Philanthropy Manager - Major Donors / Trusts

We’re proud to be partnering with one of the UK's most established and well-known charity brands to recruit passionate Major Gifts and Trusts specialists into their Strategic Relationships & Philanthropy team.

These roles offer the chance to shape transformational giving at one of the UK’s most impactful charities, helping create a world without barriers for blind and partially sighted people. Whether your experience lies in major donor fundraising or trusts and foundations, they offer a collaborative environment where you’ll be supported to build long-term partnerships, secure significant income, and drive meaningful change.

Both roles contribute to a team income target of over £2m, with strong internal support and the freedom to develop creative approaches to engaging funders.

Philanthropy Manager – Major Gifts

You’ll lead on managing and developing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, philanthropists, and senior volunteers, securing both single and multi-year gifts in excess of £10,000. Through strategic relationship-building and compelling stewardship, you’ll deepen donor engagement and help shape the future of major giving.

Key responsibilities include:

• Cultivating and stewarding a portfolio of HNWIs and major donor prospects

• Creating tailored proposals and presentations that align with donor interests

• Working cross-organisationally to uncover funding opportunities and build cases for support

• Representing the charity at events and in donor meetings to drive engagement and build trust

This role would suit a confident relationship-builder with excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, as well as the creativity to identify new prospects and opportunities.

Philanthropy Manager – Trusts

You’ll take ownership of a portfolio of national and regional trusts and foundations, writing compelling proposals and reports that secure grants of £25,000+. In this role, you’ll also line-manage a Philanthropy Officer, helping grow income from smaller trusts and stewarding long-term support for the charity's work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing and growing a pipeline of charitable trusts and foundations

• Drafting persuasive, tailored proposals and delivering timely, accurate reporting

• Building and nurturing long-term relationships with funders through creative stewardship

• Line managing and mentoring a Philanthropy Officer to support team income growth

This role would suit someone with excellent written communication, a strategic mindset, and a passion for translating programme work into inspiring funding opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

Essential for both roles:

• Proven success securing five- and six-figure gifts from either major donors or trusts

• Exceptional communication skills—whether writing proposals or engaging funders in person

• Experience developing tailored, compelling cases for support based on funder priorities

• Ability to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to uncover fundable work

• Strong organisational skills with the initiative to manage a busy portfolio independently

• A collaborative, proactive mindset and a genuine passion for the mission

Desirable:

• Experience line-managing or mentoring others (for the Trusts role)

• Familiarity with CRM systems and donor reporting tools

• Experience representing an organisation externally at events or donor meetings

To be considered for this position please apply with your CV as soon as possible, regrettably please note we may not be able to reply to each and every application.

We are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practises that ensure equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and will happily make reasonable adjustments to always ensure a fair process.