Partnership fundraising manager jobs

Harris Hill is delighted to be supporting a well-established social welfare charity in London with the recruitment of a Corporate and Community Fundraiser.

This is a brilliant opportunity to join a stable, high-performing fundraising team with exceptional staff longevity. The person previously in this role was in post for 10 years, and the line manager has been with the organisation for 9 years — a real testament to the culture, leadership and support on offer.

The Corporate and Community Fundraiser will manage a successful corporate portfolio worth c.£400k, made up of a strong mix of long-standing partners and new business. Corporate fundraising is the organisation’s largest income stream, with events as a key secondary driver, meaning this role sits at the heart of future income growth.

This role would suit a Corporate Fundraising Officer looking to step up, or someone keen to take on a larger, more strategic portfolio while remaining hands-on with delivery and relationship management.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and growing an established portfolio of corporate partners
• Developing new business, with a focus on local corporate opportunities
• Building strong, long-term relationships across a mix of partnership types
• Supporting corporate-led events and wider community fundraising activity
• Working closely with fundraising and communications colleagues
• Accurately recording activity and income using a CRM

Location & working pattern

The organisation is based on a beautiful site between Teddington and Hampton Wick, offering a genuinely lovely working environment.

The team typically works 2–3 days per week in the office, with Tuesday as the anchor team day, and the remainder working from home.

About you

You’ll bring:

• Experience in corporate fundraising or partnerships
• A track record of managing relationships and delivering income
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• A proactive, collaborative and relationship-led approach
• Experience of community fundraising and events would be welcome but is not essential.

How to apply

The closing date is Monday 23rd February, however early applications are strongly encouraged, as exceptional candidates may be interviewed before the deadline.

Please send your CV to 

 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

We are looking for someone who is all about people, purpose and making things happen.

Do you enjoy big goals, meaningful work and great conversations?

Do you love connecting with people and turning shared values into real action?

Do you want to make a real impact for young people, supporting them to thrive?

At 224 Youth Zone, we’re on a mission to change the future for young people in South Bristol. We need someone to lead the way in building a strong network of supporters who believe in that mission. You’ll quickly learn our story, meet the team, and understand the impact Youth Zones have. Then, you’ll get out there meeting individuals, businesses and community leaders across Bristol and beyond showing them how they can be part of something special. Our Founder Patron campaign is already underway, and you will play a key role in driving it forward in the lead up to our grand opening this year. You’ll build important relationships and secure long term support for 224 Youth Zone. When we open, your focus will shift to keeping those relationships strong, helping first time supporters become lifelong partners through thoughtful and creative engagement. You will also lead the way in growing our wider support base, finding new ways for businesses and individuals to get involved and give back.

Specific responsibilities

Supporter care, stewardship and engagement

• Recruit, manage and support guests attending Back Up’s high-profile special events, delivering a seamless and memorable experience from invitation to follow-up.
• Work closely with the Partnerships Team to engage, steward and strengthen relationships with corporate partners and sponsors connected to special events.
• Recruit, develop and manage a dedicated team of volunteers, supporting them in line with Back Up’s volunteering policy and ensuring they feel confident, motivated and appreciated.
• Partner with the Finance team to ensure robust, efficient processes are in place to handle income, process donations and thank supporters promptly and accurately.
• Support Event Committee members by coordinating meetings, preparing agendas and minutes, and enabling committees to play a meaningful role in the success of events.
• Build strong relationships with the Services Team to recruit people with spinal cord injury, along with their family and friends, to engage with and benefit from our special events programme.

Operational Events Co-ordination and Support

• Deliver the operational coordination of Special and Cultivation events, including managing enquiries, fundraising communications and timely supporter thank-yous.
• Prepare and maintain detailed risk assessments with the Special Events Manager to ensure safe and professional event delivery.
• Manage and build strong relationships with key suppliers and service providers.
• Work with the Communications Team to deliver creative marketing and communications plans that grow audiences and raise awareness of events.
• Support the Special Events Manager to develop and deliver the annual special events fundraising plan, contributing to budgets and KPIs to increase income and reach.
• Proactively identify and develop new and existing Special and Cultivation event opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all supporter, guest and volunteer interactions on the database.
• Keep up to date with fundraising best practice and sector standards.
• Provide regular reporting to the Special Events Manager, including progress against KPIs and budgets.
• Undertake other duties as required to support the Special Events programme.

