Senior Philanthropy and Special Events Officer

Women For Women International; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Women for Women International is seeking a Senior Philanthropy and Special Events Officer to lead donor engagement and flagship event delivery in the UK. The role focuses on growing philanthropy income through strategic events, major donors and corporate partnerships.

You will manage event logistics, develop cultivation plans, and coordinate teams and external partners. Strong communication, budgeting, and data handling are essential to drive donor engagement and achieve fundraising targets.

Qualifications

• Co-ordinate and deliver complex donor/funder events and cultivation plans.
• Proven project management and organisational skills.
• Experience building relationships with major donors, corporate partners and ambassadors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for donor communications and reports.
• Experience working with event partners, venues and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Administer event communications for donors, major donors and ambassadors.
• Support planning, budgeting and annual activity plans for philanthropy events.
• Lead on on-site event logistics, risk assessment and health & safety.
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders and event committees.
• Coordinate volunteer teams and post-event follow-ups.

Skills

Donor relations

Event coordination

Budget management

CRM systems

Microsoft 365

Health and safety

Tools

CRM database

Job description

Senior Philanthropy and Special Events Officer

Application Deadline: 29 November 2026

Department: Fundraising

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: United Kingdom

Compensation: £37,466 - £39,060 / year

Description

Purpose:

• To support the strategy for raising income from special events and philanthropy programmes.


• Maintain and refine the delivery of flagship special events.


• To coordinate the planning and delivery of smaller events to build the philanthropy pipeline and engage existing donors and Ambassadors.


• To develop relationships with key stakeholders e.g., major donors, corporate partners, events committees, and Ambassadors.

Engagement:

• Liaise with event partners and internal teams to create comms and build relationships to maximise value for Women for Women International.


• Fundraising teams and with external consultants to ensure alignment of activities and to maximise opportunities for collaboration.


• Manage digital event platforms and tools to support the effective delivery of events and maximise donor engagement. Coordinate internal teams to support the Philanthropy & Special Events Manager with briefs for external engagement.


• Support the Philanthropy & Special Events Manager to compile annual plans and event budgets.

Key Responsibilities

Relationship Development

• Work with the Philanthropy & Special Events Manager, working on the administration and communications for events donors, major donors, and ambassadors.


• Coordinate the implementation of cultivation and stewardship plans for the MD portfolio as secondary relationship manager


• Support on the development of funding proposals, cases for support, reports, written updates and other donor communications. Build and maintain relationships with event partners by providing timely and appropriate support, including fielding questions, providing logistical support, delivering assets requested for marketing and thanking.


• Develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships for events committees.


• Work with Philanthropy Team to ensure all new events leads are effectively identified, cultivated and opportunities maximised to generate additional income and opportunities for WfWI.


• Recruit, brief and manage teams of volunteers (up to 80) on site; ensure all health and safety, insurance and policies have been adhered to, so to safeguard volunteers and WfWI.


• Coordinate timely and accurate follow-up plans and processes for events and major donor activities.


• Represent WfWI externally at engagement events and opportunities

Event Management and Delivery

• Support the Philanthropy & Special Events Manager on the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of our Philanthropy events portfolio to agreed targets, objectives and KPIs.


• Lead on the logistics and coordinate relationship management aspects of all events within the Philanthropy remit – e.g. cultivation events; third-party MD events; special events.


• Work with the external consultant to lead on the logistics of events within the Special Events remit


• Be the internal point person for CBS and main liaison between internal teams and external consultant to ensure seamless project plan implementation


• Be the main point of contact for external event partners, stakeholders and suppliers for CBS.


• Identify, secure and manage 3rd parties to ensue successful delivery of events including securing pro bono/gift in kind support.


• Lead the on-site management of 3rd parties, volunteers and key stakeholders at events (whilst the Philanthropy & Special Events Manager is managing donor relationships) to ensure delivery of targets and KPIs.


• Manage events production plans and on-the-day run-sheets.


• Deliver timely Risk Assessment and Analysis for each event.

Guest Management

• Draft communications and event briefs to key participants such as host, performers, honourees etc. both pre and post event.


• Manage RSVPs, including ticket and table sales, raise and send invoices, chase for payments.


• Ensure that up to date records of supporters are recorded for all activity and kept in line with data protection guidelines, laws and in accordance with sector best practice.


• Produce networking and briefing notes for key attendees and internal staff.

Design, Print, Online

• Work with the external consultant to lead on the management of all CBS event and donor materials including the design, copy and production through to delivery and deadline, on budget and to brief for all pre, during and post event materials, in print and online.


• Develop and deliver web and social activity to support the achievement of event and major donor objectives and meet guest expectations.


• Manage digital event platforms and tools, ensuring they are linked to fundraising KPIs.


• Create website content, including copywriting, page editing and design, managing the sign-off process for webpage content.


• Build and design emails using the email distribution system (Marketing Cloud), managing the sign-off process for newsletters.


• Lead on the design of major donor communications, including reports, bi-annual updates, and event materials.

Finance and Administrative Management

• Proactively manage budgets and maintain accurate, up to date records of income and expenditure to provide status reports and updates to the Managing Director, Director of Global Philanthropy & Corporate Fundraising and Philanthropy & Special Events Manager, and others as and when required.


• Work closely with colleagues in the Finance team to ensure all financial procedures are adhered to, contracts for external suppliers and services are produced and approved in a timely manner, insurances secured, and any other similar activity undertaken in a timely and accurate manner to safeguard the organisation and any stakeholders.


• Ensure that up to date records of supporters are recorded for all activity and kept in line with data protection guidelines and laws and in accordance with sector best practice.


• Lead on due diligence for event partners.


• Providing events expertise across the organisation – supporting other teams in the planning and execution of other events.

Other

• Be responsible for personal learning and development and participate in supervision, training, and meetings as required.


• Ensure that you are up to date and well informed on sector developments and competitor activity to inform our strategies are cutting edge and innovative.


• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as required.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

Required

• Existing and ongoing right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship. A


• Demonstrable experience of coordinating and delivering complex events, including planning, logistics, supplier coordination and on-the-day delivery. A


• Proven project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, competing deadlines and detailed information accurately. A


• Experience of delivering excellent donor, supporter or customer care and building effective relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders. A


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience of producing engaging correspondence, briefings, reports or event communications for different audiences. A


• Experience of working with external suppliers, venues, consultants or event partners and ensuring agreed deliverables are completed on time.


• Experience of monitoring budgets and maintaining accurate financial or administrative records.


• Understanding of event risk assessment, health and safety and data protection requirements.


• Strong digital skills, including Microsoft 365 and experience of using a CRM, fundraising database or comparable relationship-management system. A


• Ability to remain calm, exercise sound judgement and maintain accuracy while working under pressure.


• Demonstrable commitment to Women for Women International’s mission, organisational values and safeguarding responsibilities. A

Benefits

What we offer all of our employees:

• Your work-life balance is important to us, and we offer all our staff the option to work 70 hours over 9 working days and have every other Friday off where possible.


• We offer 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30 days, plus bank holidays.


• It is essential to save for your retirement. All eligible employees are will be auto-enrolled in our group pension plan with a minimum employee contribution of 3% and an employer contribution from 5%.


• We work on a hybrid basis, and you will be set up to work from home and have the option to work from our office in Bermondsey whenever you want to. We enjoy being in the office a day or two a week to meet colleagues face to face.


• Your health and wellbeing is important to us and we provide a free confidential Employee Assistance Programme to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be impacting your home life or work life.

This role is be based in the UK, please note Women for Women International does not offer sponsorship for potential candidates.