Senior Philanthropy Manager

Job Description

Job Summary

We are partnering with Laura Macnamara at QuarterFive for this appointment. Please click the link above to be redirected to their website and make your application.

The salary for this permanent full time role is £50,000 per annum.

War Child believes that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war. It is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict, with four main areas of work: protecting children, educating children, supporting communities and campaigning.

Philanthropy is a central driver of War Child’s growth. Income has risen rapidly, underpinned by exceptional networks, high-profile supporters and a highly successful portfolio of events and experiences. Following a strategic review, War Child is now investing in a more structured, sustainable approach to philanthropy fundraising with two clearly defined strands: one focused on traditional major donor relationship management and pipeline growth, and a second dedicated to high-value events and experiences as a core driver of major donor engagement and income. This role has been created to lead the second strand.

While the Senior Philanthropy Manager’s primary focus will be generating income from a warm portfolio of major donors, they will also take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value philanthropy events, shaping donor engagement rather than delivering events operationally. Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy, this autonomous, externally-facing role will focus on unlocking influential networks and converting high-profile engagement into long-term philanthropic partnerships.

Your Role

As Senior Philanthropy Manager, you will:

• Manage and develop a portfolio of donors and warm prospects capable of giving 6-figure gifts, including high-value donors currently sitting with senior leadership
• Take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value events as a core driver of the major donor pipeline, shaping and strengthening this strand so it becomes a defined, sustainable part of the philanthropy programme
• Lead on donor engagement around events, including narrative, asks, pledge levels, follow-up and conversion to income
• Analyse and prioritise prospects with the Data & Insights Manager to focus effort on the highest-value opportunities
• Unlock and activate influential networks through ambassadors, senior volunteers and high-profile supporters
• Work closely with the Head of Philanthropy, Data & Insights Manager, Events Producer, and Principal Giving Lead

Your Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects capable of giving six-figure gifts motivating and engaging donors into transformational levels of Philanthropic giving.
• Identify and qualify new prospects through research, introductions and networks, building a robust pipeline aligned with organisational priorities.
• Through excellent relationship management, develop and implement tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans that inspire long-term support.
• Lead the development of the philanthropy team’s high-level events portfolio, ensuring events are strategically designed to support cultivation and stewardship goals, including those hosted by Global Ambassadors.
• Ensure philanthropy messaging and donor experience at events reflect the values and impact of War Child.
• Develop relationships with new major donor prospects arising from events, engaging them on a donor journey towards being a long-term sustainable and committed philanthropic supporters.
• Attend events as a senior representative of the team, building relationships, spotting new opportunities, and supporting the delivery of a high-quality donor experience.
• Use Salesforce to provide donor insights and guidance on high level events, including guest list management, briefings evaluations, and development of data dashboards to inform future event strategy track attendee journeys, and assess long-term value.
• Advise the Head of Philanthropy and make recommendations on how to improve and develop War Child’s high value events strategy.
• Produce high-quality proposals, cases for support, and impact reports, in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Head of Philanthropy and Philanthropy Lead to deliver on income targets and contribute to team strategy and planning. Take on a guiding role as a high-level specialist for other members of the Philanthropy team providing inspirational departmental leadership.
• Alongside the Philanthropy Lead, engage senior leadership trustees and senior external stakeholders in donor relationships where appropriate, providing briefings and strategic advice to maximise their effectiveness.
• Represent the Philanthropy function in cross-organisational projects, helping to shape strategic initiatives that strengthen philanthropic engagement.
• Provide first-rate line management to the Philanthropy Assistant, modelling excellence in management that will result in line reports thriving in their role, with high standards of performance and behaviour.
• Monitor progress against income targets and contribute to accurate forecasting, reporting and budget planning.
• Contribute to organisational learning by capturing insights from donor interactions, staying up to date on sector trends and proactively identifying new opportunities.
• Champion best practice in fundraising, data protection, and donor care, ensuring compliance and ethical standards at all times.
• Always maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current activities of War Child and be an advocate of the War Child brand.
• Responsible for creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children, and adults and compliant to War Child’s Safeguarding and PSEAH (Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment) policies.
• We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workplace. All staff are expected to actively contribute to this by embedding principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their day-to-day work, decision-making, and interactions with colleagues, partners, and supporters.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the role.

You Are

Essential skills and experience:

• Significant experience of high-value major donor fundraising, with a track record of securing £50k+ gifts from HNWIs
• Strong experience of developing donors through identification, cultivation, solicitation and long-term stewardship
• Credibility and confidence working with wealthy, influential individuals, advisers, celebrities and senior volunteers
• Experience of shaping donor engagement strategy around high-value events or pledge environments
• Strategic thinker with strong judgement on prospect prioritisation and pipeline management
• Excellent relationship management, influencing and written communication skills
• Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-moving, high-profile environment

Desirable

• Experience of pledge dinners or high-value special events at a strategic fundraising level
• Experience working with ambassadors or high-profile supporters
• International development or humanitarian sector experience

Deadline: 09/02/2026