Senior head of philanthropy jobs

A senior member of the high-performing Trusts & Philanthropy team, you will be responsible for routinely raising significant revenue and capital funds from major donors. This key role will focus on working with prospects and donors with the motivation and capacity to invest in Maggie’s growth and will prioritise transformational gifts which can support our accelerated growth. You will be a strategic thinker with significant experience to deliver principal gifts to the value of £1million and above.  

 As Head of Philanthropy you will ensure the effective identification and cultivation of prospects through board or volunteer networks. You will commission a programme of engagement and stewardship events to inspire and enthuse potential supporters and invigorate current donors to continue support. You will also personally manage a prospect portfolio using exceptional communications, engagement and stewardship strategies in order to achieve our ambitious fundraising goals and objectives.

 You must be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of major gift portfolio management and principal gift development. A record of successfully expanding the donor base through cultivation and excellent stewardship is also essential. You will share your significant experience and insight where helpful to contribute to the successful development and implementation of Maggie’s overall fundraising strategy.
 
 Please note that interviews will held on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th February.

Please see the attached job description for further details.

Since opening its doors in 1871, Royal Albert Hall has stood at the heart of the nation’s cultural life. From the Suffragettes to Stormzy, Elgar to Einstein, the Beatles to Shirley Bassey, the world’s most influential voices have shaped moments of history on its iconic stage.

Today, the Hall continues to deliver an extraordinary programme spanning classical music, rock and pop, national moments and the spoken word. Each year, nearly two million people experience performances that entertain, challenge and inspire, creating unforgettable memories within one of the world’s most recognisable and celebrated buildings.

Looking ahead, the Hall has set an ambitious new vision to ensure it remains a place of dreams and determination, contemplation and celebration for generations to come. Central to this vision is the continued growth of its highly successful outreach programme, supporting emerging artists and deepening engagement with communities, widening access to the arts and strengthening the Hall’s social impact.

In support of this long-term ambition, a pioneering £50 million capital appeal was launched in late 2025. This 15-year estate plan represents a significant evolution in the Hall’s fundraising approach, creating an exceptional opportunity to expand its philanthropic reach, deepen relationships with supporters and secure transformational investment in the future of this much-loved institution.

Against this backdrop, the Royal Albert Hall is seeking a dynamic and strategic Head of Philanthropy to lead its philanthropic activity through an exciting period of growth and change. This senior role will drive income generation across major donors, trusts and foundations, and the Friends & Patrons programme, while playing a pivotal role in the success of one of the most high-profile capital appeals in the arts. The post offers a rare opportunity to deliver a step-change in philanthropic income and prospect development, helping to realise the Hall’s bold vision for the future.

As Head of Philanthropy, you will:

• Lead the Royal Albert Hall’s philanthropic efforts, overseeing a talented team and delivering an ambitious strategy that spans multiple income streams: major donors, trusts and foundations, events, and the Friends & Patrons programme.
• Play a key role in helping shape and deliver the Hall’s transformative £50M capital appeal, which represents an extraordinary opportunity to expand the Hall’s fundraising reach, significantly increasing the volume of prospects engaged and deepening relationships with existing donors. Your ability to inspire your team and personally steward key supporters will be instrumental in driving this evolution in the Hall’s fundraising approach.
• Primarily focus on securing new supporters and driving innovative approaches to growing the donor base. Cultivating existing relationships is also an important aspect of the role.
• Foster a supportive and high-performing culture within your team, using a coaching leadership style to maximise potential and ensure the delivery of ambitious income targets. Your leadership will be key to driving performance while maintaining hands-on involvement with major donors and high-profile supporters.

Essential skills and experience: 

• An accomplished philanthropic fundraiser and inspiring team leader with a proven track record of securing minimum 6-figure gifts from HNWIs. Examples should be clearly evidenced on your CV.
• Confident managing senior stakeholders, developing strategy, and working across multiple income streams to grow voluntary income.
• A leadership style that combines strategic oversight with personal involvement, enabling you to manage high-value relationships directly when needed, especially with key donors.

Arts fundraising experience is not essential.

