Philanthropy Manager

South West Community Chaplaincy; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution (up to 10%)

Hybrid working (Oxford)

Job summary

Church Mission Society, Oxford-based, seeks a Philanthropy Manager to shape our high-net-worth giving strategy and drive growth for UK and global mission. You will lead a four-person philanthropy team, cultivate major gifts, and align income with strategic goals.

Reporting to the Fundraising and Communications Director, you will build donor pipelines, embed stewardship, and equip senior stakeholders to secure six/seven figure gifts.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in major donor fundraising with six/seven figure donations.
• Experience leading a fundraising team and coordinating with stakeholders.
• Ability to translate mission work into compelling funding proposals.
• Experience with donor databases, CRM systems and pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the high-net-worth donor pipeline strategy and cultivation.
• Line manage a four-person philanthropy team and coordinate with senior stakeholders.
• Develop a sustainable income strategy to support mission goals.
• Embed a best-in-class donor stewardship framework for major gifts.

Skills

Major donor fundraising

Team leadership

CRM management

Donor stewardship

Strategic fundraising

Proposal writing

Networking

Job description

Are you a relational leader passionate about Christian mission? Church Mission Society (CMS) seeks a dynamic Philanthropy Manager to shape our strategy and unlock growth at a pivotal moment. You will build generous high-net-worth pipelines, leading significant income opportunities to fuel Jesus-centred mission across the UK and globally. Join our team and bring Christ’s love and hope to the edges.

• Permanent, 35 hours per week.
• Hybrid working – approximately two days a week at CMS House, Oxford.
• Starting salary of £42,840 per annum with a generous pension contribution: up to 10 per cent employer contribution on annual salary. Incremental increases to salaries are applied annually.
• CMS offers 36 days of annual and bank holiday leave as well as enhanced paid sickness, maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• CMS supports the mental wellbeing of its employees and offers a generous rewards and wellbeing package, including:

• Access to 24/7 employee assistance programme with qualified counsellors.
• Up to three volunteer days per annum.
• Up to three family emergency leave days per annum.
• Retreats and resources for prayer life.

We welcome applications from everyone. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from minority groups as they are currently underrepresented within our organisation at this level. All appointments are made on merit of skill, experience and potential as set out in the job description and person specification.

Your role

Church Mission Society (CMS) is a dynamic global community with a 227-year history of making disciples of Jesus at the edges of societies. To support an ambitious three-year plan to see communities transformed and local leaders empowered, we are appointing a Philanthropy Manager to establish a sustainable income strategy.

Reporting directly to the Fundraising and Communications Director, you will line manage a dedicated four-person philanthropy team. You will own the strategic direction of our high-net-worth individual programme, as well as our trust and foundations income portfolios. Key responsibilities include network mapping, cultivating robust prospect pipelines, and embedding a best-in-class donor stewardship framework. Additionally, you will equip senior stakeholders to secure high-value major gifts.

We are seeking a proactive, values-led Christian leader who excels at translating complex contextual mission work into compelling funding proposals. The ideal candidate brings a proven record of major donor fundraising, team management expertise, and an analytical approach to CRM-driven donor pipelines. Based at CMS House with hybrid working, this role offers a rare opportunity to pioneer growth that empowers marginalised communities worldwide.

The organisation you’ll be joining

Church Mission Society is comprised of people who are passionate about mission and fired up about helping people follow Jesus. For over 200 years CMS has been at the forefront of global mission, living out the gospel of Jesus, seeing lives changed and communities transformed. If you join CMS, you will find an organisation that has been reinvigorated with a fresh vision to make disciples of Jesus among people at the edges, both in the UK and around the world.

What you’ll need to succeed

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with high levels of motivation and the ability to develop and deliver strategy the leader of the team. You will have a track record in successfully initiating, managing and developing relationships with high-net-worth individuals securing six/seven figure donations and grants, via proposals or through face-to-face meetings as required.

It is a requirement for this post holder to be a committed and practising Christian as well as committed to CMS’s values and aims.

Further details can be found in the job description and person specification available to download on the CMS website.

Our commitment to you

Our core values of being pioneering, relational, faithful and evangelistic are integral to everything we do, and we work hard to ensure that every member of staff is valued, supported and encouraged to continually learn and develop their skills.

We are committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve, our partners, our volunteers, and our staff. We believe that every child or adult we come into contact with has the right to be protected from all forms of harm and abuse. Our recruitment and selection processes are in line with our Safeguarding Policy

Closing date

We must get your application by midnight on Sunday 4th October 2026

Interviews are planned to be held on Tuesday13th October 2026 in CMS House, Oxford.

Candidates for all UK roles must already be eligible to work in the UK, with a valid visa and work permit if required.

As a member of the Inter-agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, CMS has committed to systematically check with previous employers from the last five years for any ‘SEAH’ (Sexual Exploitation, Abuse or Harassment) issues relating to all potential new hires.