Senior philanthropy officer jobs

Location: Hybrid, one day a week in the London office (Borough)

Salary: £75,000-80,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent, full-time role - Spinal Research operate a 4-day/32 hour week

Spinal Research is seeking an exceptional Director of Research & Innovation to help shape the future of spinal cord injury research. The organisation exists to fund the research that will cure paralysis. This appointment comes at a pivotal stage as scientific advances in spinal stimulation, neurotechnology and rehabilitation move closer to real-world application, bringing renewed hope to people living with paralysis.

For over 40 years, Spinal Research has been the UK's leading charity dedicated to funding medical research into spinal cord injury, moving the global conversation from "if" paralysis can be treated to "when". With the first function-restoring therapies designed and licensed for spinal cord injuries now becoming available in the UK, this position will directly drive the next chapter of the charity's mission.

Reporting to the CEO and joining the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Research & Innovation will play a central role in reviewing, influencing and driving forward our established scientific and innovation strategy. The successful candidate will lead a diverse portfolio spanning discovery science, translational research, clinical development and neurotechnology, ensuring investment decisions are guided by strong scientific insight and a clear view of patient impact.

Crucially, the role involves building meaningful collaborations across academia, healthcare, industry and philanthropy to accelerate the delivery of treatments. The Director will also lead the establishment of a new Scientific Advisory function, recruiting world-class experts to guide the portfolio, while collaborating with fundraising and communications teams to bring scientific insights to life for major donors.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of developing complex research programmes and navigating the wider life sciences ecosystem. This position demands the ability to critically appraise scientific data, translate it into compelling narratives for non-specialist audiences, and collaboratively drive promising ideas into tangible patient outcomes.

For a leader with the strategic ambition and the drive to play a central role in turning scientific progress into life-changing reality, this role offers an extraordinary platform to help cure paralysis.

Please click through for the full Candidate Pack and details of how to apply. 

Closing date: 9am, Friday 10 July

The Sandhurst Trust - an extraordinary community.

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has shaped leaders since 1802.  Spanning heads of state, generals, ministers, diplomats and captains of industry – the Sandhurst alumni community is remarkable.

The Sandhurst Trust is the Academy’s independent charitable foundation and is responsible for securing philanthropic support for the Academy and its community, supporting expansion, innovation and initiatives that government funding alone cannot sustain.

The Trust is at an inflection point. With new leadership and momentum, we are looking for exceptional development leaders to help build a once-in-a-generation philanthropic programme for an institution whose purpose has never felt more urgent.

Director of Alumni Engagement and Regular Giving
£80,000 - £90,000 (depending on experience)
Old College, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) GU15, Hybrid

As Director of Alumni Engagement and Regular Giving and the CEO’s Deputy, you will have the chance to build and lead a best-in-class programme that will form the future foundation of the Trust’s philanthropic strategy, engaging, igniting and transforming the alumni community into a powerful and sustainable source of long-term support.

Head of Major and Principal Giving
£80,000 - £90,000 (depending on experience)
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) GU15, Hybrid

The Head of Major and Principal Giving will cultivate and secure major and principal gifts from a highly receptive and loyal constituency in the UK and internationally. With a portfolio that is rich in potential and ready for discovery, this is an outstanding opportunity for an entrepreneurial fundraiser.

Head of Operations
£50,000 - £55,000 (depending on experience with scope to go beyond for an exceptional candidate)
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) GU15, Hybrid

As Head of Operations and a member of the senior leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping the systems, governance, and operational infrastructure that will support the Trust’s long-term success. You will also play a critical role in shaping a high-performing and collaborative operational culture.

These leadership roles offer something that is genuinely rare in the fundraising profession: the opportunity to build something exceptional from the ground up, at a cornerstone British institution whose story, community and moment in time combine to make the case for philanthropy almost uniquely compelling. The Sandhurst Trust is looking to build a team full of passion and ambition so if this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

The Trust operates a hybrid working model with two days onsite (Old College, RMAS, Camberley, GU15 4PQ).

Closing date: Midnight on 30 June 2026

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Packs.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter clearly staing which role you are applying for.

The Sandhurst Trust is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.

No agencies please.

Salary: £65,000-£68,000 per year

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: UK (minimum 2 days per week in the London office)

Work Pattern: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week with the opportunity for flexible working hours

Reporting To: Chief Engagement Officer

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit an anonymised CV and covering letter (please remove any identifying details such as name, address, or photos) by midnight on 1st July via the Workable link.