Employee benefits include:

• 25 days per year annual leave (pro rata for part-time employees), with the opportunity to buy or sell up to five days holiday per calendar year
• Enhanced pay during maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
• Life assurance of 6 x basic salary
• RAH’s canteen offers free hot and cold meals, including vegetarian options, to staff whilst at work
• Employee Assistance Programme

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Cure Parkinson’s philanthropy team until June 2027. In this role you will provide excellent personalised support to our ambitious Development Board, a group of eight well connected individuals using their networks to accelerate Cure Parkinson’s income generation, and be an integral part of the team delivering two special philanthropy events.

Cure Parkinson’s Gala 2027: Our last gala event ‘An Evening at the Roundhouse’, in October 2024, raised over £500,000. The evening was hosted by Edith Bowman and Simon Mayo and included performances from Emeli Sandé and Peter Andre.

Grand Cru.saders Banquet: The Grand Cru.saders are a new group of philanthropic wine enthusiasts with a mission, set up by our Development Board. To join each member pledges a case from their cellar to be auctioned in support of Cure Parkinson’s at an annual dinner. Their inaugural event took place in September 2025 and raised over £160,000.

Over the next 18 months we plan to build on the success of these events, delivering the second Grand Cru.saders Banquet in September 2026 and a gala in Spring 2027. As Major Gifts and Philanthropy Events Officer you would be a vital part of the team making this happen.

Join us in the ambitious ‘Birmingham In Action’ campaign, which commits to raising over £600 million of charitable funding and 1 million volunteer hours, positioning the University of Birmingham as one of the leaders in philanthropy in the UK. To fulfil our exciting campaign ambitions, we are recruiting a Head of Philanthropy – Global, to maximise philanthropic funding and to take our campaign to the next level.

A key member of the Development and Alumni Relations Office’s (DARO) Philanthropy team, you will be responsible for growing major gifts opportunities and building a sustainable pipeline of future donations from global philanthropic markets. You will have experience of delivering against financial targets, along with the ability to translate complex information into a compelling ask in both verbal and written form. As the Head of Philanthropy - Global, you will be responsible for growing our international major gifts programme. In collaboration with the Associate Director of Philanthropy you will develop and implement fundraising strategies to increase major giving in Asia and North America as well as emerging areas of focus. You will manage a personal portfolio of six figure + (GBP) potential supporters and personally raise gifts in excess of £1m p/a. You will manage the international philanthropy team of two individuals and support them to deliver their annual fundraising and supporting targets.

As a senior fundraiser in DARO, you will be innovative, self-motivated, and take ownership of fundraising opportunities. As part of a dynamic team and led by some of the most respected names in higher education fundraising, you will work across the University to generate significant gifts for amazing philanthropic projects and encourage new donors to make long-term, sustainable gifts. You will have an enthusiasm for building relationships, the skill to interact with high-level donors and supporters, and the ability to showcase the game changing work of our academics and clinicians.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are and how we work.

Salary: up to £45,000 dependent on experience

Location: Bray Lake, Maidenhead (flexible hours with some home working)

Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (part time hours will be considered)

It is a really exciting time to join Thames Hospice as we embark on a transformational new Major Gifts strategy to significantly grow our fundraising income. This role offers you the chance to play a central part in shaping our future while developing your career in a supportive and ambitious environment.

We are seeking an experienced Philanthropy Manager to lead the strategic and operational direction of our Major Gifts programme, securing significant one‑off and multi‑year gifts to support Thames Hospice. The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in philanthropy fundraising, exceptional relationship‑building skills, and proven ability to identify and leverage opportunities to grow income.

You will use your expertise in cultivating and stewarding high‑net‑worth individuals to expand our donor portfolio, while managing and developing the Philanthropy Executive and driving the team’s strategy. Working closely with the Head of Major Gifts, you will lead the delivery of our philanthropy strategy, ensuring ambitious income targets are met. With outstanding communication and stewardship, you will deepen donor engagement and secure transformational, long‑term support that sustains our mission of delivering exceptional palliative care to the community.

Closing date: 26th January 2026

Interviews: week commening 2nd February 2026

As the Head of Philanthropy, Asia you will be responsible for growing our major gifts programme in the Asia-Pacific region. The focus will be on increasing six figure + (GBP) giving through the University of Birmingham Hong Kong Foundation, and from the wider region. Most of our warm donors are based in Malaysia and Hong Kong but there is an active community of alumni in Singapore and scoping to be done across Asia to drive the next phase of our strategy forward beyond alumni donors and to build on a recent seven figure donation as a catalyst for further giving. 

