Philanthropy Lead

Are you a skilled fundraiser with a passion for building strong, lasting relationships with individual supporters? The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is seeking an experienced Philanthropy Lead to join our small fundraising team. In this pivotal role, you will lead the growth and development of our individual giving programme, inspiring donors to support our mission of helping the chemical science community make the world a better place. Your work will play a crucial part in enabling the RSC to achieve its ambitious strategy for growth and diversification.

As Philanthropy Lead, you will be responsible for cultivating and managing relationships with individual donors to the RSC and our linked charity, the Chemists' Community Fund, both in the UK and internationally. By leveraging your deep understanding of the RSC’s mission and the broader scientific landscape, you will maximize income and support for our charitable activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cultivate and Build Relationships: Identify and engage potential individual donors who have the capacity to support the RSC’s mission. Develop meaningful relationships by understanding their needs and aligning them with our goals.
• Achieve Income Targets: Take ownership of fundraising targets, working closely with colleagues across the RSC to develop compelling proposals and secure material, financial, and strategic support for key projects in priority regions.
• Donor Stewardship: Ensure that all donors, both new and existing, receive an exceptional level of stewardship, fostering long-term relationships and ongoing support.
• Manage Legacies and Bequests: Oversee the management of legacies and bequests, ensuring their effective use to support the RSC’s charitable objectives.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven Fundraising Experience: A successful track record in individual giving and/or major donor fundraising, with experience in securing significant donations or gifts.
• Expertise in Prospect Cultivation: Significant experience in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donor relationships.
• Strong Negotiation Skills: Excellent at handling objections, navigating difficult conversations, and securing key gifts.
• Educational Background: Educated to degree level, with a demonstrable passion for the role of science and technology in addressing global challenges and driving societal progress.
• Credibility and Influence: Ability to quickly establish credibility with our members, fellows and influential individuals, using a consultative approach to engage and influence others.
• Cultural Awareness: An openness to learning about and engaging with diverse cultures, particularly as this role involves working with international donors.

At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. Although this role is contractually based at our Cambridge office, you will have the opportunity to also work mostly from a UK location other than this. Applicants should be aware that there is an expectation that employees will attend our Cambridge or London office on a weekly basis (at least once a week).

If you’re ready to take the next step in your fundraising career and help drive the RSC’s mission forward, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and join a team that is helping the chemical science community make the world a better place.

A full job description is available here.

If you are interested in this role, please apply before the end of the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement (no more than 500 words) indicating how your skills/ expertise match the competencies outlined in the Job Description. 

About the RSC

The Royal Society of Chemistry is an international organisation dedicated to advancing excellence in the chemical sciences. We publish new research. We develop, recognise, and celebrate professional capabilities. We bring people together to spark innovative ideas and new partnerships. We support teachers to inspire future generations of scientists, and we speak up to influence the people making decisions that affect us all.

Visit our Work For Us website to learn more about us, our benefits, equal opportunities statement and inclusive culture pledge.

At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.

As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.