Head of Major Gifts and Events The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity

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Head of Major Gifts and Events

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is recruiting a Head of Major Gifts and Events to play a crucial role in their most ambitious strategy yet, raising at least £215m over a five-year period. Following the huge success of The Oak Cancer Centre Appeal, the Charity is now committed to raising £150m through a capital appeal for a new major development project in Chelsea, which will launch in 2025.

• Location: South Kensington, London (2 days a week)

Who we are.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money to support the Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. We ensure our nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments used across the UK and worldwide.

Our very ambitious organisation has experienced transformational growth over the past five years. Alongside funding an existing programme of world-leading research, treatment, and care, the Charity completed its largest capital appeal to date, successfully raising £70m to build the Oak Cancer Centre at the hospital's Sutton site, which opened in the summer of 2023.

Over the past three years, we have exceeded our fundraising targets, raising over £90m against a target of £83m and making over £82m in funding available to The Royal Marsden. Therefore, we have recently launched our most ambitious strategy yet, which will see us raising at least £215m over five years.

The Major Gifts and Events Team.

Our team is in the Philanthropy and Partnerships (P&P) Directorate, a high-performing function responsible for all areas of high-value fundraising, including major donors, trusts and foundations, corporate partners, and special events/high-value committee supporters.

We work with the Charity's most generous individual supporters, who make a significant difference to the work of The Royal Marsden. Our Events team generates income from high-value committee-led events and plays an important role in supporting other teams across the Charity with their event delivery, helping them to reach their income targets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and lead a major gifts fundraising programme, working with the Associate Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships.
• Work closely with the Managing Director and Associate Director of P&P on developing and delivering the Charity's £150m appeal for the Chelsea Development.
• Identify and build relationships with major individual supporters, focusing on securing six and seven-figure donors in line with agreed targets.
• Lead on developing solicitation and stewardship plans for a portfolio of donors, prospects and your team.
• Build productive and effective relationships with existing volunteers and recruit new volunteers and committee members, working with them to raise funds for RMCC.
• Develop strong relationships with key external stakeholders involved with RMCC's high-value fundraising, influencing effectively to secure favourable outcomes.
• Develop strong relationships with clinicians, researchers and senior hospital staff to engage, cultivate and steward major donors and prospects.
• Lead, motivate and support the personal development of a team of fundraisers and event specialists.
• Lead the development and delivery of the events programme to encompass high-value committees and tribute funds, prospecting and stewardship events, supported where relevant by high-profile supporters of The Royal Marsden.

Who we are looking for.

We seek a Head of Major Gifts and Events with extensive experience developing major gift fundraising programmes. You will have a proven track record of personally securing