Overview
£50,434 per annum. Royal Voluntary Service mobilises volunteers to support people in need and the NHS. Our volunteers work with healthcare teams and in communities providing practical help and emotional support when people are struggling to cope.
Royal Voluntary Service has an opportunity for a Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy to join our team, working from home on a full-time, permanent basis.
About the Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy Role
This is a newly created, senior leadership role responsible for building and scaling a high-value income stream across corporate partnerships, high-net-worth (HNW) individuals, and philanthropy at Royal Voluntary Service.
The role will lead the development and execution of a strategy to generate £1m+ in sustainable annual income, with a strong focus on new business acquisition, strategic relationship development, and long-term value creation.
What Makes This Role Attractive
* Opportunity to build a function from scratch with CRO-level sponsorship
* High visibility across leadership and Board
* Ability to shape a modern, commercially-driven fundraising model
* Direct impact on scaling income and social outcomes
Hours: 35 per week, Monday – Friday.
Location: Homebased with occasional national travel
Job Requirements
Experience
* Proven track record of delivering £1m+ income targets in:
* Corporate partnerships
* Philanthropy / major donor fundraising
* Experience in a well-established charity or mission-led organisation
* Demonstrable success securing high-value, multi-year partnerships
* Strong network across corporates and/or HNW communities
Skills & Capability
* Highly commercial with a new business mindset
* Exceptional relationship builder with gravitas at senior level
* Strong storyteller — able to translate impact into compelling propositions
* Strategic thinker who can also execute and close deals
* Data-driven with disciplined pipeline management
Leadership Style
* Proactive, entrepreneurial, and outcomes-focused
* Comfortable operating in a newly created role with ambiguity
* Collaborative but able to lead from the front
* Resilient and target-driven
Job Responsibilities
This is what you'll be doing:
Income Generation & Strategy
* Develop and deliver a clear partnerships & philanthropy strategy aligned to RVS growth objectives
* Own and deliver against a £1m+ annual income target, with defined pipeline metrics
* Identify and unlock new revenue opportunities, including corporate, major donors, and foundations
* Build a robust, qualified pipeline across all income streams
Corporate Partnerships
* Design and secure strategic, multi-year corporate partnerships (5–6 figure+ value)
* Target organisations aligned to RVS mission (CSR/ESG agendas, employee engagement, volunteering)
* Lead end-to-end partnership lifecycle: Prospecting, Pitch development, Negotiation, Account growth & stewardship
Philanthropy & Major Donors
* Develop a structured approach to HNW and major donor engagement
* Personally manage a portfolio of high-value prospects and donors
* Create compelling cases for support, aligned to impact and outcomes
* Leverage networks, trustees, and senior stakeholders to unlock introductions
Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
* Act as a senior ambassador for RVS externally
* Work closely with the CRO, Director of Fundraising, and Board to support strategic income growth
* Collaborate with marketing and delivery teams to ensure compelling propositions and reporting
* Influence internally to embed a commercial, partnership-led mindset
Proposition Development
* Shape and refine fundable propositions that resonate with corporates and philanthropists
* Align opportunities to social impact, ESG priorities, and measurable outcomes and reporting
* Package opportunities into clear, scalable offers
Pipeline, Performance & Reporting
* Implement strong pipeline management discipline
* Track KPIs across: New business, Conversion rates, Average deal size, Donor retention and growth
* Provide regular reporting to CRO and Board
Key Success Metrics (Year 1)
* £1m+ income secured (with clear split across corporate & philanthropy)
* Defined and active pipeline (3–5x coverage of target)
* 3–5 flagship corporate partnerships secured
* Established HNW donor portfolio with active cultivation plan
* Repeatable partnership model and proposition framework in place
Job Benefits
* A salary ranging from £50,434 per annum
* 26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
* Up to 2 days paid volunteer leave a year through our employer supported volunteer scheme
* Ten weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation
* Great pension scheme with 8% employer contributions
* 2 x Base Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification
* Enhanced Family Leave schemes
* Access to exclusive rewards website for discounts and cashback
* 24-hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies
* Free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face-to-face counselling sessions
* Flexible working opportunities
* Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
* The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities, and society
If you have the skills and experience to become our Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy, please click ‘apply’ today. This is the latest you can apply; the closing date is 28 April 2026, but we reserve the right to close early if sufficient applications are received.
At Royal Voluntary Service our goal is to welcome everyone and build inclusive and diverse teams. To learn about our commitment to EDI, visit our website.
Join Royal Voluntary Service and together we can change lives, communities, and society.
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