George Watson's College
Senior Philanthropy Officer
City of Edinburgh
£36.7k – £41.9k/yr
Posted 2 days ago
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Senior Philanthropy Officer
Senior Philanthropy Officer
George Watson’s College wishes to appoint a Senior Philosophy Officer to lead the school’s individual giving and legacy fundraising initiatives, and support major programmes and campaigns. Develop strong relationships with donors and our alumni community to grow philanthropic income and long-term engagement.
Application Process
To apply, please include:
- A letter of application outlining your suitability and motivation for joining George Watson’s College
- Addressed to Ms Emma Lacroix, Director of Development
Closing Date: 11:59pm on 26 July 2026 Interviews: 5 August 2026
Main Responsibilities
Individual Giving
- Lead planning, execution, and optimisation of individual giving efforts, including campaign setup, timelines, assets, and donor experience.
- Monitor performance, analyse results, and drive continuous improvement in participation, engagement, and revenue.
- Collaborate with Admissions and Marketing, and other internal teams, to source and develop compelling content.
- Work with the Head of Development to manage a fundraising communications calendar and play a leading role in content creation.
- Ensure website content, landing pages, and donation pages align with digital giving goals.
- Execute fundraising strategies, build segmented email campaigns, and deploy them to support organisational priorities.
- Manage a portfolio of donors linked to specific programmes and campaigns.
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Legacies
- Plan and deliver multi-channel legacy marketing campaigns (print, digital, events).
- Build and maintain relationships with legacy pledgers and prospects.
- Deliver high-quality, sensitive stewardship to recognise and retain legacy supporters.
- Organise events and communications to engage legacy supporters.
- Produce compelling and sensitive legacy messaging and materials.
Campaigns/Programmes
- Manage and grow the patrons programme, focusing on recruitment, retention, and upgrades.
- Develop a clear donor journey, including benefits, communications, and recognition.
- Monitor performance against income targets and KPIs.
- Collaborate with Heads of Creative Arts programmes to monitor and administer funds for maximum impact across the arts.
Foundation Places and Enrichment Fund
- Support impact reporting and administration of discrete aspects of widening access.
- Manage the Enrichment Fund application process, including enquiries, disbursements, and liaison with Finance.
- Provide additional duties as directed by senior staff.
Ideal Candidate
Essential
- Relevant degree, professional qualification, or equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstrable experience in Individual Giving, Direct Marketing, or Legacy Fundraising, with an annual income return of 6+ figures.
- Proven track record of delivering successful multi-channel campaigns.
- Strong understanding of supporter journeys, acquisition, and retention.
- Skilled in data analysis, performance tracking, and forecasting.
- Proficiency in graphic design tools; experience with Canva is an advantage.
- Experience with Raisers Edge or similar CRM system.
- Ability to manage complex projects and programmes and deliver to KPIs and timelines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience with content writing, brand voice, and digital fundraising best practices.
- Ability to build and foster relationships across business functions.
- Understanding of charity law, GDPR, and best practices in fundraising.
- Commitment to high professional standards.
- Genuine appreciation of George Watson’s College mission and the ability to communicate it effectively.
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Desirable
- Fundraising or marketing qualifications (e.g., CIOF accreditation, CIM qualifications).
- Event management experience.
- Experience working in education or charity sectors.
- Understanding of the Independent School sector.
Package Description
- Location: Edinburgh
- Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
- Salary: £36,721 – £41,838
- Benefits:
- Eight weeks annual leave (including two mandatory holiday weeks at Christmas/New Year).
- Automatic contributory pension scheme enrollment.
- Membership of Galleon Club (school’s fitness club).
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Skills
Individual Giving
Direct Marketing
Legacy Fundraising
Campaign Management
Data Analysis
Performance Tracking
Content Creation
Relationship Building
Project Management
Communication Skills
Graphic Design
CRM Systems
Fundraising Best Practices
Charity Law
GDPR Compliance
Event Management