As a University we established our Hong Kong Foundation in 2019 and giving is off to a strong start. Continuing on this trajectory you will work to make it financially sustainable, aiming to have multi-year commitments lined up. You will steer and develop the Foundation’s volunteer Board of Directors, increasing giving from their networks, and working with them to distribute funds to programmes at the University that will also benefit Hong Kong. 

As a senior fundraiser in DARO, you will be expected to be innovative, self-motivated, and to take ownership of fundraising in this region. As part of a dynamic team and led by some of the most respected names in higher education fundraising, you will work across the University to generate gifts to key philanthropic projects and encourage new donors to make significant gifts. You will also have the opportunity to work with the senior leadership across the University to travel, drive income and develop innovative funding proposals for the region. 

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.

Head of Fundraising (Philanthropy and Partnerships)

King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity

King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity is entering a pivotal new chapter as it becomes an independent NHS charity, with a clear three-year strategic plan and ambitious plans to grow its impact and income.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Head of Fundraising (Philanthropy and Partnerships) is a senior, hands-on role responsible for developing high-value fundraising to complement the Charity’s successful community fundraising and events programme. The role will lead the growth of philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and trust income, working closely with Trustees, NHS colleagues, and the fundraising team.

A major appeal is being explored to support the £35m planned development of a new A&E department at Queen’s Hospital. A transformational project with the potential to attract significant philanthropic support. 

This is a rare opportunity to shape and grow a high-value fundraising portfolio at a formative moment, helping secure transformational investment in hospital care for local communities.

Contract:  12-month fixed-term contract

Salary:  £60,000 per annum 

Location: Home-based with regular travel 

Closing date:  Wednesday 28 January 2026 

Interview date:  4 & 5 February 2026 

Blue Cross is seeking an experienced and ambitious Head of Philanthropy to lead and make an active contribution to our High Value Fundraising project, a key initiative designed to grow our future income. This 12-month fixed-term role will focus on delivering high-impact fundraising activity while managing and inspiring a talented Philanthropy team. 

More about the role

You will support in the delivery of the 2026 Philanthropy plan across trusts, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals, with a particular focus on the High Value Fundraising project. Leading high-value fundraising activity, you will manage your own portfolio, create income pipelines, develop key performance indicators, and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to maximise philanthropic support. You will ensure the charity’s Case for Support remains current and compelling and deliver high-standard donor reporting. 

This is a home-based role with a contracted base site. Travel to your base site is considered normal commuting, while travel to other Blue Cross locations or partner sites will be reimbursed. 

About you

You are a credible senior leader with a strong track record in philanthropy fundraising, capable of translating strategic priorities into tangible outcomes. Motivated by ambitious goals, you thrive on building relationships, inspiring teams, and influencing at the highest level. You are resilient, creative, and aligned with Blue Cross’s values of compassion, courage, and inclusion. 

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

• Extensive experience developing strategies that increase income from major donors and institutional funders, including personally securing five- and ideally six-figure donations 
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding ambitious income growth targets 
• Experience of building and managing funder relationships 
• Strong financial monitoring, target setting, and reporting skills 
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to analyse and present data tailored for different audiences 
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills 
• Track record of leading, managing, and inspiring a team, encouraging innovation and improving ways of working 
• Experience working at senior organisational levels and managing relationships with Directors, CEOs, and Boards 
• The ability to demonstrate, understand, and apply Blue Cross’s values 

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

• Experience of fundraising for significant capital projects 
• Knowledge of CRM systems and data management 

How to apply  

Click Apply to submit your application. Please note that applications may close early if we receive a high volume, so we encourage early submission. 

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

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

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

We are looking for someone who has:

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

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.

Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Our client brings together the South Asian diaspora and partners to create bold, innovative, and scalable solutions that catalyse systemic change and unlock the potential of communities and in the last five years has seen rapid and significant growth. Annual turnover has increased to more than £20m, they have successfully delivered the world’s largest Development Impact Bond, launched many successful appeals and funds and are now a preferred destination for philanthropic ambitions globally. They will now recruit a new Head of Philanthropy and Prospectus is leading the search.  

