Senior corporate fundraising and philanthropy officer jobs

About The Role
Following an internal promotion within the team, we’re looking for a Corporate Partnerships Manager to take ownership of a portfolio of high profile national corporate partners, including our award-winning football fundraising campaign with Premier League clubs, and develop further the relationships, plans and opportunities that can grow their support for the Royal British Legion year after year. This is an account management role with real scope to shape what a partnership can become: from developing new fundraising and engagement opportunities and negotiating agreements, to creating strong proposals and presentations for senior stakeholders. You’ll be comfortable managing significant income targets and budgets, spotting opportunities within existing relationships and turning them into well thought-through, commercially sound plans.

Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

You’ll be joining the Corporate, Trusts & Philanthropy team at an exciting time when we’re looking to develop our corporate partnerships and integrate seamlessly with our High Value giving colleagues. You’ll work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Lead, New Business colleagues and teams across Fundraising, bringing together the right people to deliver campaigns, fundraising activity and wider partner benefits. You’ll also have responsibility for a Corporate Partnerships Officer, providing clear direction and support while helping to build a team that delivers a high standard of partner management. The role will suit someone who enjoys being hands-on, can keep multiple partnerships moving at once and knows how to balance the needs of a corporate partner with the priorities of a charity.

We’re looking for someone with solid experience managing partnerships or clients in a fundraising or commercial environment, who is confident negotiating agreements, handling substantial budgets and presenting ideas to people at all levels. You’ll be a natural relationship builder, but just as importantly, you’ll be organised, commercially aware and able to look at the detail as well as the bigger picture. You’ll know how to turn a good relationship into a strong partnership, communicate clearly when priorities compete and use insight and evidence to make decisions. Experience of corporate fundraising is valuable, but we’re particularly interested in people who can demonstrate the judgement, creativity and account management skills to develop high-value relationships and deliver results.

You will be contracted to our Haig House hub with a minimum expectation of two days per week working in person at the hub and flexibility for working remotely/at home when not on site.

Employee benefits include -

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Generous pension scheme with employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%, depending on length of service
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Job Description attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.

Interview Dates: W/C 21st September 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role(s). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Age International's vision is a world where every older person is included and valued. Its mission is to inspire and channel UK and international support so that older people in challenging situations across the world can improve their lives.

The CEO of Age International provides leadership to a committed and dynamic charity which champions the rights, and improves the lives, of older people in low- and middle-income countries.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead Age International at a pivotal moment for the rights and wellbeing of older people globally. As CEO you will provide inspirational leadership to an organisation with a strong reputation, deep expertise and a clear purpose: to ensure that older people everywhere can live with dignity, security and choice.

While the current strategy is defined, you will deliver this and then shape a new, ambitious strategy in years to come, working to influence policy, mobilise resources and nurture powerful partnerships that bring about lasting change.

With credibility, compassion and determination, you will champion the voices of older people internationally and lead Age International into its next chapter of impact and influence.

Please view the attached role description for full details.

Person specification:

Essential:

* Strategic vision, forward-looking, clear-thinking strategist able to read the environment and lead strategy processes.

* Passionate, values-based leader, committed to advancing the rights of older people.

* Senior leadership and governance experience in a complex organisation, preferably in the charitable / NGO sector.

* Strong experience of international development and humanitarian programme development and management, and related policy issues.

* Experienced income generator with financial acumen.

* Collaborative, relational team builder and manager committed to diversity equality and inclusion, able to use soft-power to build support.

* Partnership-builder creating impact greater than the sum of the parts.

* Confident external affairs representative, manager of stakeholder engagement and spokesperson, including for the media.

* Advocate and confident influencer able to drive policy change

* Engaging and effective communicator and campaigner, able to explain impact, inspire support and grow profile.

* Calm manager of change who is both agile and pragmatic.

* Thrives working in a small team on a big mission.

* Willing to travel internationally on programme monitoring visits and for conferences.

Desirable:

* Understanding of UN processes, health system strengthening, income security and social pensions, able to articulate the impact of gender discrimination and climate change on older people internationally.

* Experience as a CEO or of overseeing organisational management, policies and compliance.

* Technology and digital skills.

* Experience of leading public change campaigning.

* Experience as a Trustee.

What we offer in return:

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, Health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

The closing date for applications is 14th September, 2026.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Anonymisation

Please submit your CV as a Word document. It will be anonymised by our recruitment system.

Please provide a supporting statement that explains how you meet the competencies in the job description. Age UK acknowledges that AI may be used to support applications, however we expect candidates to personalise their experience, knowledge and skills. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

Please do not include your name, or any other personal information in your supporting statement, to assist our inclusive recruitment process.

