The Church of England
Philanthropy Lead (Net Zero Carbon)
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Job Description
The Church of England is seeking an exceptional relationship fundraiser to lead and shape a growing high-value fundraising programme for its ambitious Net Zero Carbon Programme.
This is a rare opportunity to secure transformational philanthropic investment in one of the UK's largest and most complex decarbonisation programmes. Working across a national estate of more than 30,000 churches, cathedrals, schools, halls, and other buildings, you will help create warmer, more welcoming, and sustainable spaces for worship and community life in every part of England.
As Philanthropy Lead, you will build strategic relationships with philanthropists, trusts, and foundations capable of making six- and seven-figure gifts. Working closely with senior Church leaders, bishops, and programme colleagues, you will develop compelling funding opportunities that combine climate action, heritage, faith, and community impact.
You will join at an exciting stage of development, bringing the vision, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to help establish philanthropy as a significant source of investment in the Church's Net Zero Carbon mission.
This is a hands-on role working within the small Net Zero Carbon Fundraising Team and integrated within the Giving Directorate and Net Zero Carbon Programme who support all parts of the Church of England across circa 12,500 independent parishes, cathedrals, and dioceses.
In time, we hope the success and impact of your work could be replicated to support high-value fundraising for other areas of parish ministry. We are therefore looking for someone who has the potential and drive to grow the remit and impact of this work more widely.
This is a fixed term role to 31 December 2028.
Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver a high-value fundraising strategy and structure for the Net Zero Carbon Programme that secures transformational gifts from High and Ultra High Net Worth Individuals and institutional funders that support parishes and other areas of the Church of England to reduce their carbon emissions and create warmer, more welcoming, and sustainable spaces for worship and community work.
- Work with the Net Zero Carbon Programme Board and other Church of England senior leaders and Bishops as a trusted advisor on philanthropy, helping them build confidence and effectiveness in supporting effective high-value fundraising.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the Net Zero Carbon Programme to identify fundraising opportunities and create compelling proposals and cases for support.
- Explore the potential to grow the network of prospective high-value individual supporters through extensive collaboration across the Church of England.
- Manage prospect research and lead all supporter cultivation and involvement, including arranging site-visits, meetings, and events.
- Oversee pipeline management, ensuring robust forecasting, accurate CRM (Salesforce) usage, and timely and detailed reporting on performance and risk.
- Work in a way that can be replicated beyond the Net Zero Carbon Programme, share learnings with the NCI Senior Leaders, and act as an advocate for high-value fundraising excellence.
- Ensure all high-value fundraising complies with the Code of Fundraising Practice and relevant organisational Fundraising Policies.
- Maintain an expert understanding of philanthropy trends, donor engagement, and fundraising practice, applying insights to strengthen the high-value fundraising programme.
- Subject to demonstrating the success of this work, and with the agreement of the NZC Programme Director and Director of Giving, contribute to discussions with senior leaders to replicate high-value fundraising for other aspects of the Church’s ministry as needed.
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Qualifications
You will be a skilled and experienced major gifts fundraiser with the ambition, tact, and communication skills to facilitate transformational gifts and flourish in a complex organisation.
Experience
- Significant experience of securing and managing six- and ideally seven-figure gifts, with a proven track record of securing significant gifts from new supporters to the organisation.
- Significant experience in building compelling asks responsive to donor interests and working with a complex organisation to deliver on these.
- Significant experience confidently engaging and influencing senior stakeholders including Executive teams, trustees, and philanthropists to play an active role in high-value fundraising.
- Significant experience of developing and managing complex prospect pipelines, moving prospects through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to successful outcomes.
- Experience of working in complex, multi-stakeholder fundraising environments.
Skills And Knowledge
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and comfort presenting in high-level internal and external meetings.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to build warm and authentic relationships and establish credibility with philanthropists, senior leaders, and subject matter experts.
- A strong understanding of philanthropy trends and what motivates philanthropists, trusts, and foundations.
- A team-minded approach; taking others on the journey with you and sharing knowledge for the benefit of others and the wider NZC Fundraising team and Giving Directorate.
- Proactive and entrepreneurial approach.
- Tactful and diplomatic to flourish in a highly complex work structure.
- Able to combine effective high-level relationship management with practically managing all aspects of high-value fundraising.
- Ethical approach and strong knowledge of the Code of Fundraising Practice, plus ability to work collaboratively with the National Fundraising Policy and Compliance Lead to ensure high-value fundraising excellence.
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Desirable
- Experience of shaping a new high-value fundraising function from early stages.
- Knowledge of climate, sustainability, environmental, heritage, or place-based funding landscapes.
- Experience of fundraising for major capital appeals.
- Experience of using a charity CRM system.
- Experience of working in the Church of England, or in an environmental or heritage charity.
About Us
Please note that you will not be able to view the role description after the closing date. We suggest that you save a copy of this page before you submit your application.
About The NCIs
The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions, and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.
We Include. You Belong.
Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.
Living out our values in all that we do, we:
- Strive for Excellence
- Show Compassion
- Respect others
- Collaborate
- Act with Integrity
We believe our commitment to belonging and inclusion fuels our progress and drives us forward. The NCIs are a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We welcome applications from people of all faiths and of no faith. We want to encourage applications from a diverse group of people who share our values. Even if you have never thought about working for us before, if you have the skills and experience we’re looking for then we would like to hear from you.
We offer a highly competitive benefits package that supports your health, wellbeing, and long-term financial security. This includes annual leave starting at 25 days' plus bank holidays and three additional NCI days, family-friendly policies, a wellbeing cashback scheme, an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, a defined benefit pension with employer contributions of up to 18%, and generous life assurance cover.
Use of AI in your application
We appreciate that you may want to use AI tools to help you with your application. We're happy for you to use AI to come up with ideas and help structure your thoughts, but you shouldn't use AI to fabricate information or write your whole application for you. One of our values is integrity, and although we want you to demonstrate your best self, we don't want an AI-generated persona. If you simply copy and paste AI-generated content into your application, this will reduce your chances of success.
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