for Neotree that motivates an international team and aligns global partners toward making Neotree a national standard of care, ensuring every innovation remains underpinned by our "baby-first" mission.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: You must thrive in a landscape that is constantly shifting. You can pivot strategies as national digital health priorities evolve or as new technological partners emerge. You are comfortable with ambiguity and can steer the organisation through the "unknowns" of the next five+ years.
- Communication & Collaborative Mindset: You are a bridge-builder. You have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across international borders and multidisciplinary partners, linking academic research, technical development, and frontline clinical delivery.
Experience
1. Education: Master’s degree (MSc, MPH, MBA) in a relevant field (e.g. Global Health, International Development, Digital Health).
2. Proven track record of overseeing delivery of health services and/or health interventions (ideally in low-resource settings).
3. Experience of working in partnership with Ministries of Health strengthening health systems.
4. Proven experience in scaling an organisation or a digital product / health intervention from a pilot phase to a national or regional standard.
5. Experience of leading multidisciplinary, multi-cultural teams, both in person and remotely.
6. Experience of monitoring and evaluating health programmes.
7. Experience managing complex grants, and diverse revenue streams (grants, philanthropy, or social enterprise models).
Desirable
- AI & Innovation: Understanding of the ethical and practical implications of integrating AI/Machine Learning into healthcare.
- Governance: Familiarity with UK charity governance, including reporting to the Charity Commission and Companies House.
Equal opportunities
Neotree values diversity and is committed to equal opportunities. All applicants for employment will receive equal treatment without discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic or national origins, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation, or any other grounds. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds, and the low-resource settings in which we work, to ensure we have a well-balanced and widely representative staff base.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with the British Asian Trust to recruit an Associate Director of Programme Fundraising (maternity cover - 9 months), who will play a pivotal role in strategically leading fundraising across their institutional, trusts and foundations and strategic corporate partnership income streams.
Associate Director of Programme Fundraising
£80,000 - £85,000 dependent on experience
9 month maternity cover
London with hybrid working (2dpw onsite in their White City office)
The British Asian Trust is a diaspora-led international development organisation, delivering programmes tackling problems and inequalities in the areas of education, livelihoods, mental health, child protection and conservation in South Asia.
The scale and complexity of the challenges in South Asia demand innovative and ambitious approaches to tackling them. The British Asian Trust works in partnership with others to design and deliver programmes, raise funds and convene partnerships that combine new social finance tools, philanthropy and technology to deliver impact at scale.
The Associate Director of Programme Fundraising plays a critical role within this set up - leading and shaping the programme fundraising strategy to secure large scale partnerships with institutional donors, trusts and foundations and strategic corporate partners. The position holds an integral central point of contact between internal and external stakeholders (in the London HQ and internationally), developing complex and compelling funding propositions while cultivating key donor relationships and ensuring the delivery of ambitious income targets.
As Associate Director of Programme Fundraising you will lead a high-performing team of 6, with matrix management/collaboration with colleagues based in India and Pakistan, as an active member of the Fundraising Leadership team.
The British Asian Trust operates a dynamic, impact-driven culture - requiring an individual with the technical skills and expertise to drive growth of these core income streams whilst delegating multiple competing priorities and navigating a complex funding environment.
About the role:
- Further develop and implement the programme fundraising strategy, focused on securing funding from institutional donors, trusts and foundations and corporate partners aligned with BAT's core programmatic areas.
- Cultivate and manage key relationships with funders, influencers and wider relevant networks.
- Lead a high performing team, managing and delegating multiple competing priorities to balance organisational requirements for programme fundraising efficiently.
- Further develop systems and processes that underpin programme fundraising, including prospect research, compliance, donor engagement, proposition development and reporting.
- Operate as an active and effective member of the Fundraising Leadership Team, collaborating with the Programme, Finance and Communications teams to align policies and processes.
About You:
- A proven track record in programme fundraising, securing multi-million-pound funding from institutional donors, trusts and foundations.
- Experience in international development/social impact sectors with a strong understanding/wider awareness of outcome based fundraising models.
- Team leader, with expertise of managing high-performing teams and delegating tasks effectively.
- An agile approach/"test and learn" mentality to adapt approaches/pivot activity as necessary within a dynamic environment and shifting donor priorities.
- Strong relationship manager, with expertise of engaging a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders (including high-value funders and in-country teams).
