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Major Gifts Manager, Royal Institution

  •  London
  •  Â£40k-50k
  •  Part time
  •  Closes January 12, 2026
  •  Becky Poyntz
  •  bpoyntz@ri.ac.uk
  • #Charity

Description

Job Summary

Salary: c£42,000 per annum FTE (actual salary c£25,000 pa) Location: London For over 225 years, the Ri has ignited curiosity and transformed science education and communication, making cutting-edge science accessible to all. As a charity, we rely on support to continue this important work.

Job Description

We are looking for a motivated major gifts fundraiser to join our small fundraising team to contribute to our ambitious goal to raise £20 million across 4 years - our Be the Spark campaign.

You will need to be a collaborative self-starter who wants to make an impact, working at all levels of the organisation to build and develop the relationships that will enable the Ri to succeed. You will be used to identifying, researching and managing a portfolio of major donors or high value clients and comfortable working with donors at the highest levels.

This role is responsible for driving major donor engagement and income by proactively identifying and cultivating new supporters aligned with our mission.

You will work across the Ri and fundraising team to build strong relationships, develop innovative and compelling proposals, and deliver exceptional account management and stewardship to existing donors. Key responsibilities include researching, developing and cultivating new prospects, building a strong major gifts pipeline, visiting donors and prospects, and advising colleagues on best practice for stewarding major donors throughout their relationship with the Ri.

If you are a warm, professional and engaging communicator, adept at managing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors and able to cultivate and develop influential relationships, we would love to hear from you.

This role is part time (21 hours), permanent and will require a willingness to undertake occasional travel, evenings and occasional weekends. Requests to work flexibly or part-time will be considered.

Job Requirements

(Essential)

  • Experience of identifying, researching, pitching to and managing a portfolio of major donors or high value clients
  • Confidence in talking fluently about money in a professional environment and comfortable working with donors at the highest levels.
  • Proven experience of building excellent relationships and networks both internally and externally
  • Experience of managing relationships with donors or high value clients
  • Demonstrable experience of maximising opportunities from researching prospects to generating meetings, and securing income
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

(Desirable)

  • Substantial demonstrable experience working in a fundraising position for a charity or educational organisation.
  • Experience of organising small to medium sized events for major donors and prospects
  • Experience leading a giving club or members networking group
  • Patron/Major Donor/Legacy fundraising experience, securing 6-figure donations

Job Responsibilities

  • Owning and managing a portfolio of major donors, building strong, long-term relationships and serving as their primary point of contact.
  • Devising and delivering tailored stewardship journeys for each donor in the portfolio, ensuring personalised engagement
  • Securing repeat and increased support
  • Proactive identification and researching of new major donor prospects, and building a strong pipeline for cultivation
  • Maintaining major donor engagement levels through regular communications and meetings and maintaining CRM records.
  • Developing a fledgling giving circle aligned to the Be the Spark campaign.
  • Monitoring and managing a budget, reporting to the board and analysing performance against agreed KPIs.
  • Supporting and empowering other teams at the Ri to enhance major donor relationships.
  • Collaborating with the events teams to ensure that major donors receive an exceptional experience at all Ri events and activities.

Useful Links

How to Apply

Please click below to access our website and download a full job description and submit your application by way of a CV and supporting statement setting out how your skills and experience meet the criteria set out in the person spec.

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