Major Gifts Manager

Merrifield Consultants are thrilled to be working with the National Theatre to find a Major Gifts Manager; someone to be the key relationship manager for a portfolio of some of the Theatre’s closest and most passionate supporters, and make a vital contribution to this growing income stream.
Role : Major Gifts Manager
Reports to : Head of Major Gifts
Location : Lambeth, London
Terms : Full time, permanent, Hybrid (3 days in the office)
Salary : £45,000 - £50,000
The National Theatre (NT) makes theatre that entertains and inspires, sharing unforgettable stories with millions of audience members across the UK and around the world each year. It is a registered charity with deeply embedded social purpose, working with hundreds of schools and communities across the UK to spark imagination and inspire creativity, and to develop skills and pathways for careers in theatre. The Major Gifts Manager is a newly created role and sits within the Development Department, where the 35 strong fundraising team raise essential funds from individuals, corporations and charitable trusts and foundations to enable the theatre to carry out its mission and plan for future years.
The department recently concluded a two-year £40million fundraising campaign to support the NT’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they are just at the start of their new ‘Stories Start Here’ campaign, working towards raising money for work across four pillars: communities, young people, audiences, and theatre-makers. This is an exciting opportunity to play a crucial role in the theatre’s new campaign by identifying, cultivating, soliciting and securing major gifts of £25,000 and more, and working collaboratively across the department with other fundraising teams, to develop an engaged and generous portfolio of major donors.
Essential
• Confident, curious, articulate and persuasive, both orally and in writing
• Experience in a fundraising capacity, with a successful track record of meeting targets and personally soliciting and securing 5-figure+ philanthropic gifts
• Evidence of relationship management to proactively develop a portfolio of prospects employing creative strategies to engage them
• Demonstrable prospect research skills
• Evidence of ability to write persuasively, and experience of creating compelling fundraising materials
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the necessary listening, facilitation, negotiation, and diplomatic skills to represent the NT, and to achieve immediate credibility and influence with high net worth individuals, and internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent and proven organisational ability working in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work evenings and occasional weekends is an essential part of the role (TOIL policy applies). Please confirm in your supporting statement (in the ‘About You’ section) • IT literate with knowledge of relationship databases
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with excellent networking and relationship building skills
• A knowledge of the arts combined with an appreciation for and understanding of theatre
Desirable
• Experience of event organisation
• Experience of budget setting and monitoring
• Knowledge of GDPR legislation
• Knowledge of Gift Aid and other tax effective giving mechanisms
This is a really exciting time to join the NT as they begin their £125m fundraising campaign, Stories Start Here. Over the next four years, the Development team will deliver their most ambitious fundraising endeavour to date, generating revenue and capital funds that will ensure the National Theatre is a creative powerhouse, attracting world-leading talent to create unforgettable theatre which can be enjoyed live and digitally around the world.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 9th June
1st stage Interviews: w/c 17th June
2nd stage in-person interviews: w/c 24th June
To make an enquiry or to apply please contact Emma Bell at Merrifield Consultants: #####. We look forward to hearing about your interest in this exciting opportunity!