Deadline for CVs: Friday 6th March at 12pm
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.
Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Leukaemia UK – Our Charity
We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Over the next 10 years we want to help save and improve the lives of more people with leukaemia through finding and funding life-changing research and campaigning for change.
Despite progress in recent decades, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer every 16 minutes and survival rates are among some of the worst of any cancer. And the physical and psychological impact can be lifelong.
Our current 5-year strategy outlines our plan to increase our investment into ground-breaking world class research and policy development focused on improving access to kinder, more effective diagnosis, treatment and care for leukaemia and other blood cancers. To do this, we have embarked on a period of significant growth, investing strategically to grow our income, profile, influence, and engagement and impact.
We are seeking an experienced, driven and passionate Head of Philanthropy to lead on delivering income from our High Value (HV) audiences and income streams. We are looking for someone with energy and ambition, who can demonstrate strategic leadership to maximise fundraising opportunities across Major Giving, Trusts and Foundations, Special Events and Corporate Partnerships. The post holder will be a key part of the Fundraising Leadership Team, helping to grow our supporter networks, optimise supporter experience and contributing to the development of the overall fundraising growth strategy, at this crucial stage as we complete the current cycle and move into our new 5-year strategy period in 2027.
Team
We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do. We are all focused on “keeping it real” with pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity maximises voluntary income to invest in more life-changing research, so that we can continue to have impact for those with a leukaemia diagnosis.
From us you can expect all the laughter you can handle, as well as great challenge and support. We are all about delivering exceptional supporter experience and making a real difference to people’s lives.
You will be part of an ambitious fundraising team driving growth across the portfolio, so we can fund more leukaemia research and save more lives from this devastating disease. You will report to the Director of Fundraising, working alongside the Head of Public Fundraising, and collaborating across the wider organisation to ensure fundraising aligns with our organisational priorities and values (Bold, Collaborative, Curious) and feels insight-driven, strategic and competitive in a crowded marketplace.
Leukaemia UK and You
In 2025 we invested in growing our fundraising team so that we could fund more life-changing research, to increase our understanding of leukemia as a disease, and accelerate the development of kinder, more effective treatments. This included investment to grow the Philanthropy fundraising team, develop new fundraising products, increase our supporter networks, and build a stronger pipeline. As a result, we have seen significant year-on-year growth for a charity of our size and are keen to maintain this trajectory with the opportunities in front of us.
We are in the final year of our current 5-year organisational strategy cycle and in the process of developing our new 5-year fundraising strategy, so you will be instrumental in bridging the gap, delivering against agreed income targets for 2026 and driving forward new plans into 2027.
Reporting to the Director of Fundraising, the post holder will at times be required to work both strategically and operationally, autonomously and collaboratively, as a critical member of the Fundraising Leadership Team. You will be results-driven with an appetite to innovate and drive continuous improvement, leading to increased conversions, deepened relationships, and long-term high value support to upscale our research programme.
Skills and Experience
- Previous experience of being a Head of Philanthropy, demonstrating strategic leadership with a remit that includes oversight of a broad High Value fundraising portfolio, across multiple income streams.
- Experience of applying the principles of Philanthropy fundraising to develop and nurture a growing pipeline of 5- and 6-figure gift opportunities for supporters able to give at the highest levels.
- Experience of managing engaging Major Giving and Trusts & Foundations fundraising programmes to generate a warm pipeline of 5- and 6-figure gifts.
- Experience of overseeing a Special Events programme, comprising both fundraising and cultivation events.
- Experience of overseeing a Corporate partnerships portfolio and representing the charity at a senior level.
- Demonstrable experience of managing a high-performing team, focussing on creating a culture where people thrive as individuals.
- Strong experience of building effective relationships with internal and external partners, senior stakeholders and suppliers, leading on the key relationships for the charity.
- Strong written and oral communication skills with a real talent for connecting and influencing people at all levels.
- Strong project-management experience, including managing budgets, schedules, creative development, and supplier relationships for fundraising events and campaigns.
- Proven experience of driving effective High Value stewardship programmes to maximise supporter experience.
- Great listening skills and the ability to interpret the needs of individuals, teams, and organisations.
- Ability to think through complex issues and produce evidenced-based judgements.
