OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE POST
This strategic and outward-facing role will be instrumental in expanding the School’s network of supporters and maximising philanthropic income as we celebrate our Centenary in 2026. The postholder will take a leading role in identifying, cultivating, and securing new major donor relationships - building a strong and sustainable pipeline of prospects capable of making transformational gifts to support the School’s vision and long-term priorities as it seeks to uphold its global standing as a centre of performance excellence in classical dance from London base.
This position offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced development professional to play a pivotal part in shaping the School’s next chapter. Working closely with senior leadership, the postholder will design and deliver innovative engagement strategies to attract new supporters, deepen relationships with key prospects, and communicate the School’s impact and ambitions with clarity and passion. The role requires a proactive and strategic relationship-builder with the confidence to engage high-level individuals and the insight to convert interest into enduring philanthropic partnerships in support of the future of the performing arts at the highest level.
CONTRACT TERMS
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday
Salary: £45,000 per annum
Location: Upper School, Covent Garden
Start Date: March/April 2026
Annual Leave: 30 days per annum
MAIN DUTIES
Donor Cultivation and Relationship Management
- Build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with new and existing supporters through personalised engagement strategies informed by the Head of Development
- Represent the School at meetings, events, presentations and functions to cultivate connections with prospective donors
- Collaborate with senior leadership and the Donor Relations Team to ensure high-level donors are onboarded seamlessly and receive tailored stewardship and recognition.
Strategic Fundraising Planning
- Develop and implement strategies to attract new major donors, aligning with the School’s fundraising priorities for UK in-year activity, as well as USA and Asia development
- Work with senior leadership to set fundraising targets, track progress, and report on performance across each giving level prioritising annual donations of £50k+ per annum.
Proposal Preparation
- Collaborate with content, communications and marketing team colleagues to create compelling materials that articulate the School’s mission and strategic priorities
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of fundraising campaigns, events, and initiatives to engage, cultivate and convert prospective supporters.
Prospect Research and Identification
- Maintain and update the active prospects pipeline, ensuring all opportunities are tracked and appropriately prioritized with touchpoints and assigned relationship leads
- Contribute to the invitations tracker to ensure all prospects are engaged with in a systemised and relevant way according to location, interest, propensity to give.
Monitoring, Reporting, and Analysis
- Maintain accurate records of donor engagement and interactions in the CRM system improving and refining systems and processes as part of a growing department
- Monitor progress against fundraising targets, providing regular reports and insights to senior leadership on pipeline value from identification to stewardship stages
- Analyse donor trends, sector insights and curate feedback to refine engagement strategies.
Team Collaboration and Leadership
- Work closely with colleagues across Development and the Senior Leadership Team as well as Artistic and Academic staff to refine the propositions and align fundraising priorities
- Host year-round events with the Development Team to enable all prospect engagement
- Mentor and support junior staff involved in development activities where appropriate.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria:
- Proven experience in donor cultivation and relationship management - Demonstrated success in building and sustaining 5 and 6 figure annual relationships with major donors and key stakeholders.
- Strong organisational and project management skills - Capacity to manage multiple donor relationships, events/projects, and fundraising initiatives simultaneously, while maintaining attention to detail in a dynamic office environment.
- Strong strategic fundraising expertise - Ability to design, implement, and evaluate fundraising strategies that align with institutional priorities and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Skilled at engaging and influencing diverse audiences through persuasive written and verbal communication, including at senior levels.
- Proficiency in proposal and campaign development - Experience preparing compelling fundraising proposals, campaign materials, and event strategies that inspire donor support.
- Analytical and reporting skills - Ability to monitor, interpret, and report on fundraising performance, donor trends, and engagement metrics using CRM and data analysis tools.
- Collaborative teamwork - Proven ability to work effectively across departments and with senior leadership, collaborating with colleagues to achieve shared goals.
- Ethical commitment and alignment with institutional values - Demonstrated integrity, discretion, and commitment to advancing the mission and values of the School through responsible fundraising practices.
Desirable Criteria:
- A knowledge and appreciation of ballet, the arts, performance, elite sport
- Understanding of 501c3 and Endowment Fund structures
- Previous experience of using Salesforce.