Key stakeholders: Fundraisers, Corporate supporters, Special event suppliers, Back Up staff, committees, volunteers and trustees

This is an exciting opportunity to get experience with a large and growing charity with an engaged and fun team. You will be a key part of our mission to ​find a cure for all types of brain tumours.​

​Our Systems Manager is being seconded to an internal project for the next 6-9 months and so we are seeking an experienced IT professional to join our team for an interim basis for six months with the possibility of a three month extension.​​​​

In this role you will you lead a team of three people in supporting our staff team of 70 by providing reliable, effective and efficient IT systems and equipment. This include ​the monitoring and maintenance of our IT software and, with external support, our IT hardware. ​​

You will line manage the Database Assistant ​and Data Processing Assistant.

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​If you are excited to learn more about this position, please take a read through our recruitment pack provided in the advert.

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If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application. ​ We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​​​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. ​

Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.​

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We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

Job Title: Senior Trusts and Foundations Manager

Salary: £40,000 - £44,000

Contract: Permanent, full-time – 37.5 hours per week

Location: Hybrid, with at least two days a week working from Power2’s office in Manchester or London

Annual Leave: 25 days paid holiday each year

Power2 is a fast growing and energetic children and young people's charity that has supported 27,000 young people since 2001. We are based in the North West of England and London and deliver early-intervention asset-based programmes to children and young people who have mental wellbeing challenges and are disengaged from school and more widely. We are well-known for our accredited Teens and Toddlers programme and are supporting young people via Power2 Rediscover, an intensive 1:1 crisis response programme. Our Power2 Thrive programme focuses on improving mental wellbeing.

With our support, children and young people who are experiencing vulnerabilities and disadvantages improve their wellbeing, re-engage with school and learning, build networks and access opportunities.

We’re committed to equality and operate within a culture and structure that recognises diversity and strives to be fair. We live by our values of Brave, Expert and Passionate and we aim to have an entrepreneurial and flexible approach to work.

We are seeking an experienced Trusts and Foundations fundraiser to join our team at Power2, a fast growing and energetic youth charity.

You will lead on fundraising from Trusts and Foundations and be responsible for relationships, applications and reporting to major Trust and Foundation funders. You’ll lead internal processes for prospect research and have oversight of a growing portfolio of potential and existing donors. You will ensure a consistent pipeline of applications to meet your performance indicators and collate information from across the organisation to produce funder reports.

 You will have significant and demonstrable experience of fundraising from major Trusts and Foundations. You will have excellent project management skills, be skilled at writing compelling funding bids, be highly numerate and a great team player and collaborator. Previous experience or interest in the youth or education charity sector would be an advantage.

We operate hybrid working, and this role can be based at either our North-West (Ashton-under-Lyne) or London office, with at least two days working in the office per week. We offer flexibility as to when the role’s hours are worked, and exact working patterns can be discussed at interview.

Your expression of interest should be no longer than two pages of A4 and must cover:

· Where you are based

· How your skills and experience match the person specification

· What makes you the right person for the role.

Your CV and personal statement are submitted on the second page of the application process. Applications without a personal statement will not be considered.

We are interviewing on a rolling basis and may appoint before the advertised closing date. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.

The successful applicants will be required to undergo and secure an enhanced DBS check (child workforce) and provide details of two referees.

Salary: £51,000–£55,000 pa
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Location: Hybrid – London Whitechapel
Deadline:18^th January

Thrilled as always to be working with the incredible Centrepoint, the UK’s leading charity supporting homeless young people, as they look for a Senior Corporate New Business Manager to join their team.

As Senior Corporate New Business Manager, you will lead the Corporate New Business team to secure high-value, transformative partnerships that change lives. You’ll play a key part in driving an ambitious strategy to deliver multi-year partnerships, working closely with senior stakeholders and collaborating across the organisation to achieve exceptional outcomes for young people.

You will develop and deliver the new business strategy, manage a robust pipeline, and lead negotiations for partnerships in excess of £500k. You’ll also oversee income and expenditure budgets, contribute to cross-team projects, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within the fundraising directorate.

To be successful as the Senior Corporate New Business Manager, you will need:

• Demonstrable experience of corporate fundraising and securing six- and seven-figure partnerships.
• Experience leading a team and driving performance through effective line management.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.

If you would like to discuss this role with us, please email your CV to [email protected] or contact us and quote the reference 2807JP.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency, passionate about improving equality across the sector. You can read more about our commitment to diversity on our website.

If enough applications are received, the charity reserves the right to end the application period sooner.

 

The Corporate Development Manager will lead on the management of National Theatre’s Corporate Membership programme. We are looking for a candidate with a strong grounding in relationship management, an understanding of corporate membership schemes and proven experience in working collaboratively to plan and deliver high quality events for corporate supporters. The successful candidate will be proactive and energetic in delivering exceptional stewardship, while demonstrating ambition and strategic insight in identifying opportunities to uplift existing Corporate Members to partnership level supporters.

The successful candidates will have the following:  

• Significant experience of account management.
• Proven success of uplifting corporate members or partners to a higher level of support.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of customer service values.
• Confidence and resilience at dealing with people at all levels with excellent communication skills.
• Exceptional networking skills

If that sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

The closing date for the receipt of a completed application is Tuesday 17th February 2026 at 12 noon.

We are looking for a Development Manager to lead the growth of a corporate partnerships programme, securing new business and developing high-value, long-term relationships that generate income and enhance brand visibility.

This is a hybrid role with 1 - 2 days a week in the London office.

The Charity
An incredible health charity devoted to supporting families with the resources to be together at truly crucial times. Youd be joining a passionate team, offering some fantastic benefits including but not limited to, family friendly policies, 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off and a bonus day in December, season ticket loan and a commitment to development and training.

The Role
Corporate Fundraising and New Business Development
- Develop and implement a strategy to grow corporate income, focusing on new business and long-term high-value partnership opportunities.
- Produce high-quality, pitch-ready proposals, presentations and decks, collaborating with the Communications and
Marketing Team.

Relationship Management and Stewardship
- Collaborate with the Senior Partnerships Officer to ensure excellent account management of mid-level corporate partners.
- Support with cultivating key individuals (e.g. major donors, trustees, senior volunteers Fundraising Development Board Members) who can make introductions or influence support.

Management and Reporting
-Line manage, coach and support the Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer and the P/T Corporate Officer.

The Candidate
Proven track record of personally securing new five and six-figure corporate partnerships or equivalent high-value business
development deals within the last 1-2 years.

Proven experience in writing and designing compelling, tailored funding proposals and pitch decks that have secured high-value
donations and Charity of the Year partnerships of 50,000 and above.

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with both corporate and philanthropic audiences.

Proven experience in working with and stewarding major donors, using a tailored, strategic approach to secure high-level income

IMPORTANT NOTE

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful, but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

Job title: Senior Fundraiser
Salary: £34,582 - £38,425 per annum, plus location or homeworking allowances if applicable
Contract: full-time, permanent
Location: Office, hybrid or home working options available. Preference for hybrid working with at least one day per week in the London office.
Some travel required to support major mass participation events (approx. 3 times per year, e.g. London Marathon)

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with a national charity to recruit for their next Senior Fundraiser to join their Mass Participation Team.

Within the Fundraising and Engagement directorate, the Mass Participation Team plays a key role in inspiring thousands of supporters to take part in events and activities that raise vital funds, strengthen supporter relationships, and help drive long-term sustainable income.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow two of the charity's high-potential fundraising areas: the DIY Fundraising programme and a nationwide schools' campaign.

About the role

As Senior Fundraiser, you will lead on a portfolio of mass participation fundraising initiatives, using your project management strengths to drive income, enhance supporter experience, and deliver high-quality campaigns at scale.