Please do not use heavy formatting for either your CV or supporting statement, as the system is unable to anonymise these.

All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if you are invited for interview.

Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. Age UK is a Disability Confident Scheme employer. Due to high numbers of applications received, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Reasonable adjustments

Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.

Safeguarding

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

For a full list of benefits please visit our website.

Are you interested in playing your part in making a difference to our world? Come and join our team as a Philanthropy Manager - we are hiring here at ClientEarth!

This role offers the chance to join a high‑performing, deeply collaborative Philanthropy Team within ClientEarth’s Development Department, working closely with major donors, trusts, and foundations across multiple countries.

Important dates to note:

• Deadline to submit an initial application: 21 September 2026
• If your profile passes initial screening, you will be asked to submit additional information in the form of three additional questions. 
• The deadline to submit your answers is the 24th of September
• If we do not receive a response to these questions by the deadline we will assume you are no longer interested in the role. 
• Interviews will take place the from the 28th of September

Please also review the "Our Hiring Process" section at the bottom of this advert to learn more about the stages involved for this specific role. 

Key Responsibilities

• Build a resilient donor pipeline and manage prospects and donors through each stage of the pipeline.
• Actively solicit and manage donor relationships across assigned portfolio to achieve global philanthropy income target with a focus on building new income and unrestricted income
• Work with the Global Head of Philanthropy and Lead to implement agreed fundraising strategies across geographies
• Collaborating with the team to implement the Philanthropy strategy as part of the overall Global Fundraising strategy, liaising with leadership, programme leads, communications and finance to ensure ClientEarth maximises potential income from corporate, restricted and unrestricted income streams

See the job description for a full list of duties for this role.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Fundraising management experience working in major donor fundraising.
• Demonstrable experience of securing five (or higher) figure gifts as well as multi-year commitments including unrestricted income.
• Good knowledge of donor and pipeline management, and financial processes 
• Previous line management experience 

See the job description for a full list of duties for this role.

Job Benefits

Flexible working:  We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based. See our benefits page for more: Benefits | ClientEarth Careers as well as our flexible working FAQ.
 

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at ClientEarth | ClientEarth journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the UK or Belgium.
 

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

Who we are:

Chefs in Schools exists to improve children’s health and futures through improving school food and food literacy.

We work alongside schools and catering teams to transform what children eat every day, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to good health. We combine practical support, training, operational expertise and sector influence to help schools serve fresh, nutritious food that children want to eat.

We are ambitious about both impact and scale. We want every child to have access to excellent school food and a real food education, regardless of background.

We are a values-led organisation. We are bold, honest, collaborative, innovative and focused on solutions.

About you and the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Fundraising Officer to join our Partnerships and Engagement team. This is a brilliant opportunity to support a broad portfolio across income streams including Trusts and Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, and Major Donors.

You will play a crucial role in our fundraising efforts by leading prospect research to identify new funding opportunities to build a strong pipeline. You will support the Senior Partnership Manager and Philanthropy Manager to grow a portfolio of trusts, corporate partners and philanthropists. You will also be responsible for maintaining the CRM database (Beacon) and administrative tasks. This varied role is perfect for someone who enjoys building relationships and coordinating meaningful supporter engagement opportunities. You will work with colleagues across Chefs in Schools to gather compelling stories and impact data that demonstrate the difference our funders make.

The responsibilities, skills and experience listed below are intended to give you an idea of what we need for this role. If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you would be able to work with us to deliver the majority of them, we urge you to apply anyway. We’re dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and for us the most important ‘experience’ is passion for our mission. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

You will have excellent organisation skills, with good attention to detail and the ability to prioritise a varied workload. You will have strong communication skills and be able to build relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

We want to get to know you at the interview and understand we can do this best if you’re at ease. We’re an inclusive employer and are passionate about creating a welcoming working environment for everyone. We’re continually updating our DEI policy and have a neurodiversity champion. If you need adjustments to the interview process please let us know.

As we work with children and young people, an offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance, in line with our safeguarding policy.

Key responsibilities

• Lead prospect research to build a strong pipeline of trusts, corporates and major donors which align with our mission. This includes network mapping to identify existing connections and relationships.

• Act as the CRM champion for fundraising, ensuring all donor interactions and details are accurately recorded and updated.

• Support in developing and maintaining inspiring stewardship and engagement plans for funders and supporters.

• Provide events support; logistics, guestlist management and other duties where required.

• Prepare insightful briefings for the Senior Leadership Team ahead of key funder meetings.

• Work with the communications team to create engaging end of term/ annual reports for key funders and donors.

