The Church of England
Head of Cathedral Fundraising Development
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Head of Cathedral Fundraising Development
Head of Cathedral Fundraising Development
This role is to develop the fundraising support we offer our 42 cathedrals.
About the Role
Church of England cathedrals play a uniquely significant role in national, civic, and spiritual life, serving as:
- Centres of Christian worship and the seat of the bishop
- Some of the country’s most important cultural and community institutions
- Focal points for diocesan life
- Venues for major public celebrations and moments of grief
- Contributors to education, music, heritage, tourism, and local economies
With millions of annual visitors—many of whom are not regular churchgoers—cathedrals offer spaces for reflection, creativity, and engagement with the Christian story.
Key Challenges
This breadth of purpose brings challenges, including:
- Balancing worship and growing expectations as civic and cultural venues
- Operating in an increasingly diverse and secular society
- Maintaining complex historic buildings with limited and often uncertain funding
- Addressing structural financial deficits and high costs for maintenance and staffing
- Relying on fundraising, grants, and visitor income
For many cathedrals, sustainability hinges on improving and expanding fundraising activity to build new income streams while safeguarding their core mission and heritage.
This role is designed as a test-and-learn function, with future scope and resourcing dependent on the impact of its work. Success may lead to the development of a sustainable, resourced fundraising framework for 42 cathedrals across the Church of England.
This role is a three-year fixed-term contract.
Interviews: Wednesday, 29 July 2026, at Church House, London.
Responsibilities
The Head of Cathedral Fundraising Development is a newly established role within the Giving Directorate, working alongside the B&C team, responsible for strengthening fundraising capacity across the 42 mainland cathedrals.
Reporting to the Director of Giving (for work plans and development) and accountable to the Director of Bishoprics & Cathedrals (to ensure alignment with broader departmental priorities), your role will:
Strategic Development
- Lead a structured audit of fundraising capacity, resources, and opportunities across the cathedral network
- Analyse findings to identify strategic priorities, gaps, and development opportunities
- Develop a compelling vision and roadmap for national cathedral fundraising support
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Pilot Design and Delivery
- Assimilate existing data (from cathedrals, NCIs, and others) to shape fundraising pilots aligned with business needs and cathedral mission
- Design and implement pilot initiatives (e.g., advisory, shared services, training, or targeted interventions) supporting 4–5 cathedrals in immediate opportunities
- Evaluate pilot effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative measures, refining approaches based on insights
- Ensure testing of approaches to high net worth individuals, grant-making trusts, and other donors delivers demonstrable impact
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build trusted relationships with:
- Cathedral Deans, Development Directors, Chapters, and senior lay leaders
- National colleagues across the AEC (Architects' European Confederation) and Cathedral Network
- Tailor support to local contexts through collaborative engagement
- Maintain regular visits to cathedrals to develop credibility and relationships
- Coordinate with national marketing initiatives (AEC and others) to maximise impact
Cross-Directorate Collaboration
- Work closely with the Giving Directorate to align cathedral fundraising with wider national giving strategy
- Maximise opportunities for cathedrals to leverage tools, resources, and initiatives
Partnership with Bishoprics & Cathedrals
- Work in partnership with the Bishoprics & Cathedrals Department
- Provide regular progress updates to the Director
- Contribute to future funding proposals and bids
Impact, Business Case, and Growth
- Develop a robust evidence base demonstrating:
- Money raised as a result of this role
- Greater awareness of funding opportunities across the network
- New identified funding opportunities
- Produce recommendations for investment and resourcing
- Shape scaling strategies for successful approaches
Requirements
Essential Experience
- Senior fundraising roles covering philanthropy, trusts, or institutional fundraising
- Track record in developing or scaling fundraising capability within organisations
- Experience working with senior stakeholders and influencing without direct authority
- Proven ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- Experience in designing and evaluating programmes or pilots
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Desirable Experience
- Cathedrals, heritage organisations, or Church of England sector experience
- National or network-wide programme development background
- Contribution to funding bids or strategic investment cases
Skills and Abilities
- Strategic thinking: Translating insights into practical, scalable solutions
- Influencing and relationship-building: Rapidly establishing credibility with senior leaders
- Analytical capability: Assessing capacity, diagnosing issues, and evaluating impact
- Programme design: Experience creating and managing pilots or innovation initiatives
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication (reporting to senior stakeholders)
- Collaboration: Ability to work across teams, departments, and organisational boundaries
- Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity in a new, evolving role
Personal Attributes
- Credible, confident, and effective at senior levels
- Curious, insight-driven, and learning-minded
- Resilient and self-motivated, capable of shaping work in an emerging area
- Comptes to work remotely as part of a dispersed team
- Aligned with the mission and values of the Church of England
Qualifications
- Degree level qualification or equivalent
- Relevant professional accreditation (e.g., Chartered Institute of Fundraising) or equivalent experience
About Us
Join the National Church Institutions (NCIs), which support the Church of England in its vision to be a church—centred on Jesus Christ, simpler, humbler, bolder.
Our commitment to belonging and inclusion ensures diversity and collaboration drive all our work. We strive to be:
- A safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds
- Committed to striving for excellence, compassion, respect, collaboration, and integrity
Applications are welcome from candidates who share our values, regardless of faith or background. If you have the skills and enthusiasm to contribute—your first application with us is always encouraged.
Note: The role description will not be available post-closing date. Please save a copy before applying.
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