Philanthropy Lead (FTC, 12-months – maternity cover)

Are you an experienced relationship fundraiser with a passion for international development? Do you thrive on building meaningful connections with philanthropists and delivering impactful fundraising? If so, War Child UK has an incredible opportunity for you.

We’re a multi-award-winning charity dedicated to protecting, educating, and standing up for children affected by conflict. Our Philanthropy Lead role is pivotal in growing our sustainable income and enabling strategic growth. Covering maternity leave for 12 months, this role will see you:

• Build & Nurture Relationships – Take ownership of a warm and active pipeline of philanthropists, cultivating relationships with existing and prospective major donors.
• Deliver Impactful Fundraising – Craft compelling proposals and lead on key philanthropic initiatives, including our signature Ambassador-led gala event at the end of the year.
• Inspire & Lead – Manage and mentor a talented Philanthropy Manager while driving the success of our major donor fundraising.
• Be a Strategic Voice – Represent War Child both internally and externally, contributing to cross-team projects and shaping the wider Fundraising & Communications strategy.

This is an exciting time to join a growing, high-performing team making a tangible difference in the lives of children affected by war. If you have a proven track record in major donor fundraising, the ability to lead with creativity and insight, and the drive to deliver extraordinary results, we want to hear from you. Ideally we are looking for someone who is available from 1 July 2025.

If you share our values and believe that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war, we want to hear from you. Below are some of the experiences and qualities were looking for.

• Major donor fundraising expertise, with a proven track record of securing six-figure gifts and delivering against ambitious income targets.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, influence, and negotiate with high-profile supporters and senior stakeholders.
• Event management experience in a philanthropic fundraising environment, with the ability to oversee and drive high-profile donor events.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence in presenting, writing proposals, and managing stakeholder engagement.
• Strategic thinker, experienced in developing and leading philanthropy initiatives aligned with an organisational fundraising strategy.
• Planning and budgeting experience, including managing and monitoring six-figure income streams across multiple audiences.
• Project leadership skills, with the ability to critically evaluate fundraising activities to maximise impact.
• People management experience, with a strong understanding of motivating and developing individuals to achieve success.

What we can offer you

At War Child, we genuinely value different ways of working. From day one, we’re open to discussing flexible options, including hybrid working, flexible hours and compressed hours. Our goal is to support our employees to do their best work while ensuring we continue to deliver for children affected by conflict. Some of our benefits include:

• Flexible working culture and flexible public holidays
• 28 days annual leave (pro-rata), plus bank holidays, which increases by one day per year on your work anniversary, up to a maximum of 33 days.
• Pension - 5% employer contribution (increasing to 6% after one year’s service), with minimum employee contribution.
• Health and wellbeing - employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan, a GP 24/7 helpline, cancer cover, and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. All employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.

This role offers an incredible opportunity to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.