• Monitor sector trends and newly launched funding rounds to ensure we never miss an opportunity.

• Work with the finance team to process donations and Gift Aid declarations, ensuring thank-yous are sent out promptly.

• Pull regular financial and pipeline reports from the database to assist with team forecasting and planning.

• Provide warm supporter care as the first point of contact for public fundraising inquiries.

• Support the delivery of digital appeals, regular giving, and community fundraising initiatives.

Essential skills & experience

• You have at least 1–2 years of experience in a charity fundraising environment.

• You have interest and belief in our mission, to improve child health through improving food and food education in schools.

• You are an excellent writer and communicator with strong presentation and communication skills.

• You have experience of using CRM software.

• You have strong research skills and experience synthesizing complex information into succinct and accessible copy.

• You are highly organised and can juggle multiple deadlines while maintaining a sharp eye for detail.

• You are a natural relationship builder, comfortable interacting with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• You demonstrate self-motivation, flexibility and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing, growing organisation.

Desirable skills & experience

• Experience using tools like Canva or Mailchimp to create engaging fundraising content.

• Experience in planning and delivering fundraising events.

• Familiarity with fundraising regulations and data protection laws regarding donor privacy.

What success looks like

Within the first 12 to 18 months, success in this role is likely to include a comprehensive knowledge of our existing fundraising model and key funders, taking the lead in prospect research, leading on account management of restaurant partners, small to medium scale fundraising campaigns, and supporting with event organisation. You will also have gained a comprehensive knowledge of the organisational strategy and the wider school food system. 

Our commitment to inclusion

We know that strong candidates may not meet every single requirement listed in this job description.

If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution to our mission, we would encourage you to apply.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where people from different backgrounds, experiences and communities can thrive. If you require assistance or reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please let us know.

Benefits

You would be joining a friendly, supportive team who works hard but believe in a healthy work/life balance. We were voted one of CODE Hospitality's happiest places to work in 2024. We seek a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge. Joining a small, collaborative team means you'll be able to contribute to and draw on various projects and strategic insights.

We offer 33 days of holiday per year including bank holidays, 3 additional office closure days over the Christmas period as well as wellbeing days over the summer school holidays. We also have a Cycle to Work scheme, hybrid working, enhanced parental leave, and free access to the CODE app for discounted restaurants & hospitality venues. We are committed to developing our team and will support you with relevant training opportunities including £250 towards elective training and development of your choice.

We also offer Bupa Dental Insurance, Income Protection Insurance, as well as access to the Aviva Smart Health Platform which offers health benefits including free rapid access online GP appointments, free counselling and wellbeing support.

Application process

In line with our commitment to ensuring a fair and unbiased recruitment process, we invite candidates to answer a series of questions related to their day-to-day job. 

Each question has a 250-word limit. We recommend that you develop your answers offline and copy them in when you're ready, to make sure you don't lose your work if interrupted.

All communication about your application, other than a verbal job offer, will be sent through the Applied platform - please check your Applied account regularly (as well as your spam folder) for updates.

Your answers will go through our sifting process: all answers are anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers. A longlist of candidates will then additionally have their CVs reviewed. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30 minute online interview. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a second, in-person interview at our office in Brixton, London.

Expected duration of this application process: 4-6 weeks

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online 30-minute competency based interview, held in the week commencing 7th September. 

Successful candidates will be invited to an in-person second interview at our office in Brixton, London w/c 14th September. The interview overall will take a maximum of one hour.

CAHN is seeking an ambitious, creative and experienced Head of Fundraising & Events to lead our fundraising and events portfolio and help drive the organisation’s next phase of growth.

You will lead fundraising development, identify new income opportunities, build strong relationships with funders, corporate partners and supporters, and deliver high-profile events that generate income, engagement and impact.

Working closely with senior colleagues and external stakeholders, you will combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery to grow sustainable income, strengthen partnerships and maximise opportunities for CAHN.

We are looking for a confident and results-driven professional with a proven fundraising and events track record, excellent relationship-building skills and a passion for tackling health inequalities affecting Black Caribbean and African communities.

This is your opportunity to use your expertise, creativity and leadership to help create lasting change.

Help Shape the Future of Rivers in the North East 

Tyne Rivers Trust is seeking an ambitious and inspiring Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships to lead the growth of our fundraising, strategic partnerships and philanthropic income at an exciting moment in our development.

As a thriving environmental charity, we work to protect and improve rivers for wildlife, communities and future generations. Following our expansion in 2025 to include the Northumberland river catchments, we are entering a new phase of growth and impact across the North East.

