The British Museum
Philanthropy Manager
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Philanthropy Manager
Philanthropy Manager
Full-time (41 hours per week) Hybrid (at least 3 days per week on-site in Bloomsbury, London) Permanent contract £48,756 per annum Application deadline: 23 July 2026
About the Role
It is an exciting time to join the British Museum. Under the leadership of Director Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE and the Board of Trustees, the Museum is embarking on an ambitious programme of transformation through its Masterplan, a major redevelopment project that will reimagine the Museum for the 21st century while safeguarding its collection and ensuring public access for generations to come.
As part of this vision, the Museum is preparing to launch a major fundraising campaign with a target of raising at least £500 million through philanthropy.
As Philanthropy Manager, you will play a key role in securing and stewarding major gifts from individual supporters, family foundations, trusts, donor-advised funds, and other philanthropic partners. Working closely with senior colleagues across the Development team and the wider Museum, you will help grow long-term relationships with donors, develop compelling funding opportunities, and support the delivery of ambitious fundraising targets for both revenue and capital projects.
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About You
You are an experienced major gifts fundraiser with a track record of securing five- and six-figure donations, and managing relationships with:
- High-net-worth individuals
- Trusts
- Foundations
- Their advisors
You are a confident communicator and persuasive writer, able to:
- Build strong relationships
- Develop compelling cases for support
You are highly organised and self-motivated, comfortable managing:
- A varied portfolio of prospects
- Competing priorities
- Ambitious income targets
You bring:
- Strong judgement
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- A collaborative approach
- The ability to work effectively across a complex organisation
Key Responsibilities
Manage a portfolio of major donor prospects and supporters by:
- Developing tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
- Securing significant gifts
Support the planning and delivery of:
- Cultivation
- Stewardshipand
- Fundraising events (including the Museum’s annual fundraising Ball)
Raise funds for key Museum priorities by contributing to:
- Annual income targets
- Development of the Museum’s major capital campaign
Research, write, and deliver:
- High-quality funding proposals
- Detailed reports
- Donor communications Select engaging, accurate, and persuasive
Get help with your application
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Build strong relationships:
- With donors
- Trustees
- Advisors
- Colleagues across the Museum
Benefits
At the British Museum, we believe our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we offer a benefits package that goes beyond the standard.
[See full details of benefits here.]
Additional Details
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org.
Right to Work & Security Standards
- The British Museum holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.
- Applicants are responsible for determining whether the advertised salary and role meet UKVI sponsorship requirements, and ensuring they have—or can obtain—the appropriate right to work in the UK. The Museum cannot provide immigration advice.
- Eligibility for visa/sponsorship should be checked before submitting an application.
The Museum also adheres to HMG’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
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