- Experience of setting and managing annual budgets, monitoring, and reconciling results and financial performance in income and expenditure. Providing associated narratives and monthly reforecasts.
- Working to a wide range of financial and non-financial KPIs set in annual activity plans.
- Ability to work well cross-organisationally, recognising different teams’ priorities and workloads.
- Entrepreneurial and results-led, with the ability to lead programmes of fundraising activity, with strategic, well thought through resourcing to deliver growth.
Knowledge
- Excellent specialist knowledge of the principals and methods underpinning successful Philanthropy fundraising and stakeholder management across Major Giving, Trusts and Corporate partnerships.
- Up-to-date knowledge of current fundraising trends.
- High level knowledge of Salesforce CRM and how best to steward supporters.
- High level knowledge and understanding of charity law in relation to legacy fundraising, GDPR, PECR, data protection and other relevant fundraising regulation.
Role specifics
- Hours: 0.8 FTE are 30 hours per week – days and times to be agreed
- 12 months fixed term contract – maternity cover
- Location: We are very flexible! Whilst our hybrid working policy is a minimum of two days per month in our London office, for this role we would typically expect the role holder to be in the office once a week.
- Salary range £55,000 - £65,000 (FTE)
Applications
If you feel you have the passion for our work and the right mix of experience, skills, energy, and flair to embrace this broad and challenging leadership role and enable our strategy to fly, then we would love you to apply. Please also see the full job description attached to the advert.
- First interviews will be held via Teams Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March 2026
- Second interviews will be face to face in our London Offices – at 26 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5Bl on either Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th March 2026
- We are proud of our benefits – see a summary on our website in the section Work With Us
Application instructions: To minimise unconscious bias, we use anonymous recruitment and are unable to consider direct applications. Please apply via the CharityJob website with your CV and covering letter.
Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 8th March 2026
I look forward to hearing from you!
Holly Hastings-Payne
Director of Fundraising
Together we can find and fund the research that matters most to people living with blood cancer.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Sick Children's Trust
Salary: £46,000
Location: Hybrid (1-2 days/week in London EC2A)
Closing date: Thursday 5 March 2026
Charity People is thrilled to be partnering with The Sick Children's Trust to recruit their new Development Manager - Corporate & Philanthropy. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a warm, values-driven organisation that provides vital 'Homes from Home' supporting thousands of families with seriously ill children in hospital.
For over 40 years, The Sick Children's Trust has been giving families a free place to stay, just steps from their child's hospital bed. Their ten 'Homes from Home' across England provide more than a welcoming place to stay - they also give comfort, stability, community and compassion at the most difficult moments in a family's life.
With 91% occupancy, 48,062 nights of accommodation provided last year, and over 3,200 families supported, the impact of this charity is profound. This role sits at the heart of expanding that life-changing reach.
The Role
As Development Manager - Corporate & Philanthropy, you will lead the growth of an ambitious and high-performing corporate partnerships programme. This is a senior, income-generating role focused on securing new business, stewarding high-value relationships, and influencing philanthropic support through senior networks.
Reporting to the Director of Fundraising and managing two corporate fundraisers (South and North), you will:
Lead Corporate New Business
- Develop and deliver a strategy to secure long-term, high-value corporate partnerships
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of five- and six-figure prospects
- Create compelling, bespoke proposals, pitches and presentations
- Confidently deliver senior-level pitches to CSR leads, directors and boards
Maximise Relationship Value
- Provide excellent stewardship to high-value partners
- Work closely with the Director of Fundraising to engage major donors, trustees and influential supporters
- Spot opportunities to bridge corporate leaders into philanthropic giving
Collaborate and Innovate
- Work with Operations, Communications and Marketing to build impactful partnership propositions
- Shape co-branded campaigns, sponsorship opportunities, corporate volunteering and events
- Act as an ambassador for the charity at external and sector events
Lead and Develop Others
- Line manage and mentor the Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer (South) and Corporate Officer (North)
- Monitor performance, forecast income, and report against KPIs
- Use DonorFlex to maintain accurate, high-quality records
About you
We're looking for someone who brings a proven track record of securing new five and six-figure corporate partnerships, with the ability to craft high-quality proposals, pitch decks and presentations that win major support. You will be confident pitching to senior and influencialaudiences, and skilled at building strong, strategic relationships across both corporate and philanthropic stakeholders. You'll have experience engaging major donors or senior supporters, combined with the creative thinking needed to shape compelling partnership propositions. Alongside this, you will be highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Benefits
The Sick Children's Trust offers a generous package including:
- £46,000 per annum
- 35-hour working week
- Hybrid working
- 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off
- Wellbeing support (EAP, eyecare, flu jab, life assurance)
- Additional benefits post-probation (bonus day off, enhanced pension, PHI, Medicash, Digicare+, travel loan)
Interested in this incredible role?
