Senior Philanthropy Manager (Trusts & Foundations)

This Senior Philanthropy Manager (Trusts & Foundations) role will be responsible for securing and stewarding significant philanthropic gifts working in partnership with senior stakeholders of the University. They will use their fundraising experience and communication skills to secure philanthropic gifts at the £50k to £5mil level from Trusts & Foundations (T&Fs), working in partnership with senior stakeholders on their fundraising efforts, and championing the work and priorities of King’s College London.

The postholder will help to enable the University to deliver world‑leading research, education, and societal impact, translating complex academic priorities into compelling funding opportunities for T&Fs in the UK and internationally. They will be part of a team playing a crucial role in the delivery of the University’s ambition to significantly scale philanthropy income, as we prepare to launch our next major fundraising campaign in 2027 and mark the university’s bicentenary in 2029.

The successful candidate will lead on cultivating and stewarding a portfolio of high‑value T&F prospects and donors, developing long‑term, strategic relationships that result in philanthropic gifts. Working in close partnership with senior academic and clinical leaders, you will shape and articulate funding propositions that resonate with philanthropic partners and align with King’s institutional and campaign priorities.

• Actively manage a portfolio of T&F prospects (£50,000+ gift capacity) on behalf of the University.
• Ensure that effective cultivation strategies are in place to grow the donor community to KCL’s Faculties and the wider University.
• Hold regular face‑to‑face/virtual donor visits and bring prospects/donors closer to the organisation through meaningful engagement.
• Meet an annually agreed set of fundraising KPIs (including number of donor engagements/visits, number of asks made/proposals submitted, and income generated).
• Agree targets and activity plans for fundraising with philanthropy leadership to deliver fundraising targets for fundraising priorities.
• Coordinate and manage donor/prospect meetings and briefings with academic/clinical colleagues to ensure that they are run effectively in line with philanthropic objectives.
• Lead the development and delivery of the fundraising strategy for assigned priorities and/or Faculties.
• Build strong working relationships with senior academic/clinicians, and Faculty leadership to coordinate the cultivation and stewardship of prospective and existing funders, briefing and supporting senior staff to communicate with funders on your behalf.
• Provide advice, guidance and constructive feedback to senior stakeholders on major gifts fundraising success and ensure a culture of philanthropy is fostered.
• Work collaboratively across Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement in particular with the wider philanthropy team.
• Work closely with prospect research, advancement writing, events, alumni relations, donor relations and gift implementation teams to develop and enhance philanthropic fundraising opportunities.
• Accurately record prospect information in the fundraising database.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

There are a number of duties and responsibilities that we ask all employees to be familiar with and adhere to. We ask that the successful candidate:

• Positively contributes to an environment at King’s that truly represents Our Principles in Action and where every individual feels safe, secure and supported.
• Always complies with the requirements of health and safety regulations to ensure their own wellbeing and that of their colleagues.
• Has an understanding of sustainability, including its impact on the University and the work we do, and engages in sustainable practices in the workplace.
• Ensures they are working in a safe environment, where they comply with our Health and Safety regulations and ensure confidentiality, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
• Complies with King’s protocols on the appropriate use of telephone, email and internet facilities.

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university. The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension. We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination. When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.