This is a rare opportunity to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in securing the funding, partnerships and support that will enable us to deliver lasting environmental change.

About the Role 

Working closely with the CEO, Chief Scientist & Technical Director and wider leadership team, you will lead the development and delivery of Tyne Rivers Trust's philanthropy, fundraising and partnership strategy. You will cultivate and steward high-value relationships with major donors, trusts and foundations, corporate partners, statutory bodies and other key stakeholders, helping secure sustainable income and long-term investment in our work.

You will also lead and grow our partnerships across the Tyne and Northumberland catchments, ensuring we build strong collaborations that maximise environmental and community impact. As the Trust continues to expand, you will help position TRT as a leading environmental charity and trusted delivery partner across the region.

Key Responsibilities 

Lead Strategic Partnerships 

• Develop and strengthen relationships with businesses, funders, public bodies, charities and community organisations. 

• Lead the strategic development of catchment partnerships across the Tyne and Northumberland. 

• Identify and develop new partnership opportunities that support our mission and growth. 

Drive Fundraising and Philanthropy 

• Develop and deliver our fundraising strategy and income diversification plans. 

• Build a strong pipeline of major donors, trusts, foundations and corporate supporters. 

• Secure significant funding to support TRT's long-term sustainability and growth. 

• Develop compelling cases for support and partnership investment opportunities. 

• Create and deliver innovative fundraising initiatives and campaigns.

Champion Impact and Influence 

• Lead partnership communications and impact reporting. 

• Develop compelling stories that demonstrate the value and impact of TRT's work. 

• Support profile-raising activity and strengthen the Trust's reputation across the North East. 

• Ensure partnership activity aligns with organisational priorities and strategic objectives.

Lead and Inspire 

• Provide leadership to a growing philanthropy and partnerships team. 

• Contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. 

• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement across the organisation.

About You 

We are looking for an experienced fundraising and partnership professional with a proven track record of building successful relationships and securing significant income. 

You will bring: 

• Experience developing and managing high-value partnerships and stakeholder networks. 

• Significant experience designing and delivering fundraising strategies. 

• A strong track record of securing six-figure funding from a range of income streams. 

• Experience working with trusts, foundations, major donors and corporate partners. 

• Experience leading and developing teams. 

• Outstanding communication, influencing and relationship-building skills. 

• The ability to identify new opportunities and turn ideas into investment and impact.

Why Join Tyne Rivers Trust? 

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to some of the UK's most important river catchments while helping a successful and ambitious charity achieve its next stage of growth.

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working. 

• A supportive and dedicated team. 

• Opportunities for professional development. 

• A senior leadership role with significant influence and autonomy. 

• The chance to improve rivers, nature and communities across the North East.

This role is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are strengthening our team and increasing our capacity to protect and restore rivers across the region.

Harris Hill is seeking an interim Director of Fundraising for around 10 weeks, working 3 days per week, with one in the office, based in London.

The role can either be paid via the agency on a day rate of £257.69 (£67k), on contract via the charity, or potential consultancy day rate where you charge the client direct.

About the Role:
As Interim Director of Fundraising, you will provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership across all fundraising activities, ensuring income targets are met and future growth is supported. You will oversee major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, and individual giving, using data-driven insight to optimise performance. Operating on a hybrid basis, you will maintain continuity, enhance donor relationships, and prepare the function for a smooth handover to the incoming permanent Director.

Key Responsibilities:
* Lead the development and implementation of a short-term strategic fundraising plan to maintain and grow income during the interim period.
* Oversee major gifts and philanthropy programmes, including managing key donor relationships and supporting high-value cultivation and stewardship.
* Direct corporate fundraising activity, including pipeline management, proposal development, and relationship building with corporate partners.
* Provide line management and leadership to the fundraising team, setting clear priorities, offering guidance, and ensuring accountability for targets.
* Review and optimise fundraising data, reporting, and performance dashboards to inform decision-making and improve campaign effectiveness.
* Oversee grant fundraising and management, including identifying opportunities, approving high-quality applications, and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
* Strengthen donor relationship management processes and systems to enhance retention, upgrade opportunities, and supporter engagement.
* Prepare and deliver clear, timely income and activity reports to senior leadership, highlighting risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.

Key Requirements:
* Proven track record in senior fundraising leadership, ideally at Head of Fundraising or Director level, within the charity or non-profit sector.
* Demonstrable experience in strategic fundraising planning and delivering against ambitious income targets across multiple income streams.
* Strong expertise in major gifts and philanthropy, including managing high-value donor relationships and securing significant gifts.
* Experience in corporate fundraising, including developing and managing partnerships and sponsorships.
* Solid background in grant fundraising and management, including oversight of applications, reporting, and compliance.
* Confident user of fundraising data and CRM systems, with the ability to interpret data and produce clear, actionable reports.
* Proven team leadership and line management experience, including performance management and staff development.
* Ability to operate effectively in a hybrid working environment, with at least one day per week in the London office and two days remote.