In your covering letter, please demonstrate your motivations for applying for the role, how the position aligns with your career plans, and the experience (professional, voluntary, or lived) that makes you a strong fit for the role in line with our values and the criteria outlined in the job description.

We encourage candidates to ensure their responses reflect their own skills, experiences, and personal voice. If AI tools are used, candidates should also explain how and why they used them.

Please use see our AI guidance for Job Applicants.

INTERVIEW STAGES

The selection process will consist of three stages (dates will be confirmed with shortlisted candidates):

• First-round interview w/c 13th July
• Second-round interview w/c 20th July

Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation (10–12 minutes maximum) on a major donor stewardship communications plan. Candidates should allocate no more than 3 hours to prepare this task.

• Final interview with the CEO w/c 27th July

ABOUT THE ROLE

Mission 44 exists to drive change and build a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world. As our work and partnerships continue to grow, so does our ambition to tell powerful stories that shine a light on the barriers young people face, champion solutions, and inspire meaningful action. 

The Head of Major Donors will play a critical role in strengthening and stewarding Mission 44’s relationships with high-value donors, philanthropists, and strategic supporters.

This role will work alongside the Chief Engagement Officer to lead the development and delivery of a thoughtful, personalised and impactful Major Donors programme that deepens donor pipeline and engagement, increases contributions, strengthens long-term relationships, and inspires continued investment in Mission 44’s mission and impact.

The successful candidate will combine exceptional relationship management skills, a solid network of donors, strong project coordination and communications, with strategic thinking.

They will work closely across fundraising, communications, programmes and leadership teams to ensure donors experience meaningful engagement with Mission 44’s work, values and community.

Requirements

MAJOR DONOR CULTIVATION AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (70%) 

• Lead the organisation’s cultivation of new donors and deepening of the major donor pipeline. 
• Personally lead the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major donors and prospects for six/seven-figure gifts.
• Lead the implementation of Mission 44’s global major donor stewardship strategy, ensuring all major donors feel engaged in and inspired. 
• Manage and coordinate stewardship plans for high-value donors and philanthropic partners
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with major supporters through thoughtful and personalised engagement
• Develop tailored donor journeys that reflect supporter interests, motivations and impact priorities
• Identify opportunities to deepen donor engagement and increase long-term support
• Provide administrative support for the Global Growth Committee
• Work with Head of Engagement and Events to plan and deliver donor engagement opportunities at events, briefings, roundtables and programme visits to bring donors closer to our work 
• Support leadership engagement with major donors and key stakeholders
• Coordinate donor experiences linked to Mission 44 campaigns, partnerships and strategic moments
• Help create meaningful opportunities for supporters to connect with Mission 44’s mission, young people and impact

DONOR COMMUNICATIONS AND IMPACT REPORTING (20%)

• Ensure donors receive timely, high-quality communication and reporting
• Coordinate the creation of bespoke donor updates, reports and impact communications
• Work collaboratively with programme and communications teams to translate impact into compelling donor narratives
• Work with the communications team to ensure stewardship materials are high quality, aligned to brand and reflective of Mission 44’s values
• Support the development of case studies, impact stories and donor-facing content

SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION (10%) 

• Maintain accurate donor records, engagement tracking and stewardship activity within CRM systems
• Monitor stewardship activity, timelines and reporting commitments
• Contribute to donor analysis, segmentation and fundraising insights
• Work closely with wider fundraising colleagues, communications and impact teams to deliver integrated supporter engagement
• Support senior leadership and ambassadors with donor preparation, briefing materials and relationship management
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing fundraising culture

ABOUT YOU: SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL 

• Significant experience in major donor cultivation, stewardship, philanthropy or high-value relationship management
• Proven track record of managing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, philanthropists or strategic supporters
• Experience developing and delivering donor stewardship plans and engagement strategies
• Proven success in the direct solicitation and stewardship of six- and seven-figure philanthropic contributions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience producing high-quality donor reports and communications
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• Experience working with CRM systems and donor databases
• Some travel, particularly to the US 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders effectively

DESIRABLE

• Experience of major donor management at a global level 
• Experience of Fundraising for a grant-making / campaigning organisation
• Experience with Principal Gifts processes   
• Experience supporting fundraising campaigns or major gifts programmes
• Understanding of education equity, youth opportunity or systems change work
• Experience working within high-profile or fast-paced organisations
• Event management and donor engagement experience

