Senior Philanthropy Manager (Major Donors)

About The Role

Do you have an entrepreneurial approach and a commercial mindset? Could you help us end the devastation caused by dementia by building credible relationships, encouraging further support for our cause and securing five-, six- and seven-figure gifts from major donors?

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Philanthropy Manager (Major Donors) to join on a full-time basis, working 35 hours per week on a permanent contract. This is a home-based role, but you will be required to travel to attend internal and external in-person meetings and events at our head office in London (monthly) and to work from Manchester up to 1-2 days a week.

As Senior Philanthropy Manager you will drive a pipeline of major gifts, including leading the pipeline development for an emerging transformational project in Manchester. You will proactively manage a small portfolio of warm prospects while identifying new pipelines among high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and family foundations that can deliver 6 and 7-figure gifts for this landmark appeal, alongside fundraising for our other strategic priorities.

You will focus on supporting the Major Donor Lead in transforming our early pilot successes in Manchester into a sustainable, multi-million-pound major giving programme. However, whilst this will be a priority project, this won’t be your sole focus, as you will also be a proactive pipeline builder responsible for both established major donors and new prospects.

By working in close partnership with experts in science and healthcare, you will operationalise their exceptional high-level network to convert warm prospects into six- and seven-figure investors. You will establish a prominent footprint within Manchester’s philanthropic networks, engaging the region’s top entrepreneurs, business leaders, and family foundations with our cause, helping to end the devastation caused by dementia.

We have provisionally scheduled the first stage interviews for this role to take place via MS Teams on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th November.

About you

We’re looking for someone with an entrepreneurial approach and a commercial mindset. You’ll be an experienced relationship builder with the credibility to engage effectively with senior business leaders, philanthropists, influential volunteers, advocates and high-net-worth individuals. You’ll be able to sustain these successful relationships, whilst also proactively identifying and cultivating relationships with new prospects to secure further support and pipeline development.

Crucially, you’ll have the communication skills to translate complex information or principles into engaging and accessible messaging, enabling you to encourage donations or support for a specific cause. You’ll have experience of developing compelling, donor-centred funding propositions that align with supporter interests, and you’ll be able to secure five-, six- and ideally seven-figure gifts from major donors, philanthropists, family foundations or equivalent high-value supporters.

You don’t need to have existing experience in philanthropy or the charity sector specifically. If you think you have similar, relevant, transferrable skills and experience and you feel like this role could be for you then we encourage you to apply.

What you’ll focus on:

• Developing and delivering the major donor fundraising pipeline for the Manchester appeal, building a sustainable pipeline of high-net-worth individuals, family foundations and philanthropic organisations capable of making transformational gifts.
• Building and managing a portfolio of prospective and existing major donors, developing tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans that secure six- and seven-figure gifts in support of the appeal.
• Establishing and growing Alzheimer’s Society’s presence within Manchester’s philanthropic, business and community networks, identifying and creating opportunities to engage new supporters and advocates for the project.
• Working closely with the project’s leading scientist and other senior stakeholders to identify, prioritise and develop high-value relationships, providing strategic fundraising advice, briefing and assistance to maximise philanthropic opportunities.
• Working collaboratively with Impact Communications colleagues to develop compelling cases for support and donor propositions, translating complex scientific and operational information into inspiring, accessible and credible philanth…