Major gifts manager jobs

This is a key role at Southwark Cathedral supporting the Dean and the Sub-Dean. This secretarial role will primarily feature management of a busy personal diary, correspondence and broader administrative support for the Dean in his capacity as Dean of Southwark, Chair of Chapter and CEO of the Cathedral. The role holder will also support the Cathedral team as the Office Administrator – responsible for a range of office duties relating to staff wellbeing & socials, office equipment & spaces and the Cathedral’s general enquiries email address.

Start date: Immediate

Salary: £32,250

Hours of work: 35 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks). Some flexibility will be required to allow attendance at early morning or evening meetings and events.

How to apply: Please complete the application form on the Church of England Pathways website 

Closing date: 11:59pm Thursday 29th January 2026

Interviews: Tuesday 10th February and Wednesday 11th February 2026

Main Duties and Responsibilities

For the Dean

• Manage the Dean’s diary: including making appointments, arranging meetings, scheduling preaching and other liturgical arrangements, programming annual schedules (such as Bishops Staff Meetings, chaplaincy and wider public commitments) - keeping Outlook diaries up to date with any changes and making travel arrangements;
• Prepare the Dean’s weekly diary file, including the preparation of any meeting papers or briefs for the week ahead;
• Provide administrative support for the Dean in relation to their attendance at meetings associated with the governance of the Cathedral, including Chapter, Finance Committee, Fabric Advisory Committee and Board of Enterprises. This will include liaising with colleagues on the Dean’s availability for upcoming meetings, any research the Dean requires and preparation of paper packs for such meetings. Minute taking will not usually be required, but may be requested from time to time in liaison with members of staff usually responsible for the minutes;
• Draft, file and send outgoing correspondence on the Dean’s behalf and process incoming correspondence;
• Support the Dean in all their working relationships including building and maintaining excellent relationships with Chapter Members and Committee Members, the Bishop’s staff and with the wider Diocese, as well as with congregation members, neighbours, commercial partners, professional advisers and other third-party organisations relating to the Dean’s work;
• Set up meetings including room set up and refreshment provision as required;
• Assist the Dean with the processing of their expenses;
• Work with the Governance & Committees Manager on Gifts Registry declarations for the Dean;
• Provide administrative support to bodies the Dean chairs, e.g. Southwark Cathedral Development Trust, the Deans Fund and other Cathedral-associated bodies;
• Update the Cathedral database in support of the Dean’s work.
• Provide administrative and practical support for Dean’s events e.g. lectures, receptions and breakfasts with local stakeholders

For the Sub-Dean

• Supporting the Sub-Dean with diary management: making appointments, arranging meetings, and scheduling preaching and other liturgical arrangements;
• Assist with inducting new parishioners: management of database, organising Welcome Evenings etc.;
• Assist with administration relating to the Cathedral’s schools: preparing the liturgical rota, filing and distribution of school clergy admissions forms;
• Other administrative support on an as needed basis

Office Administration 

• Receiving, distributing and responding to emails sent to the Cathedral’s general information email address;
• Ordering stationery, office equipment and consumables in line with the Cathedral’s approach to sustainability and ethical buying;
• Ensuring the Cathedral’s printing and franking equipment is kept fully functional, and liaising with our contractors when issues arise;
• Ensuring that the staff keep offices, reception area, print room, stationery area, staff kitchen and facilities clean, tidy and supplied;
• Co-ordinating Staff Meetings, including booking suitable space and organising refreshments for the meeting;
• Organising staff social events, outings and meals;
• Providing administrative support on Cathedral projects as and when they arise.
• Ensuring the Cathedral’s First-Aid kits are kept supplied and in date.

General Duties and Expectations

• Provide general administrative assistance in the context of a busy office;
• Support other teams on an ad hoc basis when required;
• Promote the mission, purpose and values of the Cathedral;
• Ensure that the highest standards of professional performance are maintained & ensure professional skills are regularly updated through participation in training and development activities.

