Major gifts manager jobs

Following the growth of the Income Generation team Severn Hospice is expanding.

Severn Hospice is a leading charity supporting people with incurable illness across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales. We are looking for an experienced, empathetic and relationship-focused Philanthropy Lead who wants to make a real difference by securing vital income for our caring services.

You will play a pivotal role in developing and growing our philanthropy programme by cultivating and strengthening meaningful relationships with mid- to high-net-worth donors, developing tailored engagement plans that inspire long-term support and securing significant and transformational gifts.

Being a strategic thinker, you will lead the growth of major gift income through a relationship-led approach that delivers sustainable fundraising over the long term. You will identify and develop new prospects, build a strong pipeline of supporters and confidently secure significant donations through compelling funding propositions and high-quality and personalised stewardship.

You will translate our priorities and impact into persuasive cases for support, creating bespoke supporter journeys that build trust, inspire long-term commitment, deepen engagement and connection to our cause and ensures donors feel informed, inspired and valued.

You will also be experienced in managing budgets, monitoring performance and maintaining accurate data and reporting in line with fundraising regulations and best practice.

Severn Hospice is a wonderfully rewarding place to work and if you’re dynamic, highly organised and passionate about building genuine relationships that make a lasting difference for our community, we would love you to get in touch.

Salary: £20,500–£23,000 pro rata (£41,000–£46,000 FTE equivalent), plus £2,000 London Weighting (pro-rated) where applicable

Contract type: Permanent; part-time (2.5 days per week, spread across 3–5 days)

Location: London, Birmingham or Bristol

Hybrid: Envision operates a hybrid working policy with one day per month in a regional office, plus an expectation to travel in and across regions for donor meetings, events and team training. 

Role: This is an exciting opportunity to lead the development and stewardship of Envision's major donor programme, playing a central role in securing and nurturing the significant philanthropic investment we need to fulfil our mission. 

As Philanthropy Manager, you will identify, cultivate and steward high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), building a well-researched prospect pipeline and securing five- and six-figure gifts through compelling proposals, presentations and face-to-face asks. You will maintain high-integrity, personalised stewardship for existing and lapsed donors, producing bespoke communications and impact reports that keep supporters connected to our work. 

You will join a supportive and collaborative Philanthropy and Partnerships team that has grown income year on year, diversified its funding base and built lasting partnerships with a growing community of donors and supporters. You will champion the transformative impact of Essential Skills on young people from under-represented backgrounds, translating that impact into inspiring asks that motivate donors to give generously and sustainably. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Identify and qualify new major donor prospects and manage a healthy, well-researched pipeline 

• Secure significant philanthropic gifts working towards an annual financial target 

• Deliver personalised stewardship and high-quality communications for existing and lapsed donors 

• Coordinate donor engagement opportunities including events and programme visits 

• Contribute to income planning, reporting and Salesforce records management 

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Competencies: 

• Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure gifts from HNWIs at all stages of the donor journey 

• Demonstrable success in building and maintaining relationships with significant donors and prospects 

• Experience cultivating new relationships through networking, events and research 

• Ability to write high-quality, compelling donor-facing materials including proposals and impact reports 

• Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities 

• Commitment to Envision's vision, mission and values 

Envision seeks to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We actively encourage applications from candidates from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from socio-economically less-advantaged backgrounds, as they are currently under-represented in our organisation. Envision graduates will be guaranteed a first-round interview. 

To apply, please submit your application via Charity Job. For an informal chat about the role, contact our Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, Robyn, whose contact details can be found in the application pack.

Deadline — Midnight, Sunday 17th May 

Please note: 

• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately we are unable to sponsor visas at this time. 

• We will only be contacting candidates who have been shortlisted for interview. If you do not hear from us, please assume your application has been unsuccessful. 

• Successful candidates will be subject to a full Enhanced DBS check and reference checks. 

- We will be interviewing as we go along, so early applicants are encouraged.  

- We also regret to inform you that, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will be unable to provide you with feedback regarding your application.

Thank you for your interest in the Philanthropy Manager role at Imperial Health Charity. We are seeking a skilled and highly motivated Philanthropy Manager to join our small but passionate, and collaborative fundraising team. This is a critical role, responsible for generating income and building meaningful relationships with major donors, trusts and foundations and corporate partners.

You will lead on identifying, cultivating, and securing new gifts at the five-figure-plus level, while delivering exceptional stewardship to your portfolio of supporters. This will include creating bespoke impact reports, organising hospital site visits, and curating exclusive engagement opportunities and events.

As Philanthropy Manager, you will also develop and deliver a range of compelling fundraising propositions that enable our hospitals to achieve more for patients, families, and the North West London community. Working closely with colleagues across the Charity and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, you will manage major capital projects, donor led projects and appeals from inception through to delivery and evaluation.

We are looking for a proactive self-starter with high levels of motivation, who thrives in a collaborative environment and brings fresh ideas to a small, ambitious team.

We are looking for a highly skilled major donor relationship manager who knows how to engage and inspire lasting relationships with high-value supporters, turning shared ambition into meaningful impact. As Senior Philanthropy Executive, you will help grow major donor investment: accelerating progress in MND research and contributing to the delivery of crucial support services for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Community.

This is a role for someone who understands and excels in the stewardship required to secure transformative philanthropic support. As Senior Philanthropy Executive, you will shape major donor journeys to inspire donors’ philanthropic aspirations and align them with MND Association priorities. You will open doors to new relationships through thoughtful and influential networking and cultivation.

You will be part of the Motor Neurone Disease Association’s Philanthropy team, working with major donors and prospects across the UK. You will manage a defined portfolio through which you will secure significant philanthropic income as you deliver thoughtful and personalised stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects
• Secure significant and sustainable income, including multi-year and six-figure gifts
• Build strong, trust-based relationships through tailored engagement and stewardship
• Deliver compelling written and verbal donor communications and proposals
• Lead donor meetings and project visits, working with senior colleagues where appropriate
• Contribute to donor cultivation plans, forecasting and performance reporting
• Use CRM systems to record activity, insight and outcomes accurately
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in the Philanthropy Team; the Prospect Researcher and wider High Value and Income Generation teams, as well as working with colleagues across the MND Association

About You

• Proven successful experience securing major gifts from high-net-worth individuals (desirably including six-figure donations).
• An engaging communicator who writes and speaks with clarity and warmth
• Experience working to, and exceeding, income targets
• Strong relationship-management skills and sound judgement
• Confidence working independently while supporting team success
• Strong understanding of philanthropic best practice and compliance including the Code of Fundraising Practice and GDPR
• Experience using CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge or Microsoft Dynamics
• Experience mentoring colleagues or leading shared initiatives

Hybrid working expectations: One day per week attendance at our London office with regular travel across the UK for meetings and events in line with role requirements.

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached 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.

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

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

The Talent Set are partnering with an ambitious Health Charity to recruit a Philanthropy Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing fundraising team and play a key role in increasing major donor income during an exciting period of development and momentum. Working closely with senior leadership, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you’ll develop compelling cases for support, create tailored donor journeys and secure five and six-figure gifts that help drive transformational impact.

What you’ll do:

· Manage and grow a portfolio of mid to high-value donors and prospects

· Secure five and six-figure gifts through strategic cultivation and stewardship

· Build a strong pipeline of new opportunities and future supporters

· Develop compelling proposals, presentations, applications and impact reports

· Work closely with senior stakeholders, including trustees and executive leaders

· Identify opportunities through networks, events and strategic relationships

· Use data and insight to inform decisions, maximise engagement and increase income

· Monitor budgets, income and pipeline performance accurately

· Line manage and develop a Philanthropy & Partnerships Assistant

About you

· Proven success securing major gifts of five figures and above

· Strong relationship management skills with high-value donors and senior stakeholders

· Experience developing donor pipelines and managing portfolios effectively

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills

· Skilled in creating persuasive funding proposals and presentations

· Strategic, proactive and highly organised

· Confident working collaboratively across teams

To be considered for this position please apply with your CV as soon as possible, regrettably please note we may not be able to reply to each and every application.

We are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices that ensure equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and will happily make reasonable adjustments to always ensure a fair process.
 

Salary: £41,063 – £45,626 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time
Location: Home based (with regular travel to London and across the UK)
Closing date: 8^th May
Benefits: 27 days annual leave bank holidays with the option to buy another week & additional December closure day, enhanced parental leave, Cycling UK membership, Medicash Healthcare plan

We’re very excited to be recruiting a Philanthropy Manager to join the team at Cycling UK and play a pivotal role in shaping and growing the organisation’s major donor and legacy fundraising programme.

This is a senior and influential role, offering the opportunity to build and embed philanthropy at the heart of Cycling UK. Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues across the organisation, you will help transform a developing programme into a mature, relationship-led income stream that delivers sustainable long-term growth.

You will lead the development and delivery of the philanthropy strategy, managing major donor and legacy pipelines, designing compelling stewardship and engagement opportunities, and securing high-value, multi-year gifts. The role combines strategic leadership with hands?on delivery and will suit someone motivated by building meaningful donor relationships, creating inspiring propositions and demonstrating impact.

To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager, you will need:

• Proven experience in major donor and relationship-led fundraising, with a strong track record of securing high-value gifts
• Understanding of legacy and trust & foundation fundraising, including pipeline management and stewardship
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders and supporters

If you would like to discuss this role with us, please email your CV to [email protected] or contact us quoting reference 2945JP

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency. We use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs and are passionate about improving equality across the sector — you can read more about our commitment to diversity on our website.
We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you as the leading charity recruitment agency.

If enough applications are received, the charity reserves the right to close the application period early.
 

Sight Scotland is Scotland’s leading charity providing specialist care, education and research for people with vision impairment. The charity has been in existence for over 230 years, and offer a variety of services in the community as well as education, transcription into alternative formats and residential care for adults and children. Their vision is of an inclusive Scotland where people of all visual abilities have the opportunity to thrive. To achieve their mission and as part of the new fundraising strategy the Fundraising and Audience Development team recognises that there are efficiencies within fundraising operations that need to be identified and implemented – this role will be critical to delivering that. 

Within the Fundraising and Audience Development team the post holder will work closely with peer managers on areas such as supporter journey planning, developing CRM integration with platforms such as MailChimp for integrated marketing opportunities, providing accurate and useful reporting and CRM dashboards, and processes for prospect research and pipeline management. This role has line management responsibility for the Fundraising and Engagement Administrator.

This role would suit someone who has experience of fundraising operations, supporter care or database functions within a fundraising team. The successful candidate will want to work in a role where they can use their experience to really shape and improve fundraising operations and have both immediate and long-term positive impact on income generation.

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.

If you need assistance with downloading the pack, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 2nd June 2026 

Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 11th June 2026 

Salary: £44,000 – £46,000
Contract: Permanent 
Location: London – hybrid working
Closing date: 26^th May
Benefits: Generous annual leave, 11% pension contribution, flexible working and the opportunity to play a pivotal role in a major philanthropic campaign

We are delighted to be partnering with a leading cultural and heritage organisation to recruit a Philanthropy Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced major donor professional to join one of the best major donor fundraising teams in the sector at a pivotal moment. Reporting to the Senior Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager, you will focus on securing income from mid-to-major individual philanthropists, typically between £10k and £250k, while delivering an exceptional donor experience. You will also play a key role in supporting senior volunteers and campaign board members to act confidently as ambassadors and solicitors. This role would suit a confident, relationship-led fundraiser who enjoys working with engaged donors, senior volunteers, and colleagues across an organisation to deliver transformational impact.

To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager, you should have:

• Proven experience of securing five-figure gifts and above from individual donors
• A strong track record of managing donor relationships and delivering against income targets
• Excellent written and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage and influence at a senior level

If you would like to discuss this role with us, please contact us and quote the reference number 2963AJ.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment is a specialist charity recruitment agency. We use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity roles. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector and take a relationship-led approach to recruitment.

If enough applications are received, our client reserves the right to close the role early.

CUF wants to build flourishing communities and tackle poverty, by partnering with churches and groups all over England, and we are looking for a Philanthropy Manager to shape and grow a major gifts programme which has been identified as a key opportunity for growth. You’ll be working closely with our Head of Fundraising and Communications in a small team that values fundraising creativity, and has some great partnerships and resources for you to build on.

We’re seeking a motivated self-starter, with a track record of initiating, managing and developing relationships with high net worth individuals and grantmaking bodies, and securing 5 figure donations and grants.

You will find, and nurture relationships with, philanthropists and non-statutory grant-makers. Some of these will be existing donors, and warm prospects, and others you will identify by research (we’ll provide some administrative help). You’ll also engage with Trustees, and senior staff, to identify and nurture Christian philanthropists and grant body decision-makers within their spheres of influence.

You’ll develop cases for support and write funding applications (helped by the wider staff team) and will build a robust income pipeline based on relational asks, including in person. Stewardship is key, so we want a skilled communicator with great organisational skills. You’ll have a passion for local social action, and will thrive in our collaborative team culture.

How to apply

For an informal conversation about this role and for more information, please contact our Deputy CEO, Adam Edwards (please see job pack for details). 

To apply, please email an up-to-date CV and covering letter (we will only shortlist CV’s with a covering letter!) outlining your relevant skills and experience as relating to the responsibilities and person specification to: HR Officer (please see job pack for details).

Closing date: 5:00pm on Monday 1st June with interviews to be held on 16th June; whether online or in person to be confirmed.

Role Overview:
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with the client on a fantastic Philanthropy Manager role. This position involves leading high-value donor strategies and stewardship programmes to support long-term income growth for a health-focused charity. The role offers an exciting opportunity to work on impactful projects within a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and cultivate a portfolio of major donors, securing multi-year, five-figure gifts.
• Research and identify new high-net-worth prospects using internal and external data sources.
• Develop tailored cultivation and stewardship plans, ensuring timely reporting and engagement.
• Collaborate with senior staff, Trustees, and volunteers to support donor approaches and network expansion.
• Work with internal teams to align projects with donor interests and prepare compelling proposals.
• Support the organisation’s stewardship and events programme, focusing on relationship building.
• Contribute to the development of new fundraising products for major donors.

Person Specification:

• Extensive experience of fundraising from high-net-worth individuals.
• Proven ability to secure significant gifts in a donor relationship management context.
• Skilled in motivating and inspiring stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong network-building experience both internally and externally.
• Experience in designing impactful stewardship programmes and managing high-value events.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence and negotiate.
• Excellent time-management, organisational, and database skills.
• Knowledge of philanthropy, legal, ethical, and financial considerations related to major giving.
• Ability to work flexibly, manage conflicting priorities, and thrive within a collaborative team environment.
• An interest in medical research or healthcare is an advantage.

What’s on Offer:

• Salary: £40,000 (pro-rata) plus London Weighting of £3,000 or Home Allowance of £450 per annum depending on location
• Location: London or remote
• Contract: 9 month FTC

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.

Prospectus is excited to be partnering with our client in the search for a permanent Philanthropy Manager.

The organisation is a charity committed to improving social mobility in the UK. Their work is focused on improving social mobility through education opportunities. Their mission is to level the playing field for young people from low-income backgrounds so that they have a fair chance of accessing leading universities, apprenticeships, and jobs. With a three-pronged approach including programmes, research, and policy advocacy, the organisation supports nearly 12,000 young people each year and they have been able to work towards keeping social mobility high in the political agenda.

As the Philanthropy Manager you will predominantly manage the portfolio of Fellows giving at the being £15k, £5k, and £1k per year level, as well as relationships with donors giving much more. The Philanthropy Manager will be responsible for developing the alumni giving campaign and will spot opportunities for further cultivation and donor engagement throughout the philanthropy portfolio of the organisation. The Philanthropy Manager will be a true relationship management and will line manage a Philanthropy Assistant while reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, working closely too with the Director of Development.

