Principal Gifts Lead

World Vision; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policies

Travel for work

Job summary

World Vision is seeking a Principal Gifts Lead to design, launch and grow a new programme focused on ultra-high-net-worth individuals and transformational giving. This is a brand-new role to lead a significant high-value fundraising opportunity with a starting income target of £500,000 and ambitious growth toward £2 million by FY30.

The role offers home-based or Milton Keynes/London hub options with monthly travel within the UK, 36.5 hours per week, and a permanent contract.

Qualifications

• Proven track record securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic partnerships.
• Experience managing major gifts or principal gifts portfolios.
• Strong ability to influence senior donors, trustees and advisers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to translate complex programmes into propositions.

Responsibilities

• Design, launch and grow a new principal gifts programme.
• Build a strong pipeline and secure multi-year commitments.
• Engage senior donors and coordinate across teams.
• Contribute to sustainable income growth for vulnerable children.

Job description

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children's life stories!

Key Responsibilities

Principal Gifts Lead

We are looking for a Principal Gifts Lead to design, launch and grow a new programme focused on ultra-high-net-worth individuals and transformational giving.

This is a brand new and exciting, high-profile role to lead one of the organisations most significant high-value fundraising opportunities.

With 75 years of experience, the focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. The organisation helps children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by Christian faith.

Come join the 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children's life stories!

Location: Home-based or the UK's Milton Keynes office/London Hub, with monthly travel to Milton Keynes and UK travel

Hours: Full time, 36.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Salary: Circa £55,000 per annum

Closing Date: 23 November 2026

About the Role

You will work with some of the organisation's highest-value and most complex donor opportunities, helping influential philanthropists connect their ambitions with programmes that create lasting impact for vulnerable children. You will build a strong pipeline, secure significant multi-year commitments and help establish principal gifts as a visible, sustainable income stream.

With a starting income target of £500,000 and an ambition to grow principal-gift income to more than £2 million by FY30, this is a rare opportunity to build something new and shape the future of high-value fundraising.

You will join a growing Relationship Fundraising team with the ambition to deepen strategic partnerships and increase sustainable income for children living in the world's most fragile contexts. This role offers the freedom and visibility to shape a new principal-gifts programme, influence senior stakeholders and create a long-term legacy of transformational philanthropy.

About You

You will be a strategic, entrepreneurial and highly credible relationship fundraiser who is energised by building a new programme and turning high-potential relationships into substantial, sustained commitments.

We are looking for someone with:

• A strong track record of securing, developing or substantially contributing to six- and seven-figure philanthropic partnerships, ideally with ultra-high-net-worth donors.
• Experience managing a major-gifts or principal-gifts portfolio through identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Proven success against stretching income targets, with disciplined pipeline and performance management.
• The judgement and credibility to influence senior donors, trustees, leaders, volunteers and advisers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to turn complex programme information into compelling propositions.
• Strong strategic planning, relationship management and organisational skills.
• A collaborative approach and the confidence to coach colleagues and coordinate complex opportunities across teams.
• A commitment to the charity's mission, vision and values, and the ability to engage appropriately with donors of all faiths and none.

About the Organisation

Join an international children's charity working with children, their communities, and with supporters and partners, in almost 100 countries. Through long-term development projects, emergency responses and advocacy the organisation has helped bring lasting change to millions of children, over more than 60 years. As a Christian charity, everything is motivated by faith as we strive to reflect God's unconditional love.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of applicable background checks, including a criminal records check.

We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in the workforce.

We particularly welcome applications from under-represented sections of the community.

The organisation also operates flexible working policies and practices.

As a Disability committed employer we encourage qualified individuals with a disability to apply and request a reasonable adjustment if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access as a result of your disability.

You may also have experience in areas such as Philanthropy and Major Gifts Lead, Principle and Major Gift Lead, Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts Lead, Philanthropy Fundraiser, Major Gifts Fundraiser, Major Donor Fundraiser, Fundraising, Fundraiser.