The main duties and responsibilities of your post are outlined in your job description. This list is not exhaustive and is intended to reflect your main tasks and areas of work. Changes may occur over time and you will be expected to agree any reasonable changes to your job description that are commensurate with your salary and in line with the general nature of your post. You will be consulted about any changes to your job description before these are implemented

Would you like to make an impact by leading one of our fashion store teams that are community based, offer amazing choice and genuine sustainability? We are looking for a Store Manager to join our fashion store in Lincoln - LN5 7DQ.

What does this role involve?

As a Store Manager you will be accountable for your stores performance, maximising sales through physical and digital channels, and achieving store targets by leading an inclusive and diverse team that consistently demonstrate the BHF values.

Each day is different in this varied, fast paced and hands on role.  Due to the volume of donations, it can be physically demanding at times, yet most rewarding as you play a part in helping to fund life saving research.

What are we looking for?

• Experience working in a customer facing role in retail, hospitality or service industry
• Experience of leading, motivating and developing teams
• Commercial awareness
• Ability to achieve sales targets
• Committed to achieving the highest retail standards at all times
• Able to work under own initiative and take a proactive approach to changing business needs and objectives
• Thrives working in a hands on, fast-paced environment
• An understanding of budgets and P&L 

This is full time role for 35hrs a week. Our stores are fast-paced and trade 7 days a week which means we require flexibility from our store teams to work weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis. Please note that you will need to be fully flexible for this role.

What’s important to us?

At the British Heart Foundation (BHF) we offer a huge range of new and used quality furniture, clothing, jewellery and more, available in store and online.

Our vision is a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer. We'll get there by funding cutting-edge research and innovation, which hold the keys to saving and improving more lives.

In addition to raising funds for the BHF, we connect with our local communities and help reduce clothing and furniture waste across the UK. With over 700 stores we make a huge environmental impact by preventing around 70,000 tonnes of unwanted items going to landfill every year. We receive 1.6 million items donated to our home stores and 9.8 million bags of donated items and we will continue to build upon our reuse agenda in the years to come.

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy, Igniting Change, along with our internal EDI group, Kaleidoscope, and a growing number of employee network groups (our Affinity Groups), help us create an environment where all our colleagues and volunteers can succeed.

Why join the BHF?

We have a strong culture of internal progression and will actively support you to develop your career.

Our generous staff benefits include:

• 38 days annual leave (plus the option to buy and sell leave)
• Holistic support leave of up to 10 additional days off each year
• Enhanced family policies (maternity, paternity and adoption leave)
• Wagestream - early access to your wages
• 25% staff discount
• Health cash plan (Dental, Optical, Therapies, etc)
• Access to a 24/7 Virtual GP and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Pension with employer contribution of up to 10%
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounts on gym memberships
• Discounts with a wide range of retailers

Ready to apply?

To apply, please follow these simple steps:

1. Click the “Apply” button below.
2. You’ll be seamlessly redirected to the BHF Careers page.
3. Complete the application form, submit your CV and upload your employment history.

What do I need to know?

DBS Check: Any offer of employment is subject to a satisfactory DBS check

Inclusivity Matters: We’re committed to fairness and consistency. As part of this commitment, we use anonymous CV software during the application process

Act Swiftly: Early applications are encouraged. We’ll be reviewing submissions throughout the advertising period and may close the advert early

Sponsorship: Please note that we are unlikely to be able to sponsor applicants in respect of this role due to the role not meeting the minimum salary criteria to be eligible for sponsorship.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact a member of the Recruitment team.

Are you passionate about building meaningful relationships and creating lasting impact through philanthropy? The University of Strathclyde is seeking a dynamic and experienced Donor Experience and Legacies Officer to lead stewardship and engagement for our major donors, scholarship supporters, and legacy pledgers.

This is a unique opportunity to shape donor journeys across multiple giving areas - from transformative scholarships and legacy gifts to major donations supporting research and teaching. You’ll work closely with inspiring students, academics, and colleagues across the University to deliver compelling donor communications, events, and impact reports that celebrate generosity and deepen engagement.

Brief Outline of Job:

To lead and deliver donor stewardship and engagement strategies for major gifts (donor gifts of £100k+), scholarships (UG and PG), and legacy giving. This includes creating compelling donor communications, managing cultivation events, and developing stewardship plans that support repeat giving and long-term relationships.

Major Gifts: Support the cultivation and stewardship of donors giving £100k–£1M+, including designing and delivering bespoke impact reports for major donors, organizing donor meetings, campus visits and events in collaboration with the Major Gifts team.

Scholarships: Support the development of and delivery of our scholarship fundraising strategy, including producing promotional materials and annual donor reports. Liaise with colleagues across the University to ensure effective scholarship delivery and reporting.

Legacy Giving: Lead the development of a new legacy stewardship strategy, including the introduction of a new giving circle for legacy pledgers, conducting face-to-face meetings with potential legacy donors and creating promotional content and opportunities.

Alumni Fund: Contributing to Giving Day and Alumni Fund Board activities. Support mass donor communications and stewardship initiatives.

Team Leadership: Line management of the Development Assistant and deputising for the Individual Giving Manager when required. 

If you’re a creative communicator, strategic thinker, and relationship builder with a flair for storytelling and donor cultivation, we’d love to hear from you.

Salary: £52,000 - £60,000
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Closing date: Review on a rolling basis
Location: Hybrid, based in either London or Manchester office
Benefits: 5% Employer pension contribution, Private medical insurance, Healthcare cash plan, income protection

We are thrilled to be working with an amazing national youth charity as they search for a passionate Senior Philanthropy Manager to join their incredible team. 

The Senior Philanthropy Manager will lead the Philanthropy function, driving the team forward as they embark on the cultivation of a strong new prospect pipeline. As part of the role, you will be responsible for a team bringing in income of over £1.3m per year, with a view to double income over the next 3 years.

Working closely with the Head of Relationship Fundraising, you will lead the development of team plans, ensuring that they are diversifying their high value donor portfolio, and delivers sustainable unrestricted and restricted income.

This is a great opportunity to lead a high performing team, and spearhead an exciting Philanthropy Programme with buy-in and investment from stakeholders across the organisation.

To be successful in the role of Senior Philanthropy Manager, you will need:

• Proven experience of working with high value donors as a leading professional in the area of philanthropy.
• Demonstrable experience of securing major donor gifts at £100k, with excellent writing skills to support the delivery of proposals.
• Proven experience of developing effective donor relationships and provision of excellent stewardship, with knowledge of the changing philanthropic landscape.

If you would like to have an informal discussion, please call and ask to speak to Jake. CV's are being reviewed on a rolling basis. 
 

This is an exciting and engaging role, managing a small, well-established Philanthropy Team, where you will have the opportunity to work directly with our top supporters, develop interesting cultivation events and help us reach new supporters across Dorset and Wiltshire.

The Philanthropy Team incorporates major donor, mid-value, trust and legacy fundraising. It works closely with public fundraising and events teams. The CEO, Deputy CEO and specific trustees are also actively engaged in managing key relationships.

The role

The role is full time (35 hours per week) with hybrid working between home and the office in Wimborne in Dorset. There will be a requirement to travel across both Dorset and Wiltshire for internal meetings, donor meetings and events, with occasional out of hours working.

About you

We are looking for a talented, strategic, individual who can hit the ground running, be innovative, ambitious and bring exciting new ideas, ready to make a real difference to the growing number of local families we support. Energetic and with a passion for this type of role, you will be a confident communicator, who can build relationships with new and existing supporters and a considerate and thoughtful people manager. You must have a proven track record of working with high-net worth individuals in order to apply. We welcome applicants from within and outside the charity sector.

About us

Julia’s House cares for babies, children and teenagers with life-shortening or life-threatening conditions across Dorset and Wiltshire. We provide support for the whole family - mums, dads, siblings and even grandparents. Our care is regular, frequent, flexible and free, with more than half of our care taking place in family’s homes.  When the worst happens, Julia’s House is there. We offer comfort and support at home, in hospital or our hospices, wherever families need us.

