Head of major gifts

Job Description

Head of Major Gifts

Kingston University

£60,966 plus excellent benefits

Full-time, permanent

Hybrid/ Kingston upon Thames

Are you a collaborative and dynamic fundraising leader ready to shape the future of philanthropy in higher education?

Kingston University is seeking an exceptional individual to lead their major gifts programme as part of their ambitious Development, Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE) team. With a global alumni community of over 270,000 and a bold three-year strategy in place, this is a unique opportunity to drive transformational giving and make a lasting impact on student success, research innovation, and community engagement.

About the Role

As Head of Major Gifts, you’ll lead a strategic fundraising programme to grow annual income from £450,000 to £1m+ over three years. You’ll manage a high-performing team, build a robust prospect pipeline, and personally steward a portfolio of high-net-worth donors. Reporting to the Director of DARE, you’ll work closely with senior university leadership to align fundraising with Kingston’s visionary Town House Strategy.

This is a high-impact leadership role where your expertise will elevate major and transformational giving, diversify income streams, and embed a culture of philanthropy across the University.