Desirable Skills:
* Experience of leading fundraising functions through periods of transition or organisational change.
* Familiarity with UK charity fundraising regulations and best practice frameworks.
* Experience in developing or refining donor journeys and supporter engagement strategies.
* Background in integrating data insights into campaign planning and segmentation.
* Previous experience working with boards or fundraising committees.

If you are an experienced fundraising leader available to start quickly and ready to provide strategic stability and impact through to the end of November, we encourage you to apply.

LCH Charity is one of the East Midlands' fastest-growing children's charities.

In just five years, we have grown from an annual income of £70,000 to a forecast £1.2 million by August 2027. We have expanded our reach across the East Midlands, built strong partnerships with schools, businesses and communities, and supported tens of thousands of children and families experiencing poverty.

Our growth has been driven by innovation, ambition and a relentless focus on meeting the needs of children and young people. Through close collaboration with our school partners, we deliver practical support where it is needed most, helping children to thrive regardless of their circumstances.

While our impact within schools continues to grow, we know there is still enormous potential ahead. Awareness of our work beyond the education sector remains relatively low, and the opportunity to engage businesses, philanthropists, individual supporters, trusts and foundations across the region is significant.

We are now seeking an exceptional Director of Fundraising and Communications to help unlock that potential and lead the next phase of our journey.

The Opportunity

This is not a role focused on maintaining the status quo.

This is an opportunity to build on a proven success story and help shape the future of a charity with ambitious plans for growth.

This is a genuinely exciting opportunity that offers the freedom to be creative and ambitious, with the autonomy to shape, lead and deliver your own strategy.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the growing Executive Leadership Team, you will lead the creation, development and delivery of an ambitious fundraising and communications strategy that diversifies income, elevates our profile and strengthens our reputation across the East Midlands.

You will inherit an organisation with strong foundations, a compelling story and a highly successful fundraising model. Our flagship School Colour Dash programme currently generates approximately 70% of our income and has become a powerful platform for both fundraising and engagement.

The challenge, and opportunity, is clear.

We are looking for a dynamic and entrepreneurial leader who can develop sustainable income streams capable of matching, and ultimately exceeding, the success of our flagship event.

This is a rare opportunity to help create the next £1 million of income growth.

About the Role

As Director of Fundraising and Communications, you will:

• Lead the creation, development and delivery of a bold and ambitious fundraising and communications strategy.
• Diversify income across corporate partnerships, major donors, trusts and foundations, community fundraising, individual giving and philanthropy.
• Develop compelling propositions that inspire investment in our mission.
• Increase awareness, visibility and understanding of LCH Charity across the East Midlands.
• Strengthen and protect the charity's brand and reputation.
• Build strategic relationships with senior business leaders, philanthropists, partners and stakeholders.
• Identify and develop innovative new income opportunities.
• Lead and inspire a talented, committed and growing fundraising and communications team.
• Use insight, data and market intelligence to drive decision-making and growth.
• Act as a passionate ambassador and advocate for children, young people and families.
• Use systems to increase engagement across all supporters.
• Contribute to organisational leadership and strategic development as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking an ambitious, strategic and inspirational leader with a proven ability to deliver significant growth.

You will be someone who combines vision with action, enjoys building relationships, and thrives in environments where there is genuine opportunity to innovate and make a lasting impact.

You will bring:

• A successful track record of securing substantial fundraising growth.
• Experience working across a range of income streams, including corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, philanthropy and individual giving.
• Strong commercial awareness and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Experience of developing successful communications, marketing or brand strategies.
• Strong leadership experience and the ability to motivate and develop teams.
• The confidence to identify new opportunities and convert them into sustainable income.
• A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

Most importantly, you will be excited by the opportunity to take an already successful charity to the next level.

Why Join LCH Charity?

This is a unique opportunity to join a charity that has already demonstrated what can be achieved through ambition, innovation and determination.

Over the last four years, we have transformed our income from £70,000 to a forecast £1.2 million, expanded our reach across the East Midlands and built a model that is changing lives every day.

Yet we believe we are only at the beginning of our journey.

We are looking for a leader who shares our ambition, who sees opportunity rather than limitation, and who wants to play a defining role in shaping the future of a growing and impactful organisation.

