Head of Philanthropy (12 month FTC)
Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract
Salary: £60,000 per annum
Location: Home-based with regular travel
Closing date: Wednesday 28 January 2026
Interview date: 4 & 5 February 2026
Blue Cross is seeking an experienced and ambitious Head of Philanthropy to lead and make an active contribution to our High Value Fundraising project, a key initiative designed to grow our future income. This 12-month fixed-term role will focus on delivering high-impact fundraising activity while managing and inspiring a talented Philanthropy team.
More about the role
You will support in the delivery of the 2026 Philanthropy plan across trusts, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals, with a particular focus on the High Value Fundraising project. Leading high-value fundraising activity, you will manage your own portfolio, create income pipelines, develop key performance indicators, and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to maximise philanthropic support. You will ensure the charity’s Case for Support remains current and compelling and deliver high-standard donor reporting.
This is a home-based role with a contracted base site. Travel to your base site is considered normal commuting, while travel to other Blue Cross locations or partner sites will be reimbursed.
About you
You are a credible senior leader with a strong track record in philanthropy fundraising, capable of translating strategic priorities into tangible outcomes. Motivated by ambitious goals, you thrive on building relationships, inspiring teams, and influencing at the highest level. You are resilient, creative, and aligned with Blue Cross’s values of compassion, courage, and inclusion.
Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
- Extensive experience developing strategies that increase income from major donors and institutional funders, including personally securing five- and ideally six-figure donations
- Proven experience of meeting and exceeding ambitious income growth targets
- Experience of building and managing funder relationships
- Strong financial monitoring, target setting, and reporting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to analyse and present data tailored for different audiences
- Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills
- Track record of leading, managing, and inspiring a team, encouraging innovation and improving ways of working
- Experience working at senior organisational levels and managing relationships with Directors, CEOs, and Boards
- The ability to demonstrate, understand, and apply Blue Cross’s values
Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
- Experience of fundraising for significant capital projects
- Knowledge of CRM systems and data management
How to apply
Click Apply to submit your application. Please note that applications may close early if we receive a high volume, so we encourage early submission.
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Health cash plan
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
- Life assurance
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Recognition scheme
- Annual volunteer days
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the
'why work for us'page on our website.About Blue Cross
If you’d like to learn more about Blue Cross, our mission, and the work we do to support animals and people, take a look at our
About Us pageDocuments
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