Head of Philanthropy and Capital Campaign | Royal Free Charity (Basé à London)

Drive change, inspire philanthropy, and lead a £50 million campaign that will transform cancer care at the Royal Free Charity.

Location: Hybrid working with a minimum of two days a week, at our central office at the Royal Free Hospital (NW3). Other office days may be worked from our other sites at Barnet Hospital (EN5), Chase Farm Hospital (EN2) and North Middlesex University Hospital.

Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 (Perm/Full time 37.5 hours per week).

We support the 17,000 staff at the RFL, offering services to a population of 1.6 million across Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and Royal Free hospitals, some 70 sites and more than 30 NHS services.

Through the services we provide and the programme and equipment we fund, we make a profound and immediate difference in patients’ experiences of care. Our volunteering, support hub, and complementary therapy teams enhance the hospital journey for all patients.

Our support of the RFL workforce enables staff to perform at their very best. Spanning individual professional development and training through to organisation-wide interventions, our initiatives bolster employee resilience and mental health so staff can achieve excellent outcomes for patients.

We fund ground-breaking research with the potential to change people’s lives, whether it’s through our grant programmes, commissioned research, or delivering major capital funding appeals.

Our dynamic fundraising department generated £4.5m through donations in 2023/24, and we are now preparing for an ambitious £50 million campaign to fund the construction of a ground-breaking cancer centre on the site of the Royal Free Hospital.

We pride ourselves on being a supporter-focused and agile function, working at the heart of the charity to deliver impact for patients and staff across our hospitals. Responsible for attracting and retaining donors, and delivering an outstanding supporter experience, the fundraising department comprises of two teams which work closely together to achieve our shared objectives:

• Our Philanthropy & Capital Campaign team builds relationships with individual philanthropists, trusts, foundations, corporate organisations and intermediaries, giving or facilitating donations of £10,000 or more to the charity each year. They lead major appeal activity for the charity, currently focused on our forthcoming cancer campaign, the charity’s first patron programme, and special events to support these activities.
• Our Public Fundraising team harnesses the support and energy of individuals and groups, helping them to give back in the way that works for them. This includes committed giving, in memory support, gifts in wills, and fundraising events and challenges.
• Our Fundraising Operations team underpins and supports the entire department.

Reporting to the Director of Fundraising and Campaigns, the Head of Philanthropy and Capital Campaign will lead a high-performing team to deliver significant philanthropic income, with a particular focus on our landmark £50 million ‘Join the Future’ capital campaign to build the Royal Free London Cancer Centre. This is a unique opportunity to shape and deliver one of the most ambitious fundraising initiatives in the charity’s history.

You will oversee a talented team working across major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate fundraising, providing strategic direction and hands-on support to secure transformational gifts. A key aspect of the role involves managing the Campaign Development Board and working closely with senior stakeholders, clinicians, trustees and volunteers to cultivate long-term relationships and unlock new income opportunities, driving income growth and helping to deliver a project that will transform cancer care for generations to come.

Collaboration will be central to your success, working cross-functionally with colleagues from both the NHS and the charity to align fundraising activity and ensure a seamless, high-impact donor experience.

We’re looking for a senior fundraising professional with a strong track record in high-value fundraising and capital campaigns. You’ll be an empowering leader and expert relationship-builder, confident in working with high-net-worth individuals, senior volunteers, trustees, and clinicians. With a deep understanding of major donor fundraising, you’ll thrive on the opportunity to lead a campaign of real ambition and scale.

Person Specification

• Significant experience in major donor and capital campaign fundraising.
• Proven ability to secure five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.
• Leadership experience, including line management of a high-performing team.
• Experience working with senior volunteers, trustees, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Strong skills in setting and managing income targets and budgets.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and organisational skills.
• Ability to analyse fundraising data and develop compelling donor materials.
• Experience in corporate, trust, or legacy fundraising.
• Fundraising experience in healthcare, the NHS, or higher education.
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge and PowerPoint.
• Understanding of the North London philanthropic landscape.

25 days of paid holiday, plus a three-day office closure rest period between Christmas and New Year, and UK bank holidays. This increases to 30 days’ leave after five completed years of continuous employment (all leave is pro rata for part-time employees).

A contributory pension scheme, where we match your 4% contribution towards your pension. If you choose to increase your payments into your pension scheme, we’ll match your contribution up to 9%.

A sick pay package that offers one month’s full pay and one month’s half pay in any 12-month period if you’ve been with us for less than two years. This rises to two months’ full pay and two months’ half pay in any 12-month period after two years of continuous employment.

Occupational maternity pay and paternity pay packages that provide more generous support than statutory pay alone.

A flexible working policy to support our employees’ work/life balance.

As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Free Charity is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Royal Free Charity and act in line with our values of dedication, innovation, partnership, energy and respect.