For the full job pack and details on how to apply, please share your CV with Kevin who will be in touch with further information.
Closing date: Thursday 5th March
First stage interviews: W/C Monday 9th March
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.
Job Purpose
This role sits at the heart of Operation Smile UK’s five-year strategy to deliver transformational growth across all income streams. As Senior Lead - Retention & Legacy Fundraising, you will be instrumental in delivering on three of the four core strategic priorities:
1. Build Regular Giving – retain and maximise value from the regular giving base
2. Drive All Donors to Legacy – ensure donors experience best-in-class stewardship, increasing their loyalty to the charity with an objective of feeding into legacy and long-term giving goals.
3. Maximise Growth Through Digital Fundraising Integration – leading the expansion and optimisation of digital growth for all existing supporters.
The Senior Lead - Retention & Legacy Fundraising is responsible for delivering Operation Smile UK’s strategic individual giving retention and legacy marketing programme. This role is key to driving income growth from our existing donors from the point of recruitment, maximising value and minimising attrition from the regular giving pool and generating and retaining legacy actions and prospects.
You will lead on the strategy, planning, delivery and evaluation of retention campaigns, with full accountability for managing significant budgets, agency partnerships and performance metrics.
You will support the development of the Legacy strategy, be instrumental in planning legacy activity and delivering legacy marketing for the existing supporter base across all income streams and methods of support, from Partnerships, Volunteers and public fundraisers.
This is a senior, hands-on role suited to an experienced Individual giving fundraiser with strong commercial acumen and a data-driven mindset.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Campaign Leadership
- Develop and implement the retention strategy, aligned with income targets and supporter growth objectives.
- Lead on the planning and delivery of campaigns across cash, donor stewardship, legacy prospecting and stewardship, welcome, conversion, reactivation and upgrade appeals.
- Lead on strategic development of the cultivation journey to ensure Operation Smile maximise growth through digital channels.
- Monitor and report on campaign performance, providing insight-driven recommendations to optimise results.
- Drive testing and innovation to expand existing approaches and introduce new ones within acceptable risk and return parameters.
Budget Ownership & Performance Monitoring
- Take full responsibility for retention and legacy budget management, income forecasting and cost control.
- Set, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), reporting against ROI, value and response, retention and conversion metrics and long-term value across all supporter groups channels.
- Collaborate with the Senior Database Manager and the Director of Data and Technology to develop and maintain performance dashboards (e.g., Power BI) and support strategic data analysis, including both short term and long-term channel performance evaluation.
Line Management
- Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the Retention team, ensuring clarity of objectives, effective workload management, and professional development opportunities.
- Conduct regular 1:1s, annual appraisals, and performance reviews for direct reports, supporting their growth and accountability.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture, encouraging innovation, learning, and high standards of delivery.
- Provide strategic and operational direction to external agencies or freelancers working on retention projects.
Agency & Partner Management
- Manage day-to-day relationships with external fundraising and creative partners.
- Lead on the relationship with the external fulfilment agency working with multiple internal stakeholders to ensure an effective partnership is in place.
- Lead briefings, content sourcing, agent training, stakeholder approvals, and quality assurance processes.
- Negotiate contracts and hold suppliers accountable for delivery and performance.
Cross-Team and Market Integration
- Represent the retention and legacy programme in cross-functional planning meetings and contribute to a unified team culture focused on strategic delivery.
- Work closely with the Acquisition and Digital lead to deliver a seamless supporter journey from point of recruitment to donor communications.
- Work closely with the Philanthropy Manager to develop and manage the pipeline of HV/Major donors.
- Work closely with the Legacy administrator, Philanthropy Manager and Volunteer Manager to develop the legacy pipeline.
- Work closely to ensure all digital communications are aligned and support the retention strategy
- Act as a key liaison with colleagues across Operation Smile global markets, sharing insights and exploring opportunities to align strategy, co-develop creative, or pilot cross-market initiatives.
