Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-value fundraising initiatives and inspire a talented team to achieve ambitious goals.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a compassionate charity dedicated to supporting animals and people.
- Benefits: Enjoy 38-43 days holiday, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in philanthropy while working from home and travelling.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in major donor fundraising and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Flexible home-based role with excellent career growth and a supportive culture.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
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.
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 page.
Head of Philanthropy (12 month FTC) employer: Blue Cross
Contact Detail:
Blue Cross Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Philanthropy (12 month FTC)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the philanthropy space and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have a lead or be able to put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Blue Cross thoroughly, understand their mission, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've driven fundraising success in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! When chatting with potential employers, highlight your experience in managing teams and inspiring others. They want to see that you can not only lead but also motivate your team to achieve ambitious targets.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the Blue Cross family. Get your application in early to avoid missing out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Philanthropy (12 month FTC)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the Head of Philanthropy role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you've met and exceeded fundraising targets. We want to see the impact you've made in previous roles!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your communication is easy to read and understand.
Apply Early!: We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. With a closing date approaching, applying early gives you a better chance of being considered, especially if we receive a high volume of applications.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross
✨Know Your Philanthropy Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in philanthropy and high-value fundraising. Understand Blue Cross's mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. Being able to discuss specific strategies you've implemented in the past will show you're the right fit for leading their High Value Fundraising project.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you inspired your team or improved ways of working. Highlighting your ability to motivate and manage a talented Philanthropy team will be crucial, so have those stories ready to share.
✨Be Data Savvy
Since the role involves financial monitoring and reporting, be prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive fundraising success. Bring examples of key performance indicators you've developed and how they helped achieve income growth. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and strategic thinking.
✨Connect on Values
Blue Cross values compassion, courage, and inclusion, so think about how these resonate with your own values. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these principles in your work, especially in building relationships with donors and stakeholders. This connection can set you apart as a candidate who truly aligns with their mission.
