Philanthropy Manager

Smile Train; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Income protection

Pension plan

Generous paid holidays

Parental leave

Mental health support

Professional development stipend

Remote work model

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Smile Train in the United Kingdom is seeking a highly skilled Philanthropy Manager to grow our high-value donor programme. You will manage a portfolio of major donors, secure five- and six-figure gifts, and engage prospects through strategic outreach and personalized stewardship.

This full-time, hybrid role requires travel for donor visits and events. You will report to the UK Fundraising Director and collaborate with the Development Department to advance Smile Train’s mission to provide free

Qualifications

• 5+ years of major gift fundraising and donor stewardship experience.
• History of generating £100,000+ in income and securing gifts £25,000+.
• Strong written and verbal communication with leadership and donors.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; ability to work in a global team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for ~130 donors.
• Execute moves management and personalize donor communications.
• Create annual engagement plans and document activities in the database.
• Prepare donor materials, proposals, and impact reports.
• Assist in strategy development for the philanthropy programme.
• Organise events for major donors and prospects.
• Conduct donor research within data compliance requirements.
• Perform administrative tasks for the philanthropy programme.
• Other duties as appropriate for this role.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Relationship management

Moves management

Communication skills

Planning & organization

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

MS Office

Job description

Organizational Overview

Smile Trainis the world’s leading cleft-focused organization. Our vision is a world where everyone has access to safe, high-quality comprehensive cleft care and can live a full and healthy life. We train and support doctors and other medical professionals to provide our patients with free, life-changing, comprehensive cleft treatment. This sustainable model has allowed us to support more than 2 million cleft surgeries in 95+ countries since our founding in 1999, and we’re still just getting started. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time!

Smile Train is looking for exceptional people to join a worldwide team of dedicated, passionate professionals.Our team is creative and highly motivated individuals working to make a positive impact. Join us!

Make a Difference!

We are looking for a highly-skilled Philanthropy Manager to create impact through building and growing our high-value donor programme. You will effectively manage a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects, with the goal of securing five- and six-figure gifts and will proactively engage donors and prospects through strategic outreach, personalized stewardship, and compelling solicitations. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated relationship builder who thrives in a fast-paced, vision-driven environment.

This is a full-time, hybrid opportunity starting as soon as possible. Ability to travel, when necessary, for donor visits and organizational events is required.

Reports To: UK Fundraising Director

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for a portfolio of approximately 130 mid-level and major donors and prospects with the capacity to make 5- and low 6-figure annual gifts (bigger gifts would fall to UK Fundraising Director)
• Effectively complete the moves management process and engage a portfolio of donors through meaningful connections including phone calls, personalized emails and mailings, face-to-face meetings, and other communications.
• Create a plan for each donor to serve as the annual engagement plan, effectively and, in a timely manner, execute that plan to retain and upgrade donors, and document all activities in Moves Management and/or Tasks in the database.
• Prepare and personalize correspondence and fundraising materials, including donor stewardship and impact reports, funding proposals, briefing memos, and acknowledgment letters as appropriate.
• Provide recommendations and assist in executing effective strategies to practice moves management and increase fundraising results.
• Assist the UK Director with developing projects that will enhance the philanthropy programme of the Development Department and support developing strategy briefs and leading preparation meetings.
• Help produce cultivation and stewardship programs for prospects and mid-level and major donors.
• Organise events for major donors and prospects.
• Complete research on major donors and prospects within data compliance requirements.
• Complete administrative tasks for the philanthropy programme.
• Other duties as appropriate for this role.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Required Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of relevant experience with exposure to major gift donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship processes preferred.
• A proven history of generating income in the £100,000’s and securing gifts of £25,000 or more.
• Demonstrated success in developing substantive donor relationships and in coordinating with senior management and program staff to execute donor engagement strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills and strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with both management and donors.
• Extremely detail-oriented with strong organisational and time management skills.
• Able to take ownership of a process and to use problem solving skills to resolve issues.
• Able to make sound decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment.
• Able to function both independently and as part of a global team.
• Familiar with the MS Office and donor management systems. Knowledge of Salesforce preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, although an equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for this required level of education.
  

Accountability Expectations:

• Ownership of Outcomes:Take full responsibility for one’s own performance, ensuring alignment with Smile Train’s mission andobjectives.

• Transparent Communication:Communicate openly and effectively with team members, fostering trust and a shared understanding of expectations and priorities.

• Emotional Intelligence:Demonstrateempathy, understanding, and cultural sensitivity to contribute to an inclusive and supportive team environment.

• Empowerment:Effectively communicate with supervisors to ensure you are equipped with the resources, guidance, and autonomy you need to excel in your role

• Team Cohesion:Contribute to a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared accountability, helping the team to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

Compensation Range:

£45-£47K

Travel:

Ability to travel, when necessary, for donor visits and organizational events is required

Why You’ll Love Working Here!

Meaningful Work – Be part of work that creates meaningful, lasting impact — changing the world one smile at a time.

We’ve Got You Covered – Prioritize the health of you and your family with top tier, private medical insurance, life assurance, and income protection.

Plan for Your Future - Build toward your long-term goals with our pension scheme and generous employer match to help invest in your future.

Rest and Recharge - Enjoy a generous paid holiday package, public holidays, and sick time so you can rest, recharge, and return feeling your best.

Family Matters - We support employees through life’s most important moments with paid parental leave, giving you time and flexibility for the people who matter most.

Mind Your Mental – Free access to professional mental health counseling to keep you grounded.

Learn and Grow - Take advantage of an annual professional development stipend and opportunities to expand your skills and continue learning.

Work Your Way – Thrive with a remote work model built for connection, balance, and impact.

Travel the World – See our impact firsthand while partnering with global colleagues and programs through opportunities for domestic and international travel.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee.Duties, obligations, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice

Application Information:

Smile Train is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply.