Head of Philanthropy

The Head of Philanthropy is a senior leadership role and head of department, acting as a key partner to the Director in devising and delivering Chisenhale’s fundraising strategy. The role provides leadership of the development team and oversight of all fundraising activity, while maintaining a central focus securing income through individual and corporate philanthropy.

In close partnership with the Director, the Head of Philanthropy oversees all fundraising activity, co-developing and delivering the individual giving and corporate income strategy. The post-holder will apply strategic, entrepreneurial thinking to grow income, broaden the supporter base, and strengthen the organisation’s philanthropic culture. They are directly responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing donations, while nurturing relationships with existing supporters to ensure a thriving philanthropic programme. This includes fostering engagement and a strong sense of community among supporters through a heavily event-led programme that brings donors together and reinforces their connection to the organisation.

In leading the development department, the Head of Philanthropy holds line management responsibility for development staff and identifies and contracts specialist freelancers as required, ensuring effective delivery across all fundraising areas. They maintain full oversight of fundraising operations, implementing robust systems, processes, and reporting, and managing the Development Coordinator to delegate administrative, database, and financial tracking responsibilities while ensuring accuracy and accountability. They also ensure that all fundraising activity aligns with organisational priorities, monitors performance and impact, and drives innovation and continuous improvement within the team.