Compliance, Risk & Best Practice
- Ensure all campaigns meet legal, ethical and data protection requirements (e.g., GDPR, Fundraising Regulator).
- Act as a key contributor to organisational risk assessments relating to income performance and supplier performance.
- Keep up to date with sector trends, innovations and benchmarks to maintain best practice.
Person specification
Essential Experience
- Extensive experience (ideally 5+ years) in Individual Giving, Legacy or fundraising acquisition roles.
- Proven success delivering multi-channel (including digital) retention campaigns for both cash, legacy and regular giving donors with strong ROI.
- Experience managing external agencies and suppliers to high performance standards.
- Strong background in regular giving retention.
- Demonstrable experience managing and reporting on retention budgets.
Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with excellent campaign planning and execution skills.
- Highly numerate and confident using data for decision-making and optimisation.
- Strong project and stakeholder management abilities.
- Proactive, self-starting approach with high levels of ownership and accountability.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to represent the organisation externally.
Desirable
- Understanding of retention and supporter journey optimisation.
- Familiarity with CRM, Dot digital and data system Donorfy.
- Experience with Power BI or other reporting tools.
First-round interviews are set for the week of 9th March 2026. We strongly encourage early applications.
Disability Confident Committed Employer
We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.
At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.
If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation.
We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of, age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.
Please provide clear evidence in your cover letter of your experience and achievements, including income performance results. We are particularly interested in your expertise in developing supporter journeys and delivering successful multichannel campaigns across both mail and digital platforms. Additionally, please demonstrate your commitment to the sector.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Head of Individual Giving
Location: London, UK (Only candidates who are eligible to work legally without work visa sponsorship in the UK will be considered.)
Contract Type: Full-time (40 hours per week), Permanent contract
Hiring Salary: GBP 54,374 per annum (before taxes)
Target Start Date: As soon as possible
Application Closing Date: March 10, 2026 23:59 GMT
This job advert is for an existing vacancy.
About Right To Play:
For more than 25 years, Right To Play has been protecting, educating, and empowering millions of children each year to rise above adversity through the power of play.
We offer programs in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America, reaching millions of children each year in some of the most difficult places on earth, helping them to stay in school and learn, overcome prejudice, heal from trauma, and develop the skills they need to thrive. We do this by harnessing play, one of the most fundamental forces in a child's life, to teach children the critical skills they need to dismantle barriers and embrace opportunities, in learning and in life.
This work is supported by our two global offices in Toronto, Canada and London, UK; and seven National Offices in North America and Europe.
Right To Play UK is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland that works in partnership with Right To Play International to raise funds and awareness across the UK.
Benefits Highlights:
Connect and collaborate with a global team who are passionate about protecting, educating and empowering children and youth using the power of play!
Culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care, and be playful)
- Flexible work arrangements
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year
- Competitive benefits such as Income Protection and Life Assurance
- Learning opportunities and 5 learning and development (L&D) days per year
- More information on what we offer is available on our website.
Application Method:
Apply with your resume and cover letter in English via the application link.
Right To Play provides equal employment opportunities to employees regardless of their gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or marital status. We strongly encourage groups who have been historically disadvantaged with respect to employment to apply for positions at Right To Play.
As part of our selection process, final candidates will be required to complete security checks and Vulnerable Sector Check or equivalent criminal record check as a condition of the offer. More details about our recruitment process and safeguarding information are available on our website.
As part of our recruitment and selection process, Right To Play uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) - assisted tools to support the assessment of candidates or applications. This may include but not limited to generating and editing of job adverts, assessment and interview questions, scheduling, translation, transcription, note taking, etc. Our Applicant Tracking System (ATS), VidCruiter, also use AI-powered ChatBot to answer candidates' enquiries. These tools are used only to assist human reviewers in evaluation and do not make selection or screening decisions. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers. All AI-assisted processes comply with applicable privacy and data protection regulations, including GDPR and PIPEDA. For more information, please refer to RTP AI Policy and our Best Practice: Use of AI in Recruitment on our website.
We value and promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are committed to providing accommodations to candidates with disabilities during the recruitment and selection process, and thereafter. Please reach out to the People & Culture team by email. All information provided will be treated as confidential and used only to provide an accessible candidate experience.
Job Description:
Job Title: Head of Individual Giving
Location: London, UK
Supervisor Title: Executive Director UK and Global Strategic Initiatives
Region/Department/Office: UK National Office (UKNO)
Job Family: Fundraising
Grade: 8
I. JOB SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Executive Director, Right To Play UK, the Head of Individual Giving will be responsible for leading on community, mid and major donor fundraising and philanthropy for Right To Play UK. The incumbent will deliver a successful strategy for Right To Play UK’s work in this area, leading on developing and coordinating fundraising campaigns, building, and developing our portfolio of major donors, developing a philanthropy pipeline and facilitating bespoke events with the aim of generating substantial income in line with the organisation’s budgetary objectives.
II. RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Individual Giving campaigns and strategy (20% time):
- Collaborate on development and implementation of UK individual giving strategy, working closely with the UK leadership team and international colleagues.
- Develop, adapt and coordinate UK fundraising campaigns for mid and major donors, work closely with the Head of Communications and Engagement and UK team.
- Project manage delivery of campaigns by the RTP UK staff team, working across audiences.
- Analyse and report on audience, results and trends and use this to inform future plans.
- Manage the Individual Giving Officer and provide guidance on their development of key projects.
2.Major Giving and Philanthropy (50% time):
- Lead on developing, implementing and reporting on Right To Play’s individual giving strategy in the UK, in alignment with Right To Play’s global strategic plan, in collaboration with the Head of Partnerships and Executive Director.
- Directly manage a range of major donor and philanthropic relationships, as well as oversight of relationship management by colleagues and the Partnerships team.
- Lead on researching, identifying, developing, and supporting new major donor funding opportunities with the aim of generating substantial income from this fundraising source in line with the organization’s budgetary objectives.
- Lead on ongoing communications strategy for our mid and major donor support base, building support and ensuring consistency across a range of constituent groups.
3. Major donor events development (15%):
- Lead on design and development of bespoke major donor events (e.g. 30 person dinner), working closely with service providers, donors and the RTP UK team.
- Lead on stewardship of events-focused audiences, building a long-term, diversified support base.
4. Contribute and support global and UK team (10%):
- Contribute to global projects and strategies through the global fundraising team.
- Contribute to the development of global strategic initiatives, including developing major donor relationships in other RTP supporter countries.
- Support the work of the wider Right To Play UK team, focussing on shared team goals.
5. Performs other duties as assigned. (5%)
- Undertake any other activities reasonably requested by the Executive Director.
III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Must have):
(A) EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:
- Undergraduate degree from a relevant university program or equivalent work experience
(B) EXPERIENCE:
- 5-year’s relevant experience including working within a senior fundraising role, working on fundraising strategy and successful campaigns.
- Experience in managing relationships with a range of major donors.
- Experience developing and securing high value relationships and gifts.
- Experience developing/approving reports and proposals for major donors and/or tailoring to a UK audience.
- Experience representing an organisation with senior stakeholders.
- Experience managing a varied workload and balancing conflicting priorities.
(C) COMPETENCIES / PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal sensitively and diplomatically with a variety of people, both internally and externally.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage a varied workload.
- Ability to think creatively and assess effective approaches with different audiences.
- Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively in a team with enthusiasm and commitment.
- Willingness and ability to work additional hours as required at events and business meetings (with TOIL provided).
- Understanding of and commitment to the aims and values of Right To Play.
(D) TECHNICAL SKILLS:
- Excellent networking skills
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, with demonstrable experience in negotiating and influencing.
- High attention to detail for writing professional external communications.
(E) SECTOR SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE:
- Understanding of and commitment to the aims and values of Right To Play.
- Demonstrable experience working within a senior fundraising role and more specifically working successfully with mid and major donors, in line with the requirements of this role.
(F) LANGUAGES:
- Excellent written and spoken English.
IV. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (An Asset):
- Understanding of International Development issues and context.
- Understanding of UK charity fundraising regulations and Data Protection legislation.
- Experience of working in a global organisation.
V. ADDITIONAL JOB RELATED CONDITIONS:
The vast majority of work will take place in London, Right To Play UKNO Office. However, the role may require select travel to other parts of the country or global country programmes, in order to support key initiatives. Occasional evening and weekend activity for donor events and meetings, is expected.
To protect, educate, and empower children to rise above adversity using the power of play.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

