Philanthropy Manager

Contract: Part-time (3-4 days per week), with flexible working arrangements
Salary: £40,000 per annum (pro rata)
Benefits: 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), pension scheme and flexible working

Location: Hybrid, with occasional attendance at our Wendover office (typically one day per week initially)

Additional Requirements: Some evening and weekend work will be required to support donor cultivation events and charity activities.

About Greenfingers Charity

Greenfingers Charity is dedicated to creating magical gardens for life-limited children and their families who spend time in children's hospices across the UK. Through the power of nature, we create beautiful outdoor spaces that provide comfort, play, reflection and precious moments together during the most difficult times.

Since the charity was founded, we have created more than 70 inspiring hospice gardens across the UK. However, demand continues to grow, with a number of hospices waiting for our support.

This year marks an exciting milestone as we launch our ambitious Healing Hand, Helping Hearts Appeal—a strategic campaign that will enable us to build and maintain more hospice gardens, reach more families and create a sustainable future for the charity.

To help deliver this vision, we are seeking an exceptional Philanthropy Manager to join our small, passionate team and play an important role in growing our philanthropic income and supporter community.

Why Join Greenfingers?

This is a rare opportunity to help build an exciting and growing philanthropy programme within a respected national charity.

Working as part of a small, supportive team, you will play an important role in developing meaningful relationships with philanthropic supporters and helping to secure the funding needed to transform children's hospice gardens across the UK.

You'll have the opportunity to shape your area of work, bring fresh ideas and develop your expertise, while working within an ambitious fundraising strategy led by the Director of Fundraising & Communications.

We're looking for someone who is seeking more than just their next role. We want to appoint an ambitious philanthropy professional who is looking for a long-term opportunity to grow with Greenfingers Charity.

As we embark on our ten-year vision through the Healing Hand, Helping Hearts Appeal, we hope to find someone who wants to become an integral part of that journey—someone who can help shape the future of the charity and celebrate our achievements alongside the team for many years to come.

We are committed to investing in the successful candidate, providing opportunities to broaden their skills, develop their expertise and take on increasing responsibility as the charity continues to grow.

The Role

The Philanthropy Manager will be responsible for developing, securing and stewarding relationships with high-net-worth individuals, major donors and philanthropic supporters, helping to deliver the charity's philanthropy programme.

Working closely with the Director of Fundraising & Communications and the Trusts Fundraiser, you will implement and develop the philanthropy programme in support of Greenfingers' wider fundraising strategy and long-term ambitions.

This role would suit a confident, proactive relationship builder who combines proven fundraising expertise with outstanding interpersonal skills and, ideally, an established network of contacts. You'll enjoy identifying opportunities, nurturing meaningful partnerships and delivering exceptional donor experiences that inspire long-term support.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Director of Fundraising & Communications and the Trusts Fundraiser, you will:

Support the delivery and ongoing development of Greenfingers' philanthropy programme in line with the charity's fundraising strategy and long-term ambitions.
Identify, research and cultivate prospective high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic supporters.
Build and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective donors through thoughtful cultivation and engagement.
Build lasting relationships with donors, ensuring exceptional stewardship and supporter care.
Prepare compelling, personalised funding proposals, presentations, reports and impact updates.
Plan and deliver high-quality donor cultivation and stewardship events.
Work collaboratively with colleagues to identify inspiring funding opportunities and engaging donor experiences.
Represent Greenfingers Charity at meetings, networking events and supporter functions.
Maintain accurate donor records, ensuring compliance with GDPR and fundraising best practice.
Monitor activity and income against agreed objectives and provide regular progress reports.

Person Specification

Essential

Proven experience in major donor, philanthropy or high-value fundraising.
A successful track record of building long-term relationships and securing significant philanthropic support.
Outstanding written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and build trust.
Experience of planning and delivering high-value donor cultivation and stewardship events.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Self-motivated, proactive and results-driven, with the confidence to work independently and collaboratively within a small, ambitious team.
A genuine passion for relationship fundraising and delivering exceptional supporter experiences.
Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel when required.

Desirable

An established network of high-net-worth individuals, professional advisers or philanthropic contacts, with the confidence to develop and leverage those relationships appropriately.
Experience of working with trusts and foundations.
Knowledge of CRM and donor management systems.
A strategic and creative approach to donor engagement and stewardship.
An understanding of the hospice, healthcare or children's charity sector.
An interest in horticulture and an appreciation of the therapeutic benefits of gardens and nature.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking someone who is looking for more than just their next role, we're looking for someone who wants to build a career with Greenfingers Charity.

This is a long-term opportunity for an ambitious philanthropy professional who enjoys building relationships and wants to develop a successful major donor programme within a supportive and growing organisation. You'll bring strong experience, enthusiasm and fresh ideas, while working collaboratively with colleagues to help deliver the charity's wider fundraising ambitions.

As we continue delivering our ten-year vision, we're looking for someone who wants to be part of that journey. We hope to find an individual who sees themselves growing with Greenfingers over many years, celebrating our achievements alongside colleagues, trustees, supporters and the families whose lives we touch.

We are looking for someone we can invest in, someone whose skills, confidence and responsibilities will grow as the charity develops, and who will become an increasingly valued member of our fundraising team.

What We Offer

In return, you'll join a charity with a clear vision, a collaborative culture and an ambitious future. You'll work alongside a committed team, engaged trustees and passionate supporters, all united by a shared purpose: creating beautiful gardens that bring comfort, joy and precious memories to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

As Greenfingers continues to grow, you'll have the opportunity to develop your career, contribute your ideas and make a lasting difference to thousands of families across the UK.

How to Apply

Please send your CV together with a covering letter explaining why you are interested in the role and how your experience meets the requirements of the role to:

Linda Petrons
Director of Fundraising & Communications

Email: Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk

Closing Date: Friday 21 August 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so early application is encouraged.