To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager you will have experience of building and managing donor relationships with individuals giving four-figures and above per year in a philanthropy team or other fundraising capacity through structured giving schemes. You will have experience of working with key senior colleagues across and organisation to secure major gifts and steward relationships and will have good knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including trends in philanthropy.

This role is a full-time permanent position that will have hybrid working in the London offices for at least two days per week. The salary for this role is £42,025 to £48,000.  

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus.

If you are interested in applying to this Philanthropy Manager position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

What we do is extraordinary.

And we need a Head of Fundraising who understands all of that.

Let’s start with the obvious.

You’ll need a sense of humour for this job.

Because we work with animals and children — and both have a habit of humbling you, daily.

HorseWorld Trust rescues abused and neglected horses and gives them a second chance at a meaningful life. Some of those horses go on to support vulnerable children and young people — including those with SEMH needs, SEND and children in care — through our Discovery – Discover Horses, Discover Yourself™ programme.

What we do is extraordinary.
It is also muddy, unpredictable, emotional, joyful, heartbreaking, funny and deeply human.

About HorseWorld (the real version)

Horses are incredible animals. They’ve carried humans into war; it’s no wonder they can read exactly what a child needs, often before the child knows it themselves.

Sadly, some people still abuse and neglect them. That’s where the HorseWorld hug comes in. With us, horses are safe. They live out all year round, form herds, roll in the mud, escape occasionally (because… horses), and get to live like horses again.

Our 160-acre farm is minutes from Bristol and Bath, but feels like a different world. In winter, photoshoots and tours involve waterproofs and wellies. In summer, it’s an outdoor oasis.

We do serious work — and we also believe in joy:

· Horse Festivals

· Carol services

· Massive corporates on their knees pulling ragwort

We are kind, committed, slightly irreverent, and very proud of what we do.

Why this role exists (the honest bit)

We raise around £1.5m a year against operating costs of around £2.5m.

Fundraising needs to grow — but more importantly, it needs to work better.

This role exists to:

• grow sustainable, controllable income
• improve return on investment (ROI)
• focus on what actually delivers impact
• stop doing things that don’t (even if they’re well-loved)

You won’t be expected to perform miracles.
You will be expected to bring clarity, judgement and leadership — with empathy and humour intact.

The role (what you’ll actually do)

As Head of Fundraising & Communications, you will:

• Sit on the Senior Management Team and report to the CEO
• Lead all fundraising and marketing comms activity
• Take responsibility for income and cost-effectiveness
• Shape strategy, set priorities and make evidence-based decisions
• Personally steward a small number of key major donors and partners

You’ll lead a talented team covering:

· Individual Giving

· Major Donors & Philanthropy

· Corporate Partnerships

· Trusts & Grants

· Digital Content

• Data, CRM & Compliance

You’ll also work closely with our Heads of Equine Welfare and Discovery to fundraise for our work with vulnerable horses & children.

Who this role is for

You’ll probably thrive here if you:

· Are an experienced charity fundraiser who’s seen how things really work

· Understand that “more activity” is not the same as “more impact”

· Care about ROI and relationships

· Can make tough decisions without losing kindness

· Are both proactive and adaptable

· A great communicator and relationship builder

· Are comfortable talking to Trustees one minute and standing in a muddy field the next

· Can laugh when a horse wanders into a carefully planned moment (because it will)

You don’t need to be an equine expert — but you do need to like animals, people, and the beautiful messiness of both.

What we offer

· A genuinely senior SMT role with real authority and Board backing

· Space to think, not just react

· A values-led organisation that tells the truth

· A team that works hard, laughs often and cares deeply

-        Horses who will keep you grounded (sometimes literally)

Final thought

This is not a polished, corporate fundraising role.

It is a meaningful one — rooted in rescue, recovery, growth and second chances.

If you want to lead fundraising in a place where the work matters, the people are lovely, the horses are honest, and humour is not optional — we’d love to hear from you.

Key Details
Salary: £50,000 per annum depending on experience plus benefits
Hours: 35 per week (Mon–Fri, some weekends)
Location: HorseWorld Trust, Bristol
Reports to: CEO

 DBS required

Application Details

To apply for this role please complete the  application form (available to download from our website or contact us to request the form).

 This role is subject to a DBS check, and you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK. We are a Safer Recruitment organisation and this is mandatory.

Prospectus is excited to be supporting our client in their search for a Philanthropy Manager.

Our client is a space for creative ideas, connections and the opportunity to make change. From small beginnings in 2008, they have grown into a global network of women and allies from all walks of life who are bonded by the collective aim to live in a world where women and girls’ equal rights and equal opportunities are the norm.

The organisation are reviewing applications and interviewing on a rolling basis. Please do apply now and we will be in touch!

This is a 2-year fixed-term contract role (with view to become a permanent position), paying a salary of £40,000 to £42,000 per annum. This is primarily a homebased role; the postholder is expected to travel to London at least twice a month for meetings and events.

The Philanthropy Manager will work closely with the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, and the CEO to develop fundraising opportunities and drive income via major donors, corporates, global foundations and special events. You will support with cultivating and stewarding key relationships and funders, deepening relationships and maximizing their potential by creating new funding opportunities and calls to action.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced high-value fundraiser and a confident relationship manager. You will have demonstrable experience in securing 5-figure gifts from major donors and trusts and foundations and a track record of working with high profile supporters.

If you are interested in applying to this position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

Prospectus and the organisation are invested in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ariha Semontee at Prospectus.

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility charity. We believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Our mission is to change this. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and our research influences national change to deliver a fairer future.

Each year, together with our university and employer partners, we support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through our university, apprenticeship and career access programmes. And our support doesn’t stop there. We engage our thriving alumni community to help them to succeed in their professions and to act as advocates for social mobility.

Our rigorous and extensive research shines a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, and we strive to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions to tackle educational and workplace inequality. Using insights from our programmes and research, we also test and scale new ideas in education and employment practice.

As an independent charity, our work is entirely reliant on the generous support of our community of donors. The need to support our work to tackle Britain’s low social mobility has never been greater.

Fundraising at the Sutton Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and confident Philanthropy Manager to join our high-performing fundraising team. The Sutton Trust is at an exciting point in our organisational journey, with a new Chairperson and ambitions to significantly grow our impact and fundraising as part of our 2030 strategy.

Over the past five years the impact of the Sutton Trust has increased, especially in our programme numbers, securing a relatively stable income of c.£6m over a number of years. In recent years this has grown to c.£7m, and our organisational strategy to 2030/31 will continue this fundraising trajectory to increase income to £12m. With a growing portfolio of philanthropic income from individuals – currently accounting for c.£1.2m – there is considerable enthusiasm and opportunity to build upon existing relationships and establish new ones in support of the work of The Sutton Trust.

Our fundraising approach will continue to focus on major gifts, harnessing and increasing our networks, and multi-year partnerships to leverage a range of drivers to secure philanthropic support. We anticipate utilising the structured giving schemes designed for our individual supporters to build a robust pipeline for future major gifts. This will include a focus on building out our newly refreshed Fellowship scheme and, importantly, working with the Head of Philanthropy to implement a segmented fundraising campaign with our 40,000 strong alumni community. Additionally, there is significant opportunity to build upon recent successes and further develop our approach to legacy fundraising.

Main duties

New Business

• Managing and growing the Trust’s Fellowship scheme through scoping, developing and securing new four and five-figure gifts from individual supporters, working closely with the Director of Development, Head of Philanthropy, and senior volunteers appropriately to secure and steward.

• Work with the Head of Philanthropy to identify and cultivate a prospect pool of potential donors at all levels, including utilising the CRM, current low-level donors, stakeholder network mapping through the Board and Trustees, as well as prospects research of philanthropists with an active interest in education/ social mobility.

• Undertake prospect research across the spectrum of philanthropic income in collaboration with the Head of Philanthropy – including identification, due diligence, qualification, and creating briefings and outreach plans.

• Work with the Head of Alumni Engagement to proactively identify Sutton Trust alumni with the capacity and inclination to support our work, developing meaningful relationships, identifying relevant opportunities to deepen their connection to the Trust, and influencing alums to start and continue their giving journey.

• Work with the Head of Fundraising Operations and Head of Philanthropy to design, implement, and promote a low-level online giving journey, including automated stewardship activation.

• Supporting the Head of Philanthropy to implement a compelling legacy campaign.

• Work with colleagues across the Development team to identify, qualify, cultivate and secure prospects, using resources effectively where there are links between corporates, individuals, and trusts & foundations.

Account Management and Development

• Manage and grow the Trust’s Fellowship major donor scheme, creating meaningful, mutually beneficial and long-term relationships.

• Create meaningful and personalised donor plans for your portfolio, including reporting, regular written updates and in person meetings where appropriate.

• Working with the Director of Development and Head of Philanthropy to support the stewardship and management of the Board, and other major donors.

• Be accountable for achieving individual agreed income targets, looking for opportunities to grow funding and diversify philanthropic income.

• Support the Head of Philanthropy in developing high-quality Fellowship and philanthropy collateral and communications.

• Take responsibility for all elements of event management for individual donors, including creating, planning and managing events that create meaningful experiences for donors. This may include drinks receptions, small private dinners, panel events, and programme visits.

Fundraising, Line Management, Finance and Reporting

• Effectively line manage and coach the Philanthropy Assistant, supporting their development as a fundraiser.

• Work with colleagues to deliver impactful events to cultivate prospects and steward partners, with a focus on experience for individual supporters and prospects.

• Act as an ambassador for the Trust with external audiences, delivering presentations and providing expertise as required.

• Work with colleagues across Development and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, income tracking, donor record keeping, and reporting for philanthropic income.

• Working closely with colleagues, provide philanthropy fundraising expertise to increase awareness of viable funding opportunities and develop organisational understanding of best practice when working with individual supporters.

• Ensure you and your line report appropriately follow policies and procedures on due diligence, Salesforce and data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

• Stay up to date with philanthropy fundraising best practice, embedding it across the Philanthropy team’s work, and keep abreast of developments and opportunities within the wider fundraising space.

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Experience building and managing donor relationships with individuals giving four-figures and above per annum in a philanthropy team or other fundraising capacity, and through structured giving schemes.

• Experience of all elements of the cultivation cycle, including prospect research via multiple sources, to develop a prospect pool of individual supporters.

• Experience of working with key senior colleagues across an organisation to secure major gifts and steward relationships, including making the ask for five-figure gifts.

• Experience of managing meaningful donor events and experiences, from concept to delivery.

• First-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust with gravitas and confidence in a range of settings.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to write persuasive and engaging funding collateral, and to network with Sutton Trust stakeholders and donors to inspire and encourage giving.

• Experience of building or inputting into donor strategy and planning.

• Experience of managing line reports, including effective supervision, feedback and development.

• Experience with working with membership groups such as alumni, implementing online-giving schemes and supporting legacy campaigns (desirable).

• Strong analytical skills.

• Knowledge and experience of the education and/or not-for-profit sector.

• Knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including trends in philanthropy and the different giving mechanisms utilised by individual donors (i.e. donor-advised funds, family foundations etc).

• Experienced at using Salesforce or other fundraising CRM software to accurately record funding relationships

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and our mission to increase social mobility.

• High degree of initiative and the ability to take responsibility for a range of philanthropy fundraising activity.

• Strong communicator, skilled at persuading others through writing and conversation.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Able to multi-task and prioritise multiple funder relationships.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team.

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent

• Salary: £42,025-£48,000

• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 18th May, with first round interviews held with first round interviews held on Wednesday, 27th May, and second round interviews held on Tuesday, 2nd June. Both rounds will be held in our London office.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.