PERSONAL QUALITIES  

• Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Emotionally intelligent and discreet
• Strategic and proactive thinker
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to communicate impact in a compelling and authentic way
• Passion for equity, inclusion and social justice
• Commitment to Mission 44’s values and mission
• Resilient with demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Enjoy 28 days annual leave, plus a day for your birthday
• Use our cycle-to-work scheme and free gym access
• Save for retirement with our generous pension package
• We finish every Friday at noon in August
• Optional health insurance and acccess to an EAP
• Professional development budget of £1k
• Unlimited volunteering leave, as agreed with your manager
• Wellbeing allowance to spend in whatever way works for you
• Competitive parental leave package

Location: Any UK Trust office (40-60% of your week in the office)

Interviews: 13/07 and 14/07

For more information or to apply, please click 'apply now' to be directed to our website.

Be part of a team transforming futures for young women across the UK.

As a Commercial Executive – Change a Girl’s Life, you will play a pivotal role in one of The King’s Trust’s flagship campaigns, driving the income that empowers young women to build confidence, gain vital skills, and create brighter, more independent futures. This is more than a role—it’s an opportunity to help unlock life-changing potential at scale.

At the heart of our Corporate Partnerships team, you’ll turn ambition into action—shaping and delivering high-impact fundraising initiatives that make a tangible difference. You’ll work collaboratively across fundraising, marketing and philanthropy, ensuring partnerships are not only successful but truly transformative, delivering measurable outcomes for the young people we support.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment—someone highly organised, proactive, and energised by bringing multiple workstreams together. From managing campaign delivery end-to-end to nurturing relationships with corporate partners and identifying new opportunities, you will be instrumental in driving the success and growth of the Change a Girl’s Life campaign.

You will thrive in this role if you are:

• Highly organised and confident managing a busy, varied workload with competing deadlines
• A strong communicator who enjoys selling and working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proactive and detail-focused, with a passion for delivering high-quality work.

To hit the ground running, you will bring:

• Experience using CRM systems and managing data such as prospect lists
• Exposure to business development, partnerships or marketing, ideally in a charity or purpose-led environment
• Confidence supporting proposals, presentations or campaign materials, with strong written and verbal communication skills

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need a Commercial Executive - Change a Girl's Life? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of our Commercial Executives! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Equal Opportunities 

Here at The King's Trust, we're committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and sex. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can be themselves and do the best work of their lives. 

We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation and sector, such as candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.  

We’re a Stonewall Top 100 Employer and we are an employer that is Disability Confident. Our staff, volunteers and young people are supported by KT CAN (our Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network) and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 

Safeguarding 

The King's Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake basic disclosure checks in accordance with the Codes of Practice for all roles within the Trust, and for our roles working directly with young people, at an enhanced level. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants. 

A NOTE FOR RECRUITMENT AGENCIES:

We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we need a helping hand. We'll be in touch directly if we need you!

Req ID: 4064 

A rare chance to build something from zero — and see your work move millions of pounds to the world's most effective charities.
 

The opportunity

In recent years, some of the biggest problems in the world have gotten worse.

• The decades-long decline in extreme poverty has slowed.
• Factory farming continues to grow, with 13 billion farmed animals killed annually in the U.S. alone.
• The rapid deployment of increasingly powerful AI systems raises questions about safety and alignment that remain largely unresolved.

What gives us hope is that research-backed, scalable, but grossly underfunded ways to make progress on these problems exist.

More than 11,000 people have pledged at least 10% of their income to the world's most effective charities through Giving What We Can's 10% Pledge. Our global community gives over £63 million every year, funding malaria prevention, poverty reduction, animal welfare, AI safety research, and more.

GWWC has over 5,000 UK donors. £12.5M came from the top 300 alone in 2025. Despite this, there has been virtually no proactive relationship management. We believe there's huge potential to increase this figure with dedicated, high-quality donor stewardship.

London is GWWC's largest concentration of community members: over 2,600 CRM contacts and over 500 active pledgers. It's the natural centre of gravity for events and in-person engagement, with a rich ecosystem of high-net-worth individuals aligned with effective giving.
 

What you'll do

Build deep, lasting relationships with donors and pledgers. You'll proactively manage a portfolio of GWWC's highest-value community members through 1:1 meetings, calls, and thoughtful follow-up. Expect 8 to 10 meaningful conversations per week: coffees, dinners, calls.

Guide donors toward the highest-impact giving. Think of it as philanthropic advising. You're helping people think through where their giving goes furthest, directing generosity toward GWWC-recommended, evidence-backed charities. You'll also inspire people to give more, helping them see why giving more significantly and effectively can transform the impact they have with their donations.

