Head of Philanthropy

Job Summary

The Head of Philanthropy will work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Partnerships, the Philanthropy and Membership team, the Board of Trustees and the broader museum directorate to raise major gifts from individual donors, trusts and foundations and statutory bodies.

Job Description

Development strategy

• Develop and deliver the philanthropic giving strategy for the Design Museum.
• Identify emerging opportunities and information relating to philanthropic giving.
• Research and create strategies for in-museum giving and legacy giving.

Fundraising and donor management

• Significantly expand the museum’s major donor base and increase philanthropic income.
• Drive unrestricted income through individual giving and membership.
• Initiate, develop and manage relationships with a portfolio of individual donors and private trusts to raise significant income to meet annual targets.
• Collaborate with colleagues to devise individually tailored solicitation plans.
• Work across the organisation to develop compelling fundraising proposals for philanthropic support.
• Oversee financial and non-financial reports to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop a bespoke programme of cultivation activity.
• Ensure a tight programme of stewardship activity.
• Oversee the relationship with Arts Council England.

People management

• Lead, motivate and support the philanthropic team.
• Line management of the philanthropy team.
• Continually develop the team to reach their full potential.

Person specification

Experience – essential

• Significant experience of developing high value relationships across philanthropic sources.
• Experience of collaborating with Trustees and senior museum colleagues to develop bespoke cultivation plans.
• Experience of creating and implementing high-impact stewardship programmes.

Skills – essential

• Excellent writing skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into compelling funding proposals.
• Strong track record of fundraising strategy and implementation.
• Excellent financial monitoring skills.

Knowledge – essential

• Knowledge of tax effective giving in the UK, US, and Asia.
• Computer literate and experience of using a fundraising database.
• Understanding of prospect research techniques.

Job Requirements

Terms and conditions

Salary: up to £55,000 dependent on experience

Holidays: 25 days per annum+ Christmas eve (museum closed)

Hours: 35 hours / 5 days per week

Location: Design Museum Kensington is the place of work, with a hybrid arrangement of 60% of an employee’s role to be performed at the museum and 40% remote.

Special demands of the job: the role involves regular attendance at breakfast events, evening receptions and dinners.

Closing date: Sunday 27th October, midnight

Interviews: w/c 4 November

Job Responsibilities

The Head of Philanthropy role is key within the Development team and is responsible for both developing the fundraising strategy and growing and maximising income from philanthropic sources. This will be achieved through initiating, growing and developing long-term funding partnerships and relationships.

The job holder will have the opportunity to contribute to the progress and implementation of the Fundraising and Partnerships strategy, with a particular focus on strategic philanthropic fundraising and growth of the museum’s membership scheme. They will directly manage four staff members, and oversee management of a sixth.

The challenge ahead is to grow and sustain philanthropic income from a broad range of sources to sustain the museum as it embarks on its most ambitious plans to date.