Join us and make a real difference in this key role

Reporting to, and working closely with, the Head of Fundraising and Engagement, the Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Lead will shape and implement innovative strategies, driving growth in philanthropic giving, secure corporate partnerships and obtain critical funding. With a focus on cultivating mutually beneficial, long-term relationships, you’ll craft compelling proposals, develop tailored stewardship plans, and create sponsorship opportunities that inspire ongoing support.

You’ll lead the way in securing multi-year corporate partnerships and nurturing donor relationships to meet ambitious income targets. As a key player in the senior fundraising team, you’ll contribute to strategic planning, represent the charity at events, and champion new approaches to fundraising.

With our newly formed Development Board, the Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Lead will identify and utilise key networks to grow our philanthropic supporter base across corporate and major donor income streams. With strong writing skills, this person will also craft tailored and compelling corporate proposals and trust and foundation applications.

Who are we looking for?

To support our vision and ensure the achievement of ambitious income targets to support children and families affected by neuroblastoma, we are looking for a strategic and results-driven high-value fundraiser to join our team.

We are particularly keen to speak with interested candidates who enjoy cultivating high-value relationships from scratch and stewarding five- and six-figure corporate partnerships, and/or major donor relationships.

Person specification:

• Demonstrable significant experience working in corporate fundraising (experience in major donor and trusts & foundations fundraising would also be of benefit).
• Strategic thinker with significant experience at a managerial level, developing strategic plans to grow and optimise high-value fundraising.
• A proven record of being results-driven and working to achieve income targets, KPIs and outcomes.
• Proven ability to proactively identify, cultivate and secure new corporate relationships, demonstrate strong new business development acumen and confidence opening new opportunities.

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for information about Solving Kids' Cancer UK. 

Location: Home-based within England with regular travel to London and elsewhere in the UK as required
First stage interviews: Thursday 26th February
Second stage interviews:  Wednesday 4th March

As a safeguarding charity whose work and practice are underpinned by safeguarding principles to protect children and young people and enhance their welfare, we always work in accordance with legislation, statutory guidance, and best safeguarding practices. All our roles require a basic criminal record check.

Salary: £43,000 - £50,000
Contract: 2-year Fixed Term Contract
Location: London office 3 days per week (Hybrid working available)
Closing date: 26^th January
Benefits: 33 days annual leave, pension scheme up to 14%, hybrid working options

We have a great opportunity for a Philanthropy Manager working for a university based in central London. This university is particularly proud of their accessibility work, they have 5,000 students from households earning under £25,000 and provide scholarships, bursaries and cash support so this role will make a real impact for students. You will be managing a personal portfolio of up to 125 relationships with individuals, included in the portfolio are two million pound donors (a rare opportunity). This is a warm portfolio so will have a heavy relationship management focus.

To be successful as the Philanthropy Manager you will need:

• Substantial experience of relationship management, ideally in a major gifts context, or from the commercial sector as a relationship manager for high-value customers
• Proven track record of successfully soliciting funds in the range of five-figures and above
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals or high-value organisations
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage senior stakeholders

If you would like to discuss this role with us please contact us and quote the reference 2819AJ.

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. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity here.

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 end the application period sooner.

If you would like to discuss this role with us please quote the reference.

About the Orpheus Centre

The Orpheus Centre is a specialist college that promotes personal development through the arts for young disabled adults. Our work is underpinned by our core values of being joyful, bold, inclusive, resilient and determined, and we are passionate about creating meaningful opportunities that change lives.

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative Individual Giving Officer (including Digital) to help grow and develop our Individual Giving and Legacy income streams.

You will plan, deliver and evaluate inspiring fundraising activity, build long‑term relationships with supporters, and provide excellent donor stewardship. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping how supporters engage with — and feel connected to — the Orpheus Centre.

Salary: £27,000 – £30,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Location:  Godstone, Surrey
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (52 weeks per year) Flexible, hybrid and part‑time working options available
Reports to: Deputy Head of Fundraising

 Key responsibilities 

• Plan and deliver engaging individual giving digitalappeals across multiple channels
• Develop and manage regular giving and donor stewardship journeys to increase loyalty and lifetime value
• Lead on all aspects of legacy fundraising, including promoting gifts in wills and administering legacy cases
• Build strong relationships with supporters, case studies and internal stakeholders
• Develop and nurture a mid‑value donor programme, working closely with senior fundraising colleagues
• Create new and innovative channels of giving, including In Memory and Celebration Giving
• Manage individual giving and legacy budgets and track performance
• Use Salesforce CRM to manage data, analyse performance and produce reports
• Ensure Gift Aid claims are accurate and processed in a timely manner 

About you 

You will be an organised and confident fundraiser with a passion for building relationships and telling compelling stories.

You will have:

• At least 3 years’ experience delivering fundraising or supporter‑focused projects
• Experience of using databases/CRMs and Microsoft Office (Word and Excel)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a varied workload
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• An understanding of fundraising regulations, including Gift Aid and GDPR 

Desirable:

• Experience in individual giving and/or legacy fundraising
• Experience using Salesforce
• Experience of digital or direct marketing, copywriting or donor communications 

Why work with us? 

• A supportive and values‑driven working environment where your ideas matter
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities
• Be part of a passionate team that celebrates creativity and makes a tangible impact on young disabled people’s lives
• Opportunities for professional development and training

Join us in making a lasting difference in the lives of young disabled people through the power of the arts. 

Safeguarding and Equality 

Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references. This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches may be undertaken as part of due diligence.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

In order to be considered you must be eligible to work in the UK.

The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a disability confident employer.

We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be considered for interview. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are: 

• Challenging attitudes towards disability
• Increasing understanding of disability
• Removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
• Ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspiration

No agencies please.

At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for a Head of Philanthropy to join our Fundraising team.

You'll lead, oversee and implement ambitious plans, as set out in the new fundraising strategy and enabling us to fully capitalise on the opportunities presented over the next few years, with a focus on the development of a major donor strategy, growing our profile and supporting a high-performing Philanthropy team. Alongside this you will personally manage a portfolio of high value solicitations, resulting in 6- and 7-figure gifts.

You'll evaluate each income stream and develop plans aligned with fundraising strategy, ensuring these translate into deliverable objectives. You'll play a key role in the development of fundraising appeals, including large scale proposals and approaches, as well as developing creative and compelling funding applications to engage new supporters.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Proven experience of planning and implementing successful major donor fundraising programmes
• Proven experience of securing high-value major gifts
• An understanding of trends and developments across the sector and demonstrable knowledge of best practice in major donors, trusts and foundations fundraising
• Experience of financial management of expenditure budgets including setting, accurate forecasting and achieving financial and non-financial targets

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.

Harris Hill are delighted to be working with a fantastic charity to recruit for a Development Manager – Corporate and Philanthropy in orderto lead on the growth of the charity corporate partnerships and philanthropic giving.

This is a high impact role for someone who thrives on building relationships, unlocking income, and thinking creatively about partnerships that go beyond traditional models. You’ll lead a talented team and play a central role in a small but dynamic fundraising department.

As a Development Manager – Corporate and Philanthropy you will:

• Lead the development and implementation of a strategic plan to significantly grow corporate income.
• Research, identify and approach potential new corporate partners with bespoke, high-quality proposals and presentations.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of high value opportunities, developing partnerships that align with companies’ CSR and employee engagement goals.
• Pitch confidently to senior stakeholders and boards, tailoring approaches to different audiences and sectors.
• Work closely with the Director of Fundraising to engage senior level supporters, trustees and major donors to open doors and secure transformational gifts.
• Oversee the stewardship of corporate supporters, ensuring they are engaged and recognised in meaningful ways.
• Support cross over opportunities where corporate leaders may also be cultivated as major donors.
• Collaborate with marketing, communications and operations colleagues to deliver creative, co-branded campaigns and impactful partnerships.

To be successful, you must have experience:

• Proven track record in securing five and six-figure corporate partnerships or comparable business development success.
• Experience writing and designing compelling partnership proposals and presentations.
• Excellent relationship management and interpersonal skills with both corporate and philanthropic audiences.
• Ability to pitch with confidence to senior level decision makers.
• Strong collaboration skills, particularly with marketing/communications teams.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and effective pipeline reporting.
• Good understanding of the charity and corporate social responsibility landscape.

Desirable

• Previous experience in line management or mentoring.
• Experience working with major donors or high-net-worth individuals.

Salary: £42,500-£46,000

Location:  London, hybrid working , 1-2 days in the office

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: on rolling basis  

Interview: TBC

Recruitment process: Cv and Supporting Statement to

If this sounds like you, then please do get in touch ASAP!

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Prospectus are pleased to be supporting our client in their search for a Senior Philanthropy Manager (Maternity Cover).

Since they opened their doors in 1871, the venue has been home to the world’s leading figures in music, dance, entertainment and conversation. From the Suffragettes to Stormzy, Elgar to Einstein, the Beatles to Bassey… icons grace their stage.

A charity known and loved across the globe, they are home to dreams and determination, contemplation and celebration – bringing people together to lift their spirits and inspire. Every year nearly 2 million people enjoy unforgettable experiences in their spectacular building, with millions more joining online and through broadcast worldwide.

This is a 12–15-month maternity cover contract, paying a salary of £58,700 per annum. The postholder will be working in a hybrid model from their offices in London.

The Senior Philanthropy Manager will primarily be focused on generating funds from high value individuals, through major gifts, mid value gifts and legacies, to support these goals. The postholder will develop and review the strategy for stewarding individuals into making major gifts and maximising the income generated from them.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of securing and managing high value donations from individuals. You will have extensive experience in individual giving, ideally within an arts and culture or heritage organisation and of fundraising for a capital campaign.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Ariha Semontee at Prospectus.
 
If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.
 
In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a 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.

Key Responsibilities

Trust & Foundation Strategy Enhancement

• Develop and execute a trust fundraising strategy to increase income and position the Charity as a credible, evidence-led delivery partner for funders
• Meet income targets aligned with the Charity's growth strategy, to fund both core programmes and capital projects, prioritising multi-year funding opportunities
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective funders, ensuring regular and meaningful engagement
• Craft compelling, tailored proposals, applications, and cases for support to secure major grants 

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit a Trust Fundraiser and Prospect Researcher to support with identifying and evaluating potential donors
• Build a collaborative and inclusive team culture that values equity, wellbeing, and shared purpose 

Relationship Management

• Cultivate and steward relationships with existing and prospective trusts and foundations, ensuring they remain engaged with the Charity’s five-year Impact Strategy
• Provide exceptional reporting to funders, showcasing the impact of their contributions through updates, case studies, and financial reports
• Represent the charity at meetings, events, and site visits to inspire and engage potential funders 

Reporting & Compliance

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of trust fundraising activities, providing detailed reports to Senior Leadership and funders, as required
• Ensure compliance with all relevant fundraising regulations and best practices

Collaboration & Coordination

• Work closely with the Programme Manager and Capital Appeal Manager to develop well-costed, fundable programmes aligned with strategic priorities and with measurable outcomes
• Work closely with wider internal teams, including Programmes, Service Delivery, Finance, and Communications, to gather information, align messaging, and ensure funding requirements are met
• Collaborate with colleagues across other income streams to maximise crossteam opportunities and share insights on high-value prospects
• Ensure accurate record-keeping and tracking of relationships, proposals, and outcomes using the Charity’s CRM system

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven track record of securing five and six figure gifts from trusts, foundations, or institutional funders, including cold prospects, demonstrating confidence in donor acquisition
• Skilled in network mapping, prospect research and business development
• Demonstrable experience of working on major capital appeals or high-value fundraising campaigns
• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to craft persuasive and tailored funding applications
• Strong research and analytical skills to identify funding opportunities and align them with strategic priorities
• Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to build and sustain long-term partnerships
• Experience using CRM systems to manage and track donor relationships and activities
• Experience in securing multi-year funding (desirable)
• Experience in line management, with the ability to motivate staff and nurture talent (desirable) 

We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Spurgeons, who believe in creating brighter futures for children, young people, and families. As one of the UK's leading children's charities, firmly supported by Christian beliefs and values, Spurgeons helps vulnerable children and their families by delivering projects that support them and their communities to find long-lasting solutions to the challenges they face.

We are seeking a Senior Philanthropy Manager to secure transformational income through high-value giving strategies across major donors, legacies, trusts, foundations, and corporate partnerships. By building meaningful relationships and inspiring generosity, you'll create long-term partnerships that deliver life-changing support for children, young people, and families.

As a member of the fundraising management team contributing to shaping and delivering the overall Fundraising & Engagement strategy, you'll provide supportive line management to two direct reports. You'll develop and implement high-value donor giving strategies to drive sustainable year-on-year income growth, while building and nurturing meaningful relationships with high-value donors and managing your own portfolio with robust cultivation and stewardship plans.

Working with the Director of Fundraising & Engagement, you'll collaborate with senior leaders and trustees to identify new income opportunities. You'll implement and drive the Legacy and In-Memory strategy, oversee stewardship programmes for legacy pledgers, lead strategic pipeline development for Trusts and Foundations, and develop and deliver a Corporate Fundraising strategy. Conducting in-depth research and wealth screening, you'll identify and evaluate prospects while monitoring KPIs, budgets, and ROI against strategic plans.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience of line management and team leadership
• Proven experience of donor management, demonstrating the ability to build and steward high-value, income-generating relationships
• Demonstrable experience of achieving or exceeding income targets, delivering year-on-year net income growth
• Track record of developing, managing and growing high-value pipelines across major donors, trusts and foundations, legacies and corporate partners
• Proven success in major gift fundraising, including securing five or six figure gifts through face-to-face asks

By month 3, you'll have reviewed current high-value fundraising strategies and met key internal stakeholders including the Director of Fundraising, SLT, and Trustees. By month 6, you'll have launched refined Major Donor and Legacy strategies, developed a robust prospect pipeline, and initiated at least one new corporate partnership. By month 12, you'll have delivered a measurable increase in high-value income across all streams, embedded legacy messaging across all fundraising channels, and secured multi-year commitments from at least two major donors or trusts.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that isn't just goal-driven, but fuelled by creativity, passion, and a love for bold ideas to drive positive change! You'll be part of a team that celebrates successes and believes in fostering a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired to do their best work.

For more information, please contact Nick Thomas, Senior Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

Charisma is committed to inclusive and accessible recruitment processes. If you have any reasonable adjustments or wish to apply for this role under the Disability Confident Scheme, please confirm in your application, or contact our Operations Teams separately. Charisma will ensure all candidates who disclose that they wish to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and that meet the minimum criteria for the role will receive an opportunity to interview with the Charisma Consultant representing the vacancy.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law.

Location: Home based

Closing date: Sunday 8th February 2026

Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by Tuesday 10th February 2026

1st round interviews with Spurgeons: w/c 16th February 2026

Final round interviews with Spurgeons: w/c 23rd February 2026

Philanthropy Manager

12 Month Fixed Term Contract

£43,850 - £47,723 pa

City of London E1 8QS and we are a hybrid working organisation

This role is offered on a hybrid contract giving you the opportunity to also work from home three days a week. Remote contracts would not be considered for this role.

Purpose of Role

This is a new role at an exciting time of development within the philanthropy programme – it presents a great opportunity for you to contribute to our growth as we invest in the programme and work towards new and ambitious targets.

As our Philanthropy Manager, you will build and manage a healthy major donor portfolio to increase five and six figure income from individual donors and family trusts for Comic Relief.

With excellent relationship development skills and experience in securing major donations, you will increase support for our annual major campaigns, thematic funding, and our newly launched major giving product.

In a creative and dynamic organisation, you will devise and deliver a calendar of engaging and unique cultivation events and communications that reflect our brand and showcase the brilliant work of our funded partners. 

Working within an ambitious team, you will have the support of our Prospect Research Manager to identify new prospects, and the Individual Giving Manager and Data Team to develop a streamlined donor journey cultivating supporters from the wider fundraising programmes.

Your contribution will be pivotal in transforming lives and helping us achieve our goal of a ‘Just World Free From Poverty’. 

Key responsibilities:

Portfolio Management

Represent the organisation to a high-level and establish excellent, trusting relationships with donors and prospects through 121 relationship development

Deliver high quality, bespoke donor communications and cultivation plans.

Manage the pipeline using best practise moves management.

Deliver monthly pipeline reviews in collaboration with the Prospect Research Manager through accurate reporting and analysis.

Maintain accurate systems and processes to support the recording of donor data, communications, and donation tracking and reporting.

Continually feed the pipeline by prospecting from external and internal sources.

Develop a seamless donor journey across IG channels through to the portfolio.

Philanthropy programme delivery

Delivery high quality cultivation events and activities that attract new support and develop existing donors.

Work with the Philanthropy Lead to secure support for and deliver the new major giving product.

Support the Philanthropy Lead in delivering cultivation activities to secure seven figure donations.

Work with the Philanthropy Lead to further shape and refine the philanthropy strategy, developing the programme together to achieve our inspiring 5-year goals. 

Income and targets

Achieve annual income targets.

Set and achieve targets for moves management and pipeline growth with support from Prospect Research Manager.

Cross-team collaboration

Work with Funding Team to identify theme-specific gift opportunities.

Work with the IG, Storytelling, Challenges and Production teams to deliver adapted major donor appeals to support our major annual campaigns (Red Nose Day, Winter Appeal, Celebrity Challenges) 

Work with our Finance Associate and data team to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of income

Work with our Web team to create a new philanthropy webpage and oversee the philanthropy sections in the development of our new website. 

Work with the Social Media team to increase philanthropic messaging and storytelling across LinkedIn and sector socials.

Sector Knowledge

Monitor trends and best-practise in philanthropy and family giving vehicles.

Monitor trends in the UK and global funding environment, specifically next generation donors, wealth advisors, intermediaries, and talent.

Network with peers and others in the major giving space including wealth and philanthropy advisors

Data management 

Coordinate with the Prospect Research Manager to conduct ethical screening and due diligence.

Ensure consistency, integrity and accuracy of donor data in compliance with GDPR.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Significant experience in securing five figure donations and managing a personal portfolio of major donors.

Excellent verbal and written communicator, with the ability to communicate often complex programme and funding work in an engaging way to lay audiences. 

Significant experience in writing compelling cases for support and major donor appeals and proposals.

Experience in creating and delivering high quality donor events.

Ability to represent the organisation at a high level with external audiences.

Experience in using a CRM (e.g. RaisersEdge, Salesforce, D365) including managing donor records, moves management, running queries and reports.

Excellent team player with the ability to support colleagues in a fast-paced and busy environment.

Ability to work proactively and manage a busy workload with a systematic approach to work.

Desirable criteria 

Experience in securing six figure donations.

Experience of Salesforce.

Perks and benefits:

· Flexible working hours

· Work from home option

· Life Insurance

· Wellness programs

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

· Paid emergency leave

· Sabbatical Opportunities

· Professional development

· Mentoring/coaching

· Paid volunteer days

· Payroll giving

· Salary sacrifice

· Team social events

· Extracurricular clubs

· Cycle to work scheme

· Free fruit

To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.

Comic Relief reserves the right to close the role early if a large number of applications are received.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Comic Relief we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Why work at Comic Relief

There are lots of good reasons to join us at Comic Relief. You can read more about our employee benefits, such as our commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We ask staff to come to the office twice a week, normally on agreed team days, so that we can do all those things that are difficult to do online. Our office is based in Whitechapel, London,

There are lots of opportunities to develop your skills and experience at Comic Relief, including opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider or to participate in our Employee Network Groups that focus on making Comic Relief a more inclusive place to work.

Disability Confident Employer

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we take positive action by providing first-round interviews to candidates who have a registered disability, provided they meet the minimum criteria for the role, as demonstrated on their CV and application questions.