Run high-quality donor events. Intimate dinners, networking evenings, and community gatherings. You'll have an events budget and the freedom to experiment with formats that build connection.

Re-engage lapsed and non-reporting donors. When someone takes a pledge with GWWC, they commit to giving 10% of their income to effective charities. Some donors give through our platform (where we can track it), while others give directly to charities and report it back to us. Over time, many stop doing either: our data shows recording rates drop from 60% in year one to just 22% by year five without any proactive engagement. These aren't necessarily people who've stopped caring; many have simply drifted without anyone checking in. A single outreach test to 369 lapsed donors recovered $2.3M in reported donations. You'll do this systematically, bringing recording rates to around 70% for the group of people you're engaging with.

Inspire warm leads to take a giving pledge. Follow up with people who've attended events, expressed interest, or sit in our CRM but haven't yet committed. We expect approximately 80 new pledges per year from this work.

Build the strategy. You'll build the strategy in partnership with your counterpart in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a joint endeavour: together you'll develop the model for how GWWC does donor engagement, then adapt it for each geography to replicate globally.
 

What we're looking for

A social chameleon with high EQ. You can read a room and calibrate, holding your own at a black-tie dinner or a casual coffee with equal ease. Different donors need different things; you instinctively know which register to use.

Energised by getting out there. You're the kind of person who'd rather have ten meetings in a week than five. You want to be out in the world, meeting people, opening doors, and building relationships. Some weeks half your outreach will go unanswered, and that doesn't slow you down.

Highly organised and strategic. You're able to use a CRM to maximise the number and quality of interactions you have, thinking strategically about how to invest the most time on the highest-potential opportunities, whether that's inspiring new donors or stewarding existing ones to give more.

Super agentic. Give you KPI targets and a CRM and you'll build the strategy from there. You're the kind of person who doesn't need to be told what to do next, you just see what needs doing and get on with it.

You really care deeply about these issues. You find the core questions of effective giving compelling. You can talk about why cost-effectiveness matters without sounding robotic, and you come across as authentic because you actually care about these issues.

5+ years of relevant experience. In fundraising, philanthropy, donor stewardship, major gifts, high-touch relationship management, or senior sales and partnerships. We care about what you can do, not credentials, but this is a senior role that requires demonstrated experience.
 

Nice to haves

We definitely don't expect any candidate to have all of these.

• Experience or familiarity with global catastrophic risks, global health and wellbeing, or animal welfare as cause areas
• Experience in the effective altruism or effective giving ecosystem
• Experience running or hosting donor events
• Experience with HubSpot specifically (CRM proficiency is essential, but HubSpot experience is a bonus)
• Understanding of UK tax-efficient giving (Gift Aid, share donations via ShareGift, payroll giving)
• Being a GWWC pledger yourself
• People management aptitude (you may grow a small team over time)
   

Compensation and benefits

• £77,000 – £89,000 depending on experience You can see how we calculate pay in our public salary calculator. 
• Contract: One-year fixed-term contract with a three-month probation period. We're open to exploring making it permanent if the first year is successful.

Benefits include:

• Fully remote work (with regular in-person donor meetings and events as part of the role)
• 25 days paid leave + public holidays
• 10% employer pension contribution and private health insurance
• £4,000 annual professional development budget
• £4,000 annual mental health support budget
• The knowledge that your work moves millions of pounds to the world's most effective charities
   

About us

Giving What We Can is working towards a world without preventable suffering or existential risk, where everyone is able to flourish. We do this by making giving effectively and significantly a norm among those who can afford it.

Founded in 2009, we are best known for the 10% Pledge, where over 11,000 people have committed to donating at least 10% of their lifetime income to highly effective charities. Our larger community of ~20,000 pledgers and donors currently gives ~£63M annually, of which GWWC processes and grants £24M+ yearly through our own donation platform.

We're a lean, remote, performance-focused team. Our impact evaluation shows a 7x multiplier: every $1 spent on our operations generates $7 in donations to highly effective charities. We're committed to a high level of transparency. And we're growing fast, on track for more than 40% year-over-year growth on donations in 2026.

You'll report to: James Rayton, Director of Community & Partnerships
 

How to apply

You can apply by filling out the form linked in this job ad. We review applications on a rolling basis and will move quickly when we find the right person. Our process typically includes: application review → screening call → paid work test → interviews with James (line manager) and cross-functional team members → paid work trial → reference checks and interview with the CEO. We provide compensation for all work tests and trials.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Giving What We Can is committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds.