Major gift fundraiser jobs in birmingham

Role Purpose

Winston’s Wish is a digital first organisation leading the way in Digital Transformation across the Bereavement sector. This role is new and exciting and will play a vital part in helping Winston’s Wish turn up the dial across our high value fundraising.

As Philanthropy Manager you will be responsible for growing income from major donors and Trusts and Foundations through excellent donor stewardship. Leading a team of committed Trust fundraisers, you will focus on identifying prospective individual donors and foundations and develop lasting relationships with them. You will also support the management of relationships with existing donors, ensuring all donors have an excellent experience of supporting Winston’s Wish and understand the impact of their support on the lives of grieving children.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership

• To lead and inspire the Philanthropy team fostering a collaborative and high culture that delivers against income and objectives.
• Provide clear and supportive leadership that motivates staff to achieve, develop and grow in their roles.
• Undertake quarterly reviews for all direct reports.

Philanthropy Fundraising

 

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with high-value donors, ensuring effective solicitation, stewardship, and follow-up to secure significant contributions (six-figure gifts).
• Build and maintain a portfolio of Trust & Grants supporters. Responsible for researching, approaching and developing compelling applications with a focus on ensuring Trusts & Grants provide a long-term, diverse and sustainable income stream.
• Lead the development and stewardship of the Philanthropy board to identify and secure transformational (6-7 figure) gifts and the development of the Business development Board to open opportunities with Corporate Partners.
• Write and design a compelling case for support that is tailored to our High Value audiences.
• Lead on planning and delivering successful high value cultivation events.
• Represent Winston’s Wish at fundraising events and meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• You will identify new major donors and Trusts and Foundations who have the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of grieving children. You will develop and implement cultivation strategies to turn prospects into supporters.
• You will work with the Individual Giving Manager to identify mid-level donors who could be stewarded into the major donor pipeline.

Strategy, Planning and reporting

•  You will work alongside the Director of Income Generation to support the development and implementation of a new Philanthropy strategy covering development of a prospect pipeline, building a culture of peer referrals, annual targets and personalised engagement plans.
• Lead on developing and delivering effective stewardship journeys and cultivation plans.
• Produce regular reports on fundraising activity, analysing performance against targets, and identifying areas for improvement and growth.
• Work with the Director of Income Generation to develop the annual budget, including leading on monthly performance reports and contributing to quarterly reforecasts and reporting against KPI’s and milestones.
• Undertake research and make use of tools to identify potential High Value partners.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Income Generation, SLT and other teams to maximise high value fundraising opportunities.
• Where appropriate, you will involve Winston’s Wish senior staff and the Board of Trustees to make the most of opportunities to engage and build relationships with existing and potential supporters.

All Staff

• Contribute to the vision and mission of Winston's Wish; whilst embedding the values into your daily work activities.
• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in accordance with Winston’s Wish policy.
• Contribute to the overall success of the charity’s fundraising needs by providing case studies, attending events and adding value to the experience of our supporters as required.
• Contribute to the brand and reach of the charity by working alongside our Marketing & Communications Team when relevant press opportunities arise or when required for social media and online content (including the use of photography).
• Work to objectives, targets and work plans agreed with your line manager.
• Undertake specific projects and other ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager, fulfilling any deadlines, reviews and reporting procedures required.
• Take an active part in the quarterly review process and participate in training agreed with your line manager.
• Recognise and champion the lived experience of children and young people with bereavement within your work.
• Ensure the health and safety of all colleagues, volunteers and visitors in accordance with Winston’s Wish policy.

Person Specification

Essential

• A proven track record in high-value fundraising, including securing 6-7 figure donations from high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations, and businesses.
• Track record of converting cold prospects to planned gifts of 6-7 figures.
• Experience in effectively developing, managing and reporting complex income and expenditure budgets.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and excellent written skills.
• Experience of successfully engaging trustees and/or senior volunteer committees to drive philanthropic income.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive and results-driven mindset.
• Experience of researching and prospecting.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate with senior stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Highly professional, flexible and committed to achieve and exceed KPIs.
• Ability to manage projects and associated budgets.
• A self-starter with strong team working skills.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines.
•  A creative thinker and quick to respond to opportunities.

Desirable

• Understanding of child bereavement.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Experience of using Salesforce CRM System.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: Tuesday 1st July 2025

Interview date: Wednesday 9th July 2025

Interview location: MS Teams

Winston’s Wish reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

Philanthropy & Partnerships Development Manager (referred to internally as Partnerships Development Manager (New Business))
 
Every child belongs in a family. At Hope and Homes for Children, we’re working towards a world where orphanages have no place, where children grow up with love, belonging, and hope for the future. We're a trailblazer in global care reform, and now we're looking for a passionate, people-first fundraiser to help bring even more supporters into this mission.
 
About the role:

This is an exciting new business role which has emerged in our newly formed Philanthropy and Partnerships team. As our Partnerships Development Manager (New Business), you will be confident and credible at senior levels, adept at storytelling, relationship building and able to drive transformational philanthropic partnerships to secure five or six-figure and multi-year commitments. This will help take the organisation from an annual income of £10m to £15m over the next 3-5 years to accelerate and expand Hope and Homes for Children’s impact for children and families.
 
About you:

Personable, creative and a strategic thinker, you’ll drive a proactive focus on prospecting, identifying, and engaging new philanthropists and partners to build a robust and diverse pipeline of high-value donors. Resilience and determination will be key.
 
About Hope and Homes for Children:

We believe children belong in families, never orphanages. Because orphanages harm children. The majority of those who experience life inside an institution suffer violence, abuse and neglect. Denied the chance to grow up in a family, they’re more likely to become homeless later in life, to have run-ins with the law, and to experience mental and physical health issues.
 
The shocking truth is that these are almost always children who have, or could have, a family to look after them. To love them. But every day, a broken system puts pressure on parents to give up their children. They'll be safe from war, can escape poverty, will get an education. False promises. No child should have to trade their family for their future.
 
Today, over 5.4 million children are trapped within institutions. It’s not right and it must stop. Children deserve so much better. Always.
 
Since 1994, Hope and Homes for Children has been working to stop the institutionalisation of children. We’re approximately 240 people, in ten countries, inspiring organisations, including the UN, EU and governments around the world, to close the doors of orphanages forever. Instead, we fight for every child to feel the love and belonging of a safe family home.
 
Further details
 
Location: Location flexible but with regular attendance required each month at one of our UK offices as needed
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (4 days will be considered)
Salary: £37,000 to £42,000 per annum pro rata, including any London weighting if applicable.
 
Next Steps: To apply, please upload your CV and a brief covering letter indicating why you're interested in joining us and (reflecting on the role profile) why you believe your skills and experience make you suitable for the role.
 
Closing Date: The final cut off for applications is 12 July 2025.

Other information: This post requires the successful candidate to have, or be able to obtain, the right to work in the UK.
 
Hope and Homes for Children actively encourages diversity, equity and inclusion, and we look to recruit a diverse range of people to reflect the communities in which we live, as we believe this will strengthen our ability to deliver our mission of eliminating orphanages.
 
You may also have experience in the following roles: Major Gifts Manager, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Fundraising Manager, Development Manager, Relationship Manager, Donor Development Manager, Business Development Manager, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Philanthropy Manager, etc.
 
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