What Success Will Look Like

In this role, you will:

• Build income streams capable of matching the success of our flagship School Colour Dash programme.
• Secure transformational corporate, philanthropic and strategic partnerships.
• Significantly increase awareness and recognition of LCH Charity.
• Strengthen our influence across the East Midlands.
• Position LCH Charity as a charity of choice for businesses, donors and supporters.
• Help drive the organisation through its next phase of transformational growth.
• Enable thousands more children and families to access the support they need.

Join Us

We have grown from £70,000 to a forecast £1.2 million in just five years.

Now we are looking for an exceptional fundraising and communications leader who can help us do it again.

If you are ambitious, entrepreneurial and motivated by the opportunity to create lasting change for children and families, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help build the future of LCH Charity.

We are looking for ideas as well as experience.

Please submit your CV together with a supporting statement (maximum two pages) outlining:

• Why this opportunity interests you.
• Why this role is the right next step in your career.
• What excites you most about the growth opportunity at LCH Charity.

Informal and confidential conversations with our Chief Executive Officer are welcomed and encouraged.

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

 

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

Hours: Full-time

Pay: £42,440 GBP gross per annum (dependent on experience)

Duration: Permanent contract

Location: UK-Med Office, Manchester, UK (hybrid working) with an expectation of approximately 15% international travel/deployment, as required by UK-Med

Can you inspire visionary donors to make lifesaving healthcare possible when disaster strikes?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity founded on the values and expertise of the NHS. For more than 30 years, we have worked towards a world where everyone gets the healthcare they need when emergencies overwhelm local health services. We are verified by the World Health Organization as an Emergency Medical Team a global benchmark of quality and trust. Over the past five years, we have responded to 49 emergencies, often running multiple complex operations simultaneously.

We are looking for an exceptional Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager to help shape the next chapter of UK-Med’s growth by building meaningful relationships with individuals, Trusts and Foundations, and companies who share our commitment to lifesaving humanitarian healthcare.

This is a brand-new role for the organisation demonstrating our commitment to growing sustainable income from private sources and a real opportunity for a talented, resilient fundraiser to make their mark.

This is an exciting time to join us. Over the past 5 years, UK-Med has delivered healthcare to more than 1 million people in emergencies, while our voluntary income has grown significantly. We now want to build on that momentum by welcoming more philanthropists into our mission and creating thoughtful, lasting partnerships with the potential to transform our impact.

You will bring UK-Med’s work to life for current and prospective supporters, connecting their interests and ambitions with opportunities to make a meaningful difference. Working closely with our Director of Fundraising, CEO, trustees and senior colleagues, you will create inspiring opportunities for engagement and ensure every relationship is valued through thoughtful, personal stewardship.

We’re looking for an accomplished relationship fundraiser with experience of developing major donor, Trust, and corporate partnerships and securing significant multi-year income. You will be a compelling communicator and trusted relationship-builder, able to engage people with warmth, credibility and discretion while representing communities affected by humanitarian emergencies with care and dignity.

You’ll join a collaborative and creative Fundraising & Communications team at a pivotal point in UK-Med’s journey, with the opportunity to help philanthropy become an increasingly powerful and sustainable force behind our lifesaving work.

We offer competitive benefits, a friendly working environment and the opportunity to make a real difference through humanitarian work.

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read the Candidate Information Pack – Philanthropy Manager - August 2026 before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.

Please apply as soon as possible and no later than Monday 14th September 2026.

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfil their potential.

Location: London, with a minimum of two days per week in the Haig House hub, Borough High Street
Salary: £53,381-£58,818 per annum (inclusive of London Supplement)
Contract: Permanent, full-time, 35 hours per week

The Royal British Legion is looking for an experienced and data-minded Senior Growth Manager to lead its supporter growth activity and help turn engagement into long-term income and loyalty.

This is a senior role focused on one of the biggest opportunities within RBL’s mass fundraising programme. You will lead the strategy for Growth, using data and supporter insight to shape targeted cross-sell, upsell and reactivation activity across individual giving. The focus will be on understanding what supporters need, when they are most likely to engage and how communications can strengthen the individual giving supporter experience while increasing lifetime value.

Reporting to the Head of Acquisition and Development, you will define Growth plans, set priorities and use performance data to understand what is working and where there is potential to improve.

Working closely with colleagues across Acquisition, Welcome, Retention, Planning, Data, Events, Legacies and other areas of Fundraising, you will help create a consistent supporter experience and ensure Growth activity contributes to wider fundraising objectives.

You will also lead and develop a Growth Manager and two Growth Officers, creating clarity, supporting high performance and ensuring the team has the insight and focus needed to deliver. Strong stakeholder management will be important, as you build effective relationships across RBL and with external agencies, bringing together different teams and priorities to deliver joined-up supporter journeys.