Head of Philanthropy
c. £75,000
Permanent
Hybrid from the West London office, two days per week in the office
Interviews beginning w/c 2nd February

The Head of Philanthropy will lead and grow the high-value philanthropy strategy, driving both unrestricted and restricted income major donors, philanthropists and senior influencers. The postholder will take direct responsibility for the Founders Circle and other existing philanthropy programme while ensuring overall strategy and income growth is not overly dependent on any single initiative. Your key stakeholders will include Trustees, the Chief Executive, the Executive Director of Fundraising & Communications as well as many senior influencers as you shape compelling philanthropic opportunities for transformational giving.

The selected candidate will have extensive experience of delivering income against agreed targets and will also have extensive experience of managing and developing relationships with existing and potential philanthropists. Team management experience is essential, as will be experience of securing six figure gifts and the ability to communicate bespoke philanthropy opportunities for high value donors.

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

If you are interested in applying to this Head of Philanthropy position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon. If you would like to arrange an informal discussion before applying, please contact Ryan and Ariha on the emails provided above. 

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the country’s largest performing arts organisation. Founded in 1962 to make opera accessible to all, the company presents productions of international acclaim, from early works to world premieres. Performances are designed to be inclusive, with supertitles, audio-described and dementia-friendly shows, free and discounted tickets for under-26s, refugees, asylum seekers and schools, and touring productions reaching communities across Scotland. 

The charity is looking for an experienced fundraiser to lead the team across a period of maternity leave. The Individual Giving team look after donors across philanthropy, corporate, members and legators. Internally this role is called the Head of Individual Giving, the job title has been amended for this selection process to reflect the broader remit of the role beyond regular donors.

The post holder will, in conjunction with the Director of Development, set and embed Scottish Operas Individual Giving strategy and will personally solicit gifts and steward key donors, whilst supporting and overseeing the work of the Individual Giving team. 

There are some fantastic projects in the works that Scottish Opera can use to engage donors, and there is brilliant internal buy in and understanding of fundraising. Income performance is strong, so there are solid foundations from which to test and trial new ideas.

This role has wide ranging appeal. Scottish Opera are happy to consider candidates for whom this role might be an exciting step up to managing multiple income streams beyond one specialist area, but equally this would be an engaging role for an experienced Head of looking to work in an exciting arts charity, taking their income success to the next level.

Working within an arts and culture charity would be helpful for the candidate to have but isn't essential.

Application notes 

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

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

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

Closing date for applications: Midnight Monday 12th January 

Battersea has entered an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as we embark on the second year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, we are strengthening our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. This role sits within the Philanthropy, Partnerships & Commercial (PPC) team, made up of Philanthropy & Trusts, Corporate Partnerships & Commercial, Special Events & Stewardship, and Fundraising Operations.

The focus of the Philanthropy & Trusts team is to build a solid base of support through excellent stewardship of existing trusts and major donors alongside cultivation of new prospects, reached through prospect research and the networks of senior volunteers. The key purpose of this Philanthropy Manager is to meet both financial and strategic KPIs in order ensure the long-term health of the Philanthropy pipeline. They will do this by personally managing a portfolio of key individual relationships as well as line-managing the Philanthropy Officer to deliver against their targets. This role, together with Battersea’s other Philanthropy Managers, will also work closely with senior leadership, senior volunteers and other individuals to open up networks and introduce new major donors to Battersea.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:

At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 21st January 2026
Interview Date(s): Interviews will be taking place on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged, as the role will be closed once filled.

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received. For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

The Vacancy

Senior High Value Fundraising Manager

Salary: up to £51,176 (depending on experience) 

Location: Remote with regular travel to London / Downton

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: 12 month fixed-term

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior High Value Fundraising Manager to join our Relationship Fundraising team at Help for Heroes. This senior role will shape and lead one of our most strategically important income streams—ensuring we continue delivering life-changing support for veterans and their families.

This senior role is perfect for a confident relationship fundraiser with experience securing major gifts, running high-value campaigns, and delivering impactful special events.

