Head of Philanthropy

The Development team at Somerset House raises over £3m per annum and works across four key income streams – brand partnerships, corporate partnerships, trusts & foundations and individual giving. The Head of Philanthropy is a vital new role, reporting to and working closely with the Director of Development to devise and lead Somerset House’s strategy for increasing philanthropic income across individuals, trusts, foundations and statutory sources.
Somerset House does not receive any core public funding, therefore income from philanthropic sources is especially important. We have ambitious plans to increase philanthropy and this postholder will be central to realising those ambitions.
Somerset House is an inspiring cause to support, and there is a real opportunity to create rewarding associations with donors across activity including public programming, exhibitions, capital, artist studios and our work developing pathways for underrepresented young people into the creative industries.

What we are looking for:

Fundraising
- Oversee all philanthropic giving from individuals, trusts and statutory bodies - encompassing one-off and regular giving; mid-level and major giving; trusts and foundations; statutory grants; and legacies
- Grow and manage a personal portfolio of constituents, soliciting philanthropic gifts at the five, six and seven figure level, making a significant contribution to the annual fundraising target
- Oversee systems and processes for identifying, qualifying and assigning prospects across the philanthropy team, ensuring clear prioritisation, systematic cultivation plans and a focus on increasing the value of the pipeline
- Lead on the development and implementation of engagement and cultivation strategies for high-value prospects, working closely with the Senior Stewardship Manager
- Lead on the creation of case for support and fundraising collateral for philanthropic purposes
- Provide outstanding donor care, developing and maintaining positive relationships with supporters
- Build effective relationships with the Executive team, Trustees, volunteers and advocates, working with them to support fundraising activity and widen our network
Strategy

Working closely with the Director of Development and team members:
- Devise and deliver a new strategy for individual giving including a review and refresh of individual giving schemes. This will be aligned with the long-term vision and income targets for the department and with a view to significantly increasing the value of this income stream over the next three years
- Shape the next phase of the Trusts & Foundations strategy, with a focus on making inroads with new funders and those who don’t accept unsolicited applications
- Support the Director of Development to shape the major and transformational gifts strategy
- Increase giving from international sources, evaluating and improving the infrastructure needed to support transnational giving
- Create opportunities to strategically engage audiences with fundraising, working closely with the Audience & Experience team to increase conversion rates
- Devise and deliver a new strategy for raising awareness of legacy giving amongst donors and audiences
Team, Operations and Data
- Line manage the Development Manager (Individuals) and Trusts & Foundations Manager, setting clear objectives and supporting professional growth
- Support the Director of Development with overall team leadership, represent the Development department at regular internal meetings and deputise for the Director of Development as necessary
- Work closely with the Senior Stewardship Manager to ensure that comms, events and engagement activity are strategic, creative and impactful and meaningfully support cultivation and stewardship
- Work collaboratively with the Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager to maintain a strategic and joined up approach to corporate philanthropy and cross-cultivate individuals from companies
- Work with the Director of Development and wider team members to enhance the department infrastructure, systems and processes that will support significant growth in income
- Contribute to departmental financial planning through oversight of philanthropic income targets, pipeline forecasting, and long-term growth projections
- Oversee values alignment and reputational risk across philanthropy, escalating where appropriate to the Director of Development and senior leadership
- Oversee the recording of all relationships, activity, pledges and funding agreements on the CRM system across the philanthropy team
- Ensure that all activities are compliant with the Fundraising Code of Practice, GDPR and HMRC’s Gift Aid regulation as well as Somerset House’s Fundraising Policy
General
- Work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure philanthropy is fully integrated and adds value to Somerset House’s strategic plans
- Represent and advocate for Somerset House at events both onsite and offsite
- Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required in the post

Skills, knowledge & expertise required for the role:

Experience :

Essential
- Significant experience of securing philanthropic gifts from individuals, trusts and foundations, working to targets and holding relationships at the six-figure level
- Demonstrable track record of developing and delivering fundraising strategies that result in long-term increases in income
- Experience working with High Net Worth Individuals
- Experience of managing, creating and shaping individual giving schemes
- Experience of managing grant funding relationships and delivering financial, KPI and commentary reporting to funders
- Knowledge of international fundraising frameworks and tax efficient giving
- Excellent working knowledge of fundraising best practice including GDPR and the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice
- Experience of line managing, developing and inspiring direct reports
- Experience working with senior volunteers and advocates to expand prospect pipelines
- Experience in assessing and navigating reputational risk in fundraising
Desirable
- Experience of securing gifts at the seven-figure level
- Experience of working on capital campaigns
- Experience working in the arts or creative sectors

Skills :
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to negotiate, collaborate and influence internal and external stakeholders
- Confidence in establishing and holding relationships with high net worth and high-profile individuals
- Exceptional written skills with the ability to craft compelling fundraising asks
- Ability to think strategically, identify opportunities and see through change to achieve long-term objectives
- Excellent numeracy skills with proven ability to forecast income, monitoring progress against targets
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Tact, diplomacy and discretion
- Confident CRM system user, ideally Raiser’s Edge NXT or Tessitura

Benefits to working at Somerset House

Mental Health & Wellbeing - Access to our external Employee Assistance Programme (CiC) for free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where needed - Mental health support and guidance from our in-house trained Mental Health First Aiders - Hybrid working based on having 3 days in the office per week (pro rata if part-time)*
- Contribution towards eye tests and glasses
-Trust life insurance scheme
- We offer winter flu vaccination vouchers

* dependent on the needs of the role

Holiday - Enhanced annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata) - Birthday leave - additional day leave - Celebration day - to celebrate anything of your choice

Other Leave - Sick leave – 20 days full pay, followed by 20 days half pay (pro rata & following 3 months service) - Emergency dependent care – option to use 25% of paid sick leave for emergency care of a dependent (pro rata & following 3 months of service) - Enhanced maternity pay

Benefits - 8% employer pension contributions, no employee contribution required* - Option for salary sacrifice - Season ticket loan - Cycle to Work scheme

Discounts, offers and free stuff
- The list is endless and includes tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sites
-Discounts in Somerset House cafes and restaurants
-Discounts with various high street retailers and restaurants
-Discounts to local leisure centres

*following 3 months of employment