Philanthropy Manager
Contract: Permanent, Full time, 35 hours per week
Location: London,UK
Hybrid Working: A minimum of 40% of working time is spent face to face, either in London office, or as a result of external engagement or travel for WaterAid. WaterAid is located at Canary Wharf, London and this will be your location and contract base.
Salary: £41,325 per year with excellent benefits
*We offer competitive, market-aligned salaries based on the grade and scope of each role. Roles are offered at the advertised starting salary, with any exceptions considered only in exceptional circumstances.
Change starts with water. Change starts with you.
Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.
About WaterAid
We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.
About the Team
The WaterAid Philanthropy & Trusts team grows crucial individual philanthropic relationships. We have an ambitious strategy and growth plan, whilst raising significant funding for WaterAid’s work.
About the Role
As our driven and passionate Philanthropy Manager you will have a proven track record of business development and raising income from new and exciting partnerships. Those that partnerships you secure, you will go on to provide excellent stewardship.
You’ll also:
- Build a sustainable pipeline of new business prospects with the potential to give at £100k+ per annum.
- Develop high quality funding propositions and reports in line with donor requirements.
- Support the Philanthropy & Events Manager with the delivery of first class stewardship and cultivation events.
About You:
To be successful, you’ll need:
- Have a proven ability to raise income from new business, manage a new philanthropy portfolio and achieve targets as part of a strategic plan.
- Be able to develop strong relationships with individuals, identifying opportunities for growth and innovative engagement.
- Have experience of compelling proposal and report writing for a philanthropic audience.
Although not essential, we also prefer you to have:
- Experience in peer to peer fundraising.
- Experience in developing and executing a new business prospecting strategy.
View the full job description here
Closing date: Applications will close Monday 9 November 2026 12:00PM UK time. Availability for interview is required for first round interviews on Tuesday 17th November 2026 and second round interviews on Tuesday 24th November 2026.
How to Apply: To see the full job pack, please click ‘Apply’. Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter into one document in either Word Document or PDF format. In your cover letter, please can you answer the following questions:
1. What experience do you have in developing and executing a new business strategy?
2. What experience do you have in raising five to six figure gifts?
3. What experience do you have in working with HNWI and philanthropists?
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?
We understand that AI tools can be useful, especially for anyone who needs support with their writing, and you’re welcome to use them. That said, we’re seeing more and more applications that feel generic, flat, or hard to tell apart from one another, and these are the ones that struggle to stand out.
Your own words, experience, and ideas are what we want to read. Tell us in your own voice why this role matters to you and how you’d bring your experience to it. It’s the best way to stand out in a competitive field.
Pre‑employment screening
To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Benefits
- 36 days’ holiday (this includes 8 Bank Holidays)
- Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
- Employer pension contribution up to 10 %
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Season ticket loan
- Free annual eye tests
- ‘Give as you Earn’ charitable giving scheme
- Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
- Sabbaticals (after qualifying period)
- Two paid volunteer day each year
As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes at the end of the calendar year, allowing all UK WaterAiders to take a well-deserved break.
These days are automatically scheduled and cannot be changed or moved. Annual leave is accrued based on your start date. If sufficient leave has not been accrued by the time of the closure, the 3 days will be taken as unpaid leave or pro-rated, depending on your circumstances.
Our Committment
Our People Promise
We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.
Safeguarding
We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).
Together, we’ll change the world through water.
Join us and be part of the change!