Cultivation, asks and stewardship

You’ll build thoughtful relationships with donors, understand what motivates them and create clear plans for cultivation, asks and stewardship.

You’ll shape and make significant asks, sometimes yourself and sometimes alongside senior colleagues, and look for opportunities to renew, upgrade and deepen existing support.

Senior relationships and the Development Committee

You’ll work closely with our CEO, Deputy CEO, Head of External Relations, trustees and Development Committee.

They’ll help open doors, join meetings, support major asks and bring their networks.

Your job will be to make that involvement focused and useful, with strong briefings, clear asks and excellent follow-up.

Strategic philanthropy events

You’ll lead a small number of high-value cultivation, stewardship and fundraising events.

You’ll think carefully about:

• who needs to be in the room
• why they are there
• what we want to happen next
• how the event fits into the wider donor journey.

You’ll work with colleagues across Communications, Operations and the wider organisation to make them happen.

We want events to support the philanthropy strategy, rather than become the strategy.

Pipeline, Salesforce and reporting

You’ll use Salesforce as the source of truth for major donor relationships and opportunities.

You’ll keep pipeline stages, values, forecasts and next actions clear and accurate, and provide simple, useful reporting to the Head of External Relations, senior leadership and Development Committee.

You’ll also work closely with colleagues leading Trusts & Foundations and Commercial Partnerships so relationships and income are coordinated well.

FBB’s values and reputation

We want to grow our income ambitiously, but never at the expense of our values or responsibilities to young people.

You’ll carry out appropriate donor due diligence, handle sensitive information carefully and make sure donor engagement with schools and young people is safe and appropriate.

You’ll help us balance ambitious fundraising with FBB’s mission, independence and reputation.

What success looks like

After a brilliant first year in the role:

• FBB has a clear philanthropy strategy and a well-managed portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Existing donors are being retained, stewarded well and, where appropriate, giving more or committing for longer.
• New significant gifts are coming through from a healthy and realistic pipeline.
• We are making strong progress towards our annual philanthropy income ambition of around £600,000.
• Senior leaders, trustees and Development Committee members understand where they can add value and are being used well.
• A small number of strong cultivation and fundraising events are creating both income and longer-term relationships.
• Forecasting is reliable and Salesforce gives us an accurate picture of relationships, opportunities and next steps.

Working in External Relations

You’ll join an External Relations Team spanning fundraising, partnerships, communications, policy and FBB’s wider external positioning.

You’ll report to the Head of External Relations and work particularly closely with our CEO, Deputy CEO, Trustee Board and Development Committee.

You will not be expected to build this income stream alone.

Senior colleagues will bring relationships, organisational knowledge and influence. You’ll bring the philanthropy expertise, take ownership of the portfolio and help turn that access into a focused and sustainable approach.

You’ll also work closely with Programmes and Impact so you understand FBB’s work deeply, with Communications on donor storytelling and materials, and with Finance on income reporting and gift processing.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who understands how strong, high-value relationships are built and can take genuine ownership of the work.

We’re particularly interested in someone who:

• Has experience securing significant gifts from individuals, or comparable experience developing high-value relationships.
• Has managed a portfolio of major donors, prospects or high-value clients.
• Can build and progress a pipeline rather than simply maintain existing relationships.
• Can develop thoughtful cultivation, ask and stewardship plans.
• Is confident shaping and making significant asks.
• Builds strong relationships with senior and influential people while remaining warm and grounded.
• Is highly organised, pays attention to detail and follows things through.
• Can work independently while knowing when to bring others in.
• Uses CRM systems and forecasting with discipline.
• Communicates clearly and confidently in writing and in person.
• Has good judgement, discretion and a genuine commitment to FBB’s mission.

It would be great if you also have experience securing unrestricted or multi-year funding, working with Development Committees or family offices, using Salesforce, or delivering high-value cultivation and fundraising events.

You do not need to come from football or arrive with your own donor network.

We’re also open to people from closely related relationship-led or commercial backgrounds who can show how their experience could translate into philanthropy at FBB.

Why join FBB?

You’ll join an organisation with a clear North Star: We Put Young People First.

You’re also joining this role at an exciting point.

There are already relationships, warm prospects and senior networks to work with, but there is plenty of space to shape how philanthropy develops over the next few years.

You’ll have access to senior leaders who care about this work, a committed Development Committee and Trustee Board, and an organisation with strong stories, evidence and ambition.

And you’ll have genuine ownership.

This is not a role where you are simply handed a list of donors and asked to keep in touch. We want someone who can help us build something stronger.

Benefits & perks

Alongside your salary, you’ll have access to FBB’s wider benefits package, including:

• 40+ days annual leave: 20 flexible days plus 20+ days through organisation-wide shutdown periods.
• Personal wellbeing budget.
• Learning and development budget.
• Reflective practice and wellbeing support, alongside our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Financial wellbeing support through Mintago, alongside our pension and salary sacrifice offer.
• Access to Premier League, WSL and international football tickets when available.
• Regular team socials, staff gatherings and our annual residential.
• FBB Nike kit and uniform.
• Opportunities for coaching, mentoring and professional development.

Application process

Our recruitment process is designed to give you the chance to understand FBB as much as it allows us to understand you.

Application deadline: Sunday 4 October 2026

Stage 1: Application

Submit your CV and responses to our application questions.

**Stage 2