You’ll lead the development and delivery of our high-value giving strategy delivering in excess of £1.2m over the next 12 months, including the £17m No One Left Behind campaign, major donor income, and a new 3-year Special Events strategy. With responsibility for a talented team, you’ll build a strong major donor pipeline, secure 5- and 6-figure gifts, and deliver exceptional supporter experiences.

You’ll collaborate across the organisation to shape compelling proposals, develop high-value communications, support our 20th anniversary plans, and ensure strong financial management and reporting.

As a senior leader, you will inspire, coach and develop your team, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence and innovation.

About You

We’re looking for a strategic and inspirational leader with:

• Proven experience securing large (6-figure+) gifts from HNWIs
• Successful delivery of multi-million-pound campaigns or major donor programmes
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
• Strong event leadership experience in income-generating and stewardship events
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and relationship-building skills
• Confidence managing £1m+ targets, budgets and KPIs
• A flexible, calm and collaborative approach
• Passion for supporting veterans and their families
• Regular travel and some evening/weekend events are required.

About the Team

The Relationship Fundraising team is a key driver of sustainable long-term income for Help for Heroes securing income from Philanthropists, Businesses, Trusts and Foundations, Volunteers and Community partners. You will join a collaborative, passionate and expert team who are committed to delivering transformational support for the Armed Forces community.

In return we can offer you:

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion.
• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service — plus your birthday off to celebrate!
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year.
• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade.
• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.
• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member.
• Discounts on our branded clothing, including a free Help for Heroes hoody when you complete your induction.

Closing date: 16th January 2026

Please note: We may close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of strong applications.

The University of Oxford aims to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Philanthropy plays a critical role in enabling Oxford to maintain and build on its status as a world-class centre of learning.  The Development and Alumni Engagement Office (DAE) at the University of Oxford has been successful in raising funds from a broad, international range of donors. All support enables the University to achieve its key aims of advancing excellence in research and teaching.

Within DAE, the Foundations and Corporations team is a pan-University fundraising team focused on building and maintaining successful philanthropic relationships for the University’s priorities. Funding secured supports posts and key research areas such as the environment, health and societal challenges, as well as scholarship support for postgraduate students. We work closely with our colleagues in specialist fundraising teams as well as those in business partnerships, innovation teams and research services. 

This is an exciting time to join our Development and Alumni engagement team. The role of Senior Development Executive – Foundations and Corporations will support the University to establish and grow new philanthropic relationships with charitable trusts, foundations and corporations across a range of subject areas and themes, from global health and climate change, to civil society and the role of AI. Funding secured will support capital projects, academic posts, innovative research and enable talented students to undertake further studies at Oxford. To achieve this, you will have the support of excellent colleagues across DAE as well as wider academic, departmental and professional service staff at Oxford.

About you

You are an experienced philanthropic fundraiser with a strong track record of securing major gifts, a confident approach and the ability to think creatively. Your ability to build rapport and relationships swiftly will enable you to lead on major gift fundraising (securing donations of £500k-£1m+), working with a range of donors (corporates, trusts and foundations). Your ability to establish credibility and foster trust across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders will be key to your success. Your strong experience of building philanthropic partnerships with organisation donors will be key. Experience of work in higher education is desirable. Above all, you will share Oxford’s mission and be driven to create meaningful impact through philanthropy.

What We Offer

Your happiness and wellbeing at work matters to us, so we offer a range of family friendly and financial benefits including:

· Flexible hybrid working

· An excellent contributory pension scheme

· 38 days annual leave

· Membership to CASE

· Training and development opportunities

· A comprehensive range of childcare services

· Family leave schemes

· Cycle loan scheme

· Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

· Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loan

You could be helping to deliver philanthropic support that funds breakthroughs in science and health, enables new public policy and interventions, or facilitates education for the next generation of leaders in their fields. If this sounds like the kind of challenge you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you.

Application process:

· Click the link to ‘Apply’ and follow the on-screen instructions. You will be taken to our online Applicant portal.

· Applications should consist of a full CV and a letter of application in your own words, in PDF format (maximum of 2 pages; no AI-written applications, please) outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.

Only applications received before 12.00 noon on Tuesday 13 January 2026 can be considered.

Interviews are currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday 21 January 2026, in person in Oxford.

Development and Alumni Engagement is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply.