Philanthropy Manager

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses, coaches and empowers unemployed women for success at their job interview. After visiting Smart Works, 63% of clients secure a job within a month.

The Smart Works service is delivered in London, Manchester, Stockport, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading and Leeds. Over the past eleven years, Smart Works has helped over 40,000 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre.

In April 2022, Smart Works launched a Three-Year Plan that will see the charity double the number of women helped annually from 5,000 to 10,000 women a year. We are on track to achieve this by expanding the reach of our existing centres and opening new centres in areas of need including Bristol; set to open in early 2025.

About this role

Due to the significant growth phase, we require vital cornerstone funding from a new Major Gifts function that has just been established, to secure donations from high-net worth individuals, that will enable us to achieve our mission and help thousands of women to transform their lives.

The Philanthropy Manager is an exciting new role that provides an opportunity to build a new major gifts programme from scratch, raising £150,000 income by end of March 2025. Supported by the Director of Partnerships, you will work closely with the Board and our network of 750 volunteers, to develop a giving strategy that will engage and grow a new pool of crucial supporters for Smart Works.

The successful candidate will be responsible for building a new portfolio of major donors, including conducting prospect research, developing bespoke stewardship materials, and securing five-figure and six-figure repeat gifts.

We seek an excellent communicator, with significant experience in influencing, negotiating and exceeding set targets. Creativity, an understanding of women’s fashion, and knowledge of wealth circles would also be advantageous.

Smart Works is a collaborative environment, with dynamic teams and ambitious plans. It is also a rewarding place to work and a lot of fun, with valuable opportunities to attend nationwide fundraising events, expert leadership panel discussions, fashion sales and exclusive events.

The Fundraising and Partnerships team are based in London. This is a hybrid role, working from a London centre at least twice per week, with the opportunity to work across our North, West and South London centres. Some evening and weekend work is required to lead on philanthropic fundraising and support wider partnership team events.

If you are a dynamic, proactive self-starter, with exceptional interpersonal skills and are passionate about supporting women into work, then this could be the ideal opportunity for you. We would love to hear from you.

To apply for this role, please head to our website to view the full job description. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alterations for the application and recruitment processes, please contact our People team.

Interviews will be held on 24th October. 

Smart Works is committed to best practice employment practices, including reducing the burden for those seeking work. Smart Works will therefore reimburse reasonable costs of travel to interviews if required.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, disabled candidates, and candidates with lived experience of female unemployment as we would like to increase the representation of these groups at Smart Works.