Business Development & Philanthropy Manager

Liverpool Football Club; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool Football Club Foundation invites applications for a Business Development & Philanthropy Manager. This role aims to drive income growth by securing high-value donations, sponsorships and partnerships, building a robust fundraising pipeline and leveraging the Club’s brand for community impact.

You will lead prospect research, donor engagement and CRM-driven pipeline management, collaborating with senior stakeholders to maximise fundraising opportunities and ensure sustainable giving

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development, fundraising, major donor fundraising, sponsorship sales or partnership management.
• Experience using Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems to manage pipelines, relationships and performance reporting.
• Strong networking capability with the confidence to engage and influence senior leaders, high-net-worth individuals and key stakeholders.
• Experience identifying, developing and converting new business opportunities.
• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver strategies to secure new philanthropic income opportunities.
• Identify, research and qualify major donors, corporate partners, sponsors and philanthropic organisations.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospects to generate sustainable income.
• Lead the use and continuous improvement of Salesforce and CRM systems.
• Maintain accurate pipeline reporting, income forecasting and performance tracking.
• Represent the Foundation at corporate, community and networking events.
• Build long-term relationships that drive repeat giving and multi-year commitments.
• Support the development and delivery of the Foundation's fundraising strategy.
• Identify market trends and opportunities to drive income growth.

Skills

Fundraising

Major donors

Sponsorship sales

Partnership management

Donor relationship building

Strategic networking

Tools

Salesforce

CRM software

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an individual to join our LFC Foundation team as a Business Development & Philanthropy Manager.

You will drive income growth by securing high-value donations, sponsorships, and partnerships. The role focuses on building and managing a strong fundraising pipeline, developing relationships with donors and corporate partners, and identifying new opportunities through networking and events. Acting as an ambassador for the Foundation, the successful candidate will leverage the LFC brand and the Foundation's impact to create sustainable funding opportunities that support long-term growth and community impact.

What will you be doing?

Business Development & Prospect Research

• Develop and deliver strategies to secure new philanthropic income opportunities.
• Identify, research and qualify major donors, corporate partners, sponsors and philanthropic organisations.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospects to generate sustainable income.
• Conduct prospect research and due diligence to assess giving potential and engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with senior leaders, Trustees and Club stakeholders to maximise fundraising opportunities.

Pipeline Management & CRM

• Manage the full donor cultivation journey from prospect identification to stewardship.
• Lead the use and continuous improvement of Salesforce and CRM systems.
• Maintain accurate pipeline reporting, income forecasting and performance tracking.
• Implement effective prospect management processes and monitor conversion rates.
• Develop strategies to enhance engagement and fundraising performance.

Networking & Lead Generation

• Represent the Foundation at corporate, community and networking events.
• Build and maintain influential relationships across business, philanthropy and football sectors.
• Generate and convert qualified leads through strategic networking.
• Work with LFC departments to maximise opportunities from sponsors, hospitality guests, partners and VIP supporters.

Relationship Management & Lead Conversion

• Manage inbound and internally generated fundraising leads.
• Develop tailored engagement plans for major donors and corporate partners.
• Lead follow-up activity from events, introductions, referrals, sponsors, hospitality guests and existing supporters.
• Build long-term relationships that drive repeat giving, multi-year commitments and strategic partnerships.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors, ensuring excellent stewardship and engagement.

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Support the development and delivery of the Foundation's fundraising and philanthropy strategy.
• Identify market trends, opportunities and best practices to drive income growth.
• Create impactful donor engagement experiences and stewardship programmes.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications on fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
• Provide regular reporting and recommendations on fundraising performance.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure fundraising activities comply with relevant legislation, regulations and Foundation policies.
• Conduct appropriate donor due diligence and risk management.
• Manage budgets effectively to maximise return on investment.

Who are we looking for?

Essential

• Proven experience in business development, fundraising, major donor fundraising, sponsorship sales or partnership management.
• Demonstrable success in developing and converting high-value sales, fundraising or partnership pipelines.
• Experience using Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems to manage pipelines, relationships and performance reporting.
• Strong networking capability with the confidence to engage and influence senior business leaders, high-net-worth individuals and key stakeholders.
• Experience identifying, developing and converting new business opportunities.
• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of relationship-led sales processes.
• Excellent presentation, communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities simultaneously and work towards ambitious income targets.

Desirable

• Existing network of philanthropic, corporate or high-net-worth contacts.
• Experience working within a charity, foundation, sports organisation or membership-based organisation.
• Knowledge of philanthropy, fundraising and grant-making trends.
• Experience securing six-figure gifts, sponsorships or partnership agreements.
• Experience of implementing and managing Salesforce CRM.

Why should you apply?

This is a permanent, full-time position, working 5 in 7. Your main base will be Anfield Sports and Community Centre with travel to our city centre office as and when needed.

To reward your hard work and commitment we offer a competitive salary, 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays and the option to purchase up to an additional 5 days) and access to our benefits kit bag which includes but not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme matching up to 5.5%
• Life Assurance Cover
• Free financial guidance and mortgage advice
• Car salary sacrifice scheme for affordable driving
• Cycle to Work scheme to keep you active
• Purchase season ticket loans for easier commuting
• Exclusive shopping discounts & cashback with top retailers
• Will Writing Service for future planning
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support
• Medicash Health Cash Plan for everyday healthcare needs
• Volunteering opportunities to give back to the community
• Special LFC perks – retail discounts, partner offers, free LFCTV GO access, and priority tickets for matches, events & concerts

…and much more! LFC Benefits.pdf

At Liverpool Football Club, we have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and are always looking to making a positive difference in the communities that we operate within. We are proud of our achievements in this area; maintaining the Premier League Equality Standard Advanced Level, becoming a founding signatory of the Football Association’s Football Leadership Diversity Code and being recognised as a leader in this important area on and off the pitch. We take our responsibilities in this area seriously and through the work being done across the club, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our people and becoming an increasingly inclusive workplace for all. We are committed to hiring great people representative of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills across our entire business. If you share our enthusiasm and passion for inclusivity, then we want to hear from you.

Liverpool FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all Colleagues and Volunteers to share this commitment.

This role is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

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