Senior Philanthropy Manager 

The RSPB Philanthropy Team is looking for a dynamic Senior Philanthropy Manager to lead with the engagement and recruitment of new donors.

Senior Philanthropy Manager
Reference: JUL20256874  
Location: Flexible in England, with travel for meetings
Contract: Permanent  
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £44,315.00 - £47,312.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Holidays, Pension and Life Assurance

Introduction

This new role will work with our Senior Leaders as well as supporting the team to pursue opportunities generated through excellent relationship building across the organisation. With the ultimate goal of increasing philanthropic income for the RSPB, the role requires an experienced and successful major gifts fundraiser who will lead the development of new relationships to help steer the team towards achieving its ambitious goals.

An energetic and confident self-starter, they will lead on developing opportunities to engage with and raise funding from the contacts of our most senior colleagues and volunteers at the RSPB. They will also manage donor relationships and solicitation strategies to achieve the best outcome for the RSPB.

What's the role about?

You will lead an exciting new area of philanthropic fundraising at the RSPB, seeking significant gifts for our work from new supporters, with a key focus on our developing Land Fund product.

You will look after your own portfolio of donors and be responsible for fundraising information to advance plans and ensure prospect and donor records are accurate, incorporating any changes, new activities, updated plans, and new information in keeping with data protection and team procedures.

You will work closely with your team and wider organisation colleagues to implement solicitation strategies, to secure financial support either by direct solicitation, preparing a written proposal, or working with senior management to make a solicitation.

You will contribute to the planning of and participate actively in events (face to face and online) to build relationships with donors and prospects for future income and to demonstrate the impact of gifts already received.

You will arrange and attend meetings with individual donors at a variety of venues, including our reserves, working closely with area and reserve colleagues to deliver an excellent experience for our supporters.

You will build effective relationships both within the RSPB and external to it that will enhance its reputation and ultimately secure funding. This includes understanding donors’ wishes and aspirations and identifying links with approved priority projects with the aim of securing substantial gifts.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Intermediate levels of fundraising as demonstrated by work successes and recognised fundraising courses.
• Experience in how to research and cultivate a prospect. And understanding of how to write a cultivation strategy.
• Ability to write funding proposals, reports and updates, and prepare briefing documents in advance of meetings and events.
• Competent in the use of a CRM system (Salesforce), the Microsoft suite, other databases, research tools and methods.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members, and people and teams outside of our department.
• Good judgement when working with donors and ability to recognise potentially sensitive areas between prospects and the RSPB to ensure reputational values are maintained.
• Successful management and development of donor relationships leading to substantial support (6- and 7-figure gifts).
• Experience of planning and running high level/special events.
• Experience of line management and mentoring.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• High level presentation skills and experience.
• Previous experience in the conservation sector.
• Passion for nature and wildlife.

Additional Information:

• There is a need for the successful applicant to have frequent meetings in London - therefore you will need to be easily able to access London

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 12th October 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 20th October.  
Please note: We reserve the right to close the advert early if we get sufficient response, so please don't delay in applying.

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website. 

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.