A significant part of your role will be owning and developing the DIY fundraising programme-supporting hundreds of individuals each year who choose to fundraise in their own way, whether through workplace bake sales, personal challenges or large-scale activities. You'll review and streamline user journeys, improve efficiency across supporter touchpoints, and use data-driven insight to strengthen engagement and fundraising performance.

You will also project manage a new virtual fundraising product for schools. Working closely with the Schools Fundraising Manager, you will coordinate the campaign's full lifecycle-from planning, budgeting and marketing, to delivery, evaluation and future innovation.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a dynamic, insight-led environment and enjoys creating excellent supporter experiences at scale.

Your key responsibilities:

Project manage DIY fundraising and schools fundraising activities to meet agreed income and participation targets

• Lead on acquisition and stewardship for DIY fundraisers, ensuring excellent supporter experience across mass, workplace and school audiences
• Project manage the schools challenge from planning to delivery, evaluation and continuous improvement
• Use data-led insight to analyse campaign performance and implement improvements to supporter journeys and campaign efficiency
• Develop new activity ideas and improve existing offers to increase participation, remittance rates and overall income
• Manage campaign budgets, timelines and stakeholder relationships effectively
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Mass Participation Team and wider Engagement and Fundraising directorate
• Build and maintain effective relationships with external suppliers, partners and supporters

What you'll bring:

Strong project management skills

• Experience delivering fundraising campaigns, events or mass-audience marketing activity
• Excellent communication sklls
• Experience delivering high-quality supporter or customer experiences
• Confident working with data to inform decisions, improve performance and support recommendations
• Strong budget management skills, with the ability to track, report and plan confidently
• Creative, proactive and comfortable identifying opportunities for improvement
• Experience managing external suppliers and agencies

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter to Philippa by clicking on the Apply button.

The closing date is 15th February.

Interview date TBC.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. Please inform us if you require any assistance or adjustment to help ensure the application process works for you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

You will be part of a small energetic and committed team supporting the delivery of Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s philanthropy and income generation ambitions. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will help grow and steward support from individuals, corporate, charitable and statutory donors, with a lead responsibility for a defined portfolio of relationships and initiatives.

Fundraising and relationship building happen across the charity, and you will manage your own portfolio of donors and partners and work with the Chief Executive and wider team to co-ordinate activity, share insight and maximise opportunities for place based philanthropy in Northamptonshire.

You will need confidence, excellent communication skills and the ability to plan and deliver projects as part of a highly collaborative team. You will be comfortable cultivating, stewarding and sometimes soliciting charitable donations yourself, as well as creating opportunities for the Chief Executive to engage with donors and prospective supporters.

Organisation: 
The Talent Set is working with an incredible organisation supporting people experiencing homelessness. We're supporting them to appoint a talented Individual Giving and Legacies Fundraising Manager to help drive forward an ambitious and growing fundraising programme. Their work provides safety, stability and tailored support to people experienceing homeslessness, offering accommodation and a compassionate environment where individuals can rebuild and take control of their futures.

The Role: 

• Playing a central role in expanding voluntary income and strengthening public fundraising.
• Leading on individual giving and legacies, shaping strategy and delivery.
• Developing engaging supporter journeys to deepen relationships and improve retention.
• Delivering high?quality fundraising campaigns that grow both the volume and value of donor support.
• Useing insight and data to inform decision?making and drive income growth.
• Working within a context of exciting organisational development, including new accommodation projects.
• Building on a developing mid?level giving programme and alongside strong community fundraising activity.
• Has real scope to innovate and create meaningful, long?term impact.

The Successful Candidate will: 

• Bring experience across individual giving, whether regular giving, digital campaigns, direct mail, in?memory, or legacy fundraising.
• Have a strong understanding of how to use data and insight to inform decisions and optimise activity.
• Be confident in designing supporter journeys that engage, retain, and inspire donors.
• Be skilled in developing compelling fundraising propositions.
• Be experienced in managing budgets and evaluating campaign performance.
• Have experience in launching or shaping a legacy programme is particularly valuable.
• Have familiarity with CRM systems and data processes, with the ability to use them effectively.
• Experience of line management, requiring an encouraging, collaborative leadership style.

