Head of Principal Donors

Job overview

Becoming the Head of Principal Donors at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women is a fantastic opportunity to be part of lasting progress for women across the globe, ultimately contributing to a fairer, more equal and prosperous world.

You will lead and manage the Foundation’s philanthropy programme, working closely with our senior leadership team, the CEO and our founder to personally cultivate and steward the Foundation’s principal donors. This includes overseeing our recently formed Accelerate Circle – a select group of visionary philanthropists who help drive the Foundation’s fundraising through their networks.

We are seeking an exceptional relationship manager who thrives on external engagement and networking with key stakeholders. You will have a proven track record of establishing and managing global communities of HNWIs and fundraising volunteers, raising high six figure or seven figure

donations annually.

In this role, you will be responsible for over £1 million of unrestricted income critical to delivering the Foundation’s goal of reaching one million women entrepreneurs. You will deliver excellent stewardship of our existing donors and cultivate new prospects.

Department purpose

This role will sit in the External Engagement department. The department is responsible for income generation, fundraising, and the development of strategic partnerships, as well as raising the profile of the organisation, managing its brand, promoting its work, and pressing for positive change. This enables us to develop and deliver new and existing programmes and projects, and to help shape business ecosystems to better support women entrepreneurs.

The department is divided into three teams: the Communications and Marketing team, which supports the delivery of the Foundation’s objectives through effective communications and marketing, the Programme Funding team, which focuses on restricted funding from companies, trusts, foundations and institutions, and the Philanthropy team, which focuses on unrestricted funding from individuals.

Key responsibilities Main obligations

Develop and deliver the Foundation’s philanthropy strategy, playing an active leadership role in the successful delivery of income growth from UHNWI and HNWIs

To develop the Accelerate Circle of patrons and deliver a solicitation strategy to expand membership and grow our community of donors and supporters

Provide exceptional stewardship to existing donors and cultivate new donors

Work closely with our founder and their office to design, plan and deliver high-ROI engagement such as income-generating dinners or paid speeches

With the Director Fundraising and Communications, develop annual plans and budgets, along with longer term forecasts for income from individuals

Work proactively with our Communications and Programmes teams to identify and create funded or high-return opportunities to gain visibility in key markets

Other responsibilities

• Ensure that the CRM is kept up to date and that donor record keeping and communications are compliant with best practice for fundraising regulations, safeguarding, and GDPR, including new updates or new regulatory framework.

Person specification

All applicants should already have the right to work in the UK. The Foundation does not offer sponsorship at this time.

Essential criteria

• Experience of cultivating and stewarding high-net-worth individual donors – with a proven track record of securing six or seven figure donations
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering a successful philanthropy strategy
• Experience of working with high profile individuals and senior volunteers including managing development boards, giving circles or other forms of peer-to-peer fundraising approaches
• Exceptional relationship management skills with the ability to successfully influence people at all levels with clear and persuasive communication
• Willingness to undertake regular travel, especially to the USA and in the UK
• Commitment to developing a deep knowledge and understanding of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s programmes

Desirable criteria

• Proven experience of donor event management including volunteer-led fundraising events
• Knowledge of and interest in international development and women’s entrepreneurship

Other responsibilities

• Ensure that the CRM is kept up to date and that donor record keeping and communications are compliant with best practice for fundraising regulations, safeguarding, and GDPR, including new updates or new regulatory framework.