Philanthropy Manager

Philanthropy Manager
Full-time 41 hours per week

Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London)
Permanent contract
£48,756 per annum
Application deadline: 23 July 2026

About the role

It is an exciting time to join the British Museum. Under the leadership of Director Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE and the Board of Trustees, the Museum is embarking on an ambitious programme of transformation through its , a major redevelopment project that will reimagine the Museum for the 21st century while safeguarding its collection and ensuring public access for generations to come.

As part of this vision, the Museum is preparing to launch a major fundraising campaign with a target of raising at least £500 million through philanthropy.

As Philanthropy Manager, you will play a key role in securing and stewarding major gifts from individual supporters, family foundations, trusts, donor-advised funds and other philanthropic partners. Working closely with senior colleagues across the Development team and wider Museum, you will help grow long-term relationships with donors, develop compelling funding opportunities, and support the delivery of ambitious fundraising targets for both revenue and capital projects.

About you

You are an experienced major gifts fundraiser with a track record of securing five- and six-figure donations and managing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations and their advisors. You are a confident communicator and persuasive writer, able to build strong relationships and develop compelling cases for support.

Highly organised and self-motivated, you are comfortable managing a varied portfolio of prospects, balancing competing priorities and working towards ambitious income targets. You bring strong judgement, excellent stakeholder management skills and a collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across a complex organisation.

Key areas of responsibility

• Manage a portfolio of major donor prospects and supporters, developing tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies to secure significant gifts.
• Support the planning and delivery of cultivation, stewardship and fundraising events, including the .
• Raise funds for key Museum priorities, contributing to annual income targets and the development of the Museum's major capital campaign.
• Research, write and deliver high-quality funding proposals, reports and donor communications that are engaging, accurate and persuasive.
• Build strong relationships with donors, trustees, advisors and colleagues across the Museum.

Benefits

At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do and have designed a benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary. Our full list of benefits can be found , but we've outlined some highlights below:

• Free exhibition entry for you and guests, exclusive private views, ICOM and reciprocal museum access.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme with a secure, inflation-linked defined benefit.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days (and +5 days after 10 years).
• Peer support and allyship with five diversity networks for community.
• Learning and development through courses, mentoring and Athena as well as support for professional qualifications.
• Enhanced parental leave including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
• Support for carers through Employers for Carers.
• Interest-free loans including season ticket, rental deposit and bicycle loans.

Our Values

Our values drive everything we do, from how we handle our objects to how we work in our team to fostering a culture where everyone feels heard and empowered:

• Care Deeply
• Embrace the Unknown
• Spark Curiosity
• Value Many Voices

These are a core part of how we recruit. Throughout the application, interview and selection process, we look for examples of how candidates demonstrate these behaviours in their own work and experiences. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our values and reflect them in your application.

Additional details

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details

Right to Work: The British Museum holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence. Applicants are responsible for determining whether the advertised salary and role meet current UKVI sponsorship requirements and for ensuring they have, or can obtain, the appropriate right to work in the UK. The Museum cannot provide immigration advice, and eligibility should be checked before submitting an application.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.