How to Apply:
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button. 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.

War Child believes that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war. It is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict, with four main areas of work: protecting children, educating children, supporting communities and campaigning. The charity are renowned for their creative, innovative and entrepreneurial approach, with strong connections to the gaming, music and creative industries. 

Philanthropy is a central driver of War Child’s growth. Income has risen rapidly, underpinned by exceptional networks, high-profile supporters and a highly successful portfolio of events and experiences. Following a strategic review, War Child is now investing in a more structured, sustainable approach to philanthropy fundraising with two clearly defined strands: one focused on traditional major donor relationship management and pipeline growth, and a second dedicated to high-value events and experiences as a core driver of major donor engagement and income. This role has been created to lead the second strand.

While the Senior Philanthropy Manager’s primary focus will be generating income from a warm portfolio of major donors, they will also take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value philanthropy events, shaping donor engagement rather than delivering events operationally. This is an autonomous, externally-facing role, unlocking influential networks and converting high-profile engagement into long-term philanthropic partnerships.

Please note that this is a hybrid role, with 1-2 days per week in the Camden office, with regular events and meetings in central London.

As Senior Philanthropy Manager, you will:

• Manage and develop a portfolio of donors and warm prospects capable of giving 6-figure gifts, including high-value donors currently sitting with senior leadership
• Take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value events as a core driver of the major donor pipeline, shaping and strengthening this strand so it becomes a defined, sustainable part of the philanthropy programme
• Lead on donor engagement around events, including narrative, asks, pledge levels, follow-up and conversion to income
• Analyse and prioritise prospects with the Data & Insights Manager to focus effort on the highest-value opportunities
• Unlock and activate influential networks through ambassadors, senior volunteers and high-profile supporters
• Work closely with the Head of Philanthropy, Data & Insights Manager, Events Producer, and Principal Giving Lead

Essential skills and experience:

• Significant experience of high-value major donor fundraising, with a track record of securing £50k+ gifts from HNWIs
• Strong experience of developing donors through identification, cultivation, solicitation and long-term stewardship
• Credibility and confidence working with wealthy, influential individuals, advisers, celebrities and senior volunteers
• Experience of shaping donor engagement strategy around high-value events or pledge environments
• Strategic thinker with strong judgement on prospect prioritisation and pipeline management
• Excellent relationship management, influencing and written communication skills
• Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-moving, high-profile environment

Desirable:

• Experience of pledge dinners or high-value special events at a strategic fundraising level
• Experience working with ambassadors or high-profile supporters
• International development or humanitarian sector experience

Not required: Direct event production experience; Line management experience

Employee benefits include: 

• 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 33 days, plus public holidays (entitlement is pro-rata for part-time staff
• Enhanced pay provision for maternity, partner/coparent/paternity, shared parental and adoption leave.
• Life insurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan and Cancer Cover
• Enhanced Sick Leave (from Day 1, entitlement increases with length of service)
• Paid Emergency Time Off for Dependants: Up to 5 days paid leave per annum to deal with an emergency involving a dependant
• Flexible Public Holidays: Staff may exchange up to two standard UK public holidays around Easter and Christmas for those that have cultural or religious significance to them
• Career Break: 3-12 months’ unpaid leave available to staff after 3 years’ continuous service
• Temporary Overseas Working: Up to 4 weeks per annum to work from a location outside of the UK
• Volunteer Leave: Up to four days paid leave per annum (pro rata) to participate in volunteering activities
• Cultural Benefits: As a charity that works closely with the creative industry, we’re delighted to offer our staff a number of free tickets to the best cultural events, including gigs, art exhibitions, private views and more! You’ll also receive free membership to Tickets for Good who provide free and discounted tickets to even more live events.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is now seeking an exceptional and visionary Director of Development to lead its fundraising at a pivotal moment in its evolution. This newly created senior role reflects a step change in ambition as the organisation embarks on an exciting new chapter of growth, partnership and global profile. Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Executive Team, the Director of Development will inspire and lead a talented development team while playing a central role in shaping the organisation’s future direction. You will spearhead major fundraising initiatives, including a landmark capital campaign to realise plans for a new recording, rehearsal and creative centre — envisaged as an “Abbey Road of the North” — designed to support future talent, innovation and the wider creative economy of the Liverpool City Region. Alongside this, you will help secure the long-term success of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s award-winning artistic, learning and community programmes.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, relationship-driven leader with a strong track record of securing transformational income within complex, mission-led organisations. You will bring strategic vision, deep knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, and the confidence to unlock new sources of support from individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Crucially, you will play a leading role in articulating a clear, compelling and cohesive external narrative for Royal Liverpool Philharmonic — one that brings together its heritage, ambition, social impact and future aspirations — and ensure this story resonates powerfully with funders, partners, civic leaders and audiences. Passionate about music and culture, you will be an inspiring leader, a trusted advisor to the Board and Executive, and a persuasive ambassador for an organisation that exists to enhance and transform lives through music.

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you? 

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year. 

Join Our Team: Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships 

We’re excited to welcome a new strategic leader to shape and deliver transformational income growth and strategic partnerships for the Trust.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Working Hours & Location 

This role follows a 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. This is a home-based role, requiring regular travel to meetings with donors, events and to our main hubs for collaborative meetings and team activities.

Role Overview 

In this pivotal role, you will lead the refinement and delivery of the Trust’s high value giving strategy, building and sustaining relationships with philanthropists, statutory funders, trusts and foundations, and corporates. You’ll inspire, lead, and manage a diverse team to achieve ambitious income targets and strengthen strategic partnerships that support the Trust’s vision. You will actively demonstrate desired behaviours - enthusiastically engaging with external partners, taking initiative to strengthen the team, and fostering a culture within the Trust that supports high level giving. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Implement and refine the Fundraising Strategy to deliver significant and sustainable income growth and impact.
• Lead, inspire and develop a diverse team, fostering a culture of delivery, collaboration, accountability, and innovation. 
• Personally lead on cultivating and stewarding transformational relationships with corporates, trusts, foundations, high-net-worth donors and some statutory sources while empowering your team to build profitable, multi-year relationships, a robust pipeline and secured income.
• Prepare, monitor, and deliver the annual business plan and income budget (currently £5m with significant growth planned).
• Represent the Trust externally at a senior level and maintain awareness of sector trends.
• Maintain best practice in fundraising compliance, risk management, and reporting, maintaining the highest standards of integrity.
• Embed diversity, inclusion, and safety responsibilities in all activities.

About You 

As an accomplished fundraising leader with a proven track record of delivering high-value income and building strategic partnerships, you thrive in complex stakeholder environments and bring a blend of vision, resilience, and hands-on expertise. You’ll be confident influencing at Board level, adept at navigating ambiguity, and passionate about making a lasting impact.

Skills & Qualifications 

• Proven experience in leading a team – skilled at building, inspiring, and motivating teams to achieve fundraising goals.
• Comprehensive expertise in major donor fundraising, corporate partnerships, and trust and foundation giving, alongside a working knowledge of statutory giving. 
• Demonstrated expertise in high-value fundraising and partnership development, with a proven ability to create, cultivate and steward long-term relationships while influencing internal stakeholders to secure and sustain transformational support.
• Proven success in securing transformational gifts and multi-year partnerships.
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills, able to influence inside and outside the organisation.
• A proven ability to develop and write persuasive and successful funding applications and partnership proposals for major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporates.
• Exceptional communication and networking skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
• Experience managing significant budgets and delivering income growth.
• Knowledge of fundraising compliance and sector trends.  
• A collaborative and innovative approach, able to lead and motivate a diverse team while working cross-functionally.
• Personal resilience and adaptability, with the ability to deliver results in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

What We Offer 

We offer an annual salary of £78,000, plus £520 cash car allowance per month. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: 

Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.