SAFEGUARDING DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and recognises that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to children’s safeguarding and to share this child-centred approach. This approach means that staff must consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. Additionally, the following is expected of all staff:
- To uphold the School’s policies relating to safeguarding and child protection, behaviour, health and safety and all other relevant policies
- To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and come into contact with
- To report any safeguarding concerns using the relevant channels, such as informing the Designated Safeguarding Lead, in a timely and appropriate manner
- To ensure full compliance with all statutory regulations, particularly the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education, and to communicate concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, other relevant staff of The Royal Ballet School or local children’s services as appropriate.
This job information cannot be all encompassing. It is inevitable over time that the emphasis of the job will change without changing the general character of the job or the level of duties and responsibilities entailed. Consequently, this information will be periodically reviewed, revised and updated in consultation with the post holder to reflect appropriate changes.
We are committed to creating an environment where all our employees feel part of our team and can flourish, regardless of their background. We’re proud to be an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity.
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Do you enjoy building meaningful connections and supporting people to achieve their goals?
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Community Relationship Fundraiser to join our Fundraising Team at the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association. You will be helping people to raise money which will go towards our vital work supporting the MND community. You will ensure our supporters feel valued while helping to maximise income for the Association. A home-based role which supports our north region including Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria and Northumberland. The Community Relationship Fundraiser will play a vital role in building strong relationships and delivering excellent supporter care.
Key Responsibilities:
- Remotely steward fundraisers in your area, working with internal teams to provide the best experience.
- Deliver excellent supporter care, ensuring fundraisers feel engaged and motivated.
- Collaborate with the wider community team to ensure consistent processes and accurate records.
- Ensure funds raised are received correctly and within agreed timescales.
- Make sure all fundraising activities comply with law, best practice, and internal policies.
About You:
- Experience in fundraising, sales, or account management.
- Experience coaching and motivating people to achieve goals.
- Experience of working to income targets.
- Excellent communication skills across phone, email, and face-to-face.
- Respectful of diverse backgrounds and committed to inclusivity.
- Able to build and maintain positive relationships.
- Good time management skills with the ability to prioritise and multitask.
About Us:
Our vision is a world free from MND. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND. The Association also campaigns and raises awareness so the needs of people with MND, and everyone who cares for them, are recognised, and addressed by wider society.
What We Offer:
- 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays.
- Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies.
- 24/7 GP access via phone and video.
- Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines.
- Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave).
- Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping.
- Enhanced pension scheme.
- Opportunities for training and personal development.
- Hybrid working.
The full job description and further information about working for the MND Association is available in the candidate pack.
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.
As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.
As a Community Relationship Fundraiser, you will help ensure supporters feel valued and inspired, while contributing to the long-term success of the Association. If you are ready to take on this rewarding role, we would love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Do you enjoy building strong relationships and helping others achieve their fundraising goals?
At the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, we are looking for a Relationship Fundraiser to join our team on a 10-month Fixed Term Contract. This is a fantastic opportunity where you will help strengthen connections with individuals, local businesses, and our branches and groups face-to-face across the region. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference by supporting fundraisers, delivering events, and ensuring every supporter feels valued.
This is a home-based role with travel requirements across: Lancashire, Manchester and South & West Yorkshire.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and deliver community and local business fundraising events in your region.
- Provide a tailored supporter journey through a range quality communications including meetings, calls and emails.
- Support our branches and groups to grow income from local events, trusts, and corporates.
- Build strong relationships to maximise fundraising potential and engagement.
- Ensure funds are processed accurately and on time.
- Collaborate with the wider community team to maintain consistent processes and accurate CRM records.
- Represent the Association at events, presentations, and local media opportunities.
- Ensure all fundraising activities comply with law, best practice, and internal policies.
About You:
- Experience in community fundraising or relationship management.
- Experience coaching and motivating people.
- Confident using CRM databases with knowledge of GDPR.
- Inclusive and respectful of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Passionate about inspiring supporters to reach their fundraising goals.
- Strong communication skills with tact and diplomacy.
- Excellent attention to detail across written and verbal communication.
- Track record of working to income targets.
- Ability to work evenings and weekends when required.
- Full clean driving licence.
About Us:
Our vision is a world free from MND. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND. The Association also campaigns and raises awareness so the needs of people with MND, and everyone who cares for them, are recognised, and addressed by wider society.
What We Offer:
- 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays.
- Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies.
- 24/7 GP access via phone and video.
- Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines.
- Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave).
- Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping.
- Enhanced pension scheme.
- Opportunities for training and personal development.
- Hybrid working.
The full job description and further information about working for the MND Association is available in the candidate pack.
We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.
As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.