The ideal candidate will bring significant experience of developing and delivering mass fundraising or customer communication strategies, with a strong understanding of individual giving, supporter experience and how data can be used to improve engagement and income.

You will have proven experience managing teams, working with complex programmes and budgets, and using insight to make informed decisions about audiences, communications and performance. You will be comfortable translating strategy into clear plans and measurable outcomes, while influencing stakeholders across a large and complex organisation.

This is an opportunity to shape how RBL builds stronger relationships with its supporters beyond their initial engagement, using data, insight and a clear understanding of supporter needs to increase loyalty, sustainable income and long-term value in support of the Armed Forces community.

Please download the candidate pack [PDF] for full details and how to apply.

Closing Date: Monday, 14th September

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (Philanthropy) provides strategic leadership across Impetus’ philanthropy and stewardship portfolio, with responsibility for relationship management, renewal, growth and selected new business activity. The postholder will work with high-value funders, including corporate partners, trusts and foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in pro bono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus’ growth ambitions, supporting the increase in philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear stewardship, renewal, relationship-growth and selected new business plans, ensuring strong donor retention, high-quality engagement and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will oversee the donor lifecycle across the philanthropy portfolio, with particular focus on strategic stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and the effective transition of selected prospects into long-term donor relationships. They will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure donor relationships and selected funding opportunities, while working with colleagues to ensure the philanthropy pipeline, stewardship plans and account management disciplines are strong.

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and selected donor acquisition, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth

• Own and oversee strategically significant donor and partner relationships at six and seven-figure levels, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Set and embed best practice stewardship standards, ensuring donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Philanthropy and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

New Business: Pipeline & Conversion 

• Personally lead on select six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers and networks to support warm introductions, relationship development and follow-up, in line with agreed new business and stewardship priorities.
• Work with colleagues to translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for donors, prospects and priority audiences.

Performance and KPI Reporting

• Accountable for ensuring effective implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of fundraising performance frameworks, KPIs and reporting disciplines.
• Use performance data and insight to improve team effectiveness, inform portfolio planning and resource recommendations, and identify opportunities for retention, renewal and growth.
• Oversee philanthropy portfolio data quality, reporting and forecasting, ensuring robust systems and processes.
• Ensure robust systems, processes and performance disciplines are in place to support delivery of agreed philanthropy portfolio objectives and wider fundraising goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and evidence-led decision-making across the philanthropy portfolio and direct team.

Donor Communications

• Provide strategic oversight of donor communications for the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring messaging is clear, compelling, timely and aligned to Impetus’ voice, values and evidence base.
• Work with Communications and Philanthropy colleagues to design and continuously improve philanthropic communications, including cases for support, proposals, pitches, stewardship materials and donor updates.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Philanthropy, providing direction, coaching and performance oversight within agreed strategy and priorities.
• Develop the Head of Philanthropy as the operational lead for stewardship, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across their team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and portfolio delivery, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, balancing pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising and stewardship capability across the team through coaching and consistent, fair and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen donor relationships, partnership value and long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure philanthropy and selected new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate philanthropy pipeline reporting, forecasting and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insight informs portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic, financial or reputational risks associated with donors, prospects and partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are well managed and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Model Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion across the philanthropy portfolio.

Strategic Leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring stewardship, renewal and relationship growth contribute to organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of philanthropy portfolio forecasting, budgeting input, pipeline performance and resource recommendations, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and escalated proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support donor stewardship, relationship growth and selected new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen philanthropy portfolio performance and wider fundraising capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, modelling Impetus’ values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Senior Philanthropy Lead

We are seeking an experienced relationship-led fundraiser to grow high-value support, develop major donor relationships and help drive ambitious income growth.

Salary: £40,000-£44,000pa
Location: Remote – Travel required for donor meetings and events
Hours: Full time – Compressed Hours, 9 day fortnight also considered
Closing date:  24th September 2026 – CV’s will be reviewed on a rolling basis

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced major donor, philanthropy or partnership fundraiser to take a leading role in developing high-value relationships for a national Christian charity tackling poverty across the UK.

Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, you will help shape and deliver the major donor strategy, driving sustainable, multi-year income growth and managing some of the charity’s most significant supporter relationships, including gifts of £10,000 to £100,000+.

You will lead and develop a small philanthropy team while building meaningful relationships with existing and prospective supporters and partners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering major donor strategy, growth plans, pipelines and KPIs
• Managing and growing a portfolio of high-value relationships
• Identifying and cultivating new donors, supporters and opportunities
• Creating compelling proposals, funding opportunities and personalised engagement plans
• Leading face-to-face meetings and representing the charity at high-level events
• Working with senior colleagues, including the CEO, to deepen supporter engagement
• Line managing and developing members of the philanthropy team
• Using CRM data and insight to track performance and identify opportunities
• Delivering agreed annual philanthropy income and engagement targets

About you

You may already be working in major donor fundraising or philanthropy, or you could bring strong partnership fundraising experience with the relationship-building and income-generation skills to make the move into this role.

You will bring:

• Strong major donor, philanthropy or partnership fundraising experience
• A track record of securing significant income through major gifts, partnerships or high-value relationships
• At least three years’ experience in fundraising, partnerships or relationship management
• The ability to build trusted, long-term relationships with people of influence
• Excellent communication, influencing and presentation skills
• Line management or people development experience
• Strategic thinking and the ability to manage pipelines, budgets and income forecasts
• The confidence to engage senior stakeholders and develop new opportunities
• Flexibility to travel across the UK, including occasional evening and weekend commitments

Above all, you will be a natural relationship builder who can inspire people, understand what motivates them and turn strong relationships into meaningful long-term support.

About the organisation

You will be joining a national Christian charity committed to tackling poverty and transforming lives. The organisation works alongside churches, supporters and communities to help people facing financial crisis and build a growing movement for change.

This is a collaborative, ambitious and deeply relational organisation where Christian faith is central to its mission and culture.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Major Donor Manager, Philanthropy Manager, Partnerships Manager, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Major Gifts Manager, Senior Philanthropy Manager, High Value Relationships Manager, Major Donor Fundraiser, Strategic Partnerships Manager or Senior Fundraising Manager.

Please note: The charity can only consider applicants who presently have the right to work in the UK and all candidates must be personally committed to the Christian faith and be able to respect, uphold and work within our client’s Christian mission, values, culture and faith statements. This individual will represent and speak on behalf of a Christian charity and as such the Occupational Requirement for an active Christian faith is justified under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9, Part 1, clause 3.

#INDNFP

Job summary including context 
Young Women’s Trust champions young women on low or no pay. We’re here to create a more equal world of work and raise young women’s incomes. We tackle sexism and misogyny, with and for anyone who has experienced this.  

We offer young women free coaching, feedback on job applications and information to help them get where they want to be. We bring together a thousands-strong network to support each other, build their self-belief, and have their voices heard. We work with young women and anyone who experiences misogyny and sexism to campaign for equality in the workplace. And our research provides insight into what young women’s lives are really like, fuelling our campaigns for change.  

These are not easy times to be a young woman. The rights and freedoms previous generations fought for can feel up for grabs – sexism is growing louder, online abuse is on the rise, and too many young women are still held back by low pay, insecure work and unequal caring responsibilities. At Young Women's Trust, we believe it doesn't have to be this way, and we're growing our fundraising ambition to match the scale of the challenge. 

You will lead a newly united fundraising programme that has brought together corporate partnerships, major donors, and trusts & foundations - an area that already contributes over 80% of our fundraised income. You'll strengthen existing relationships and secure new partnerships to support our mission: creating a more equal world of work and increasing young women's incomes. 

EDI statement and sense of flexible working and workplace culture 
Young Women’s Trust strives to be an inclusive and representative organisation. We are committed to appointing individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, lived experiences and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from racially minoritised candidates. We use positive action under section 159 of the Equality Act in relation to race. This means that if we have two candidates of equal merit in our process, we will seek to take forward the racially minoritised candidate in order to diversify our staff team. 

You’ll be joining a team that will embrace your ideas and support and encourage you to bring your whole self to work. 

We can make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and on the job. If you have particular accessibility needs, please get in touch and let us know any requirements you may have. 

Young Women’s Trust is a Living Wage employer and we commit to Show the Salary for every job we advertise. Non-graduates are welcome and we offer a wide range of flexible working options including job share, part-time and compressed hours, different start and finish times and working from home. 

We offer: 

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays – rising annually to a maximum of 30 days
• Enhanced parental leave irrespective of length of service 
  • Up to 52 weeks maternity leave - 26 weeks at normal rate of pay, 13 weeks statutory maternity Pay, 13 weeks unpaid 
• 2 annual wellbeing days
• Employee Assistance Programme 
• Learning and development budget 
• Flexible working which is fully embedded in our working culture

You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this role. We are not able to sponsor work visas for non-British applicants. 

Deadline to apply: 9am Monday 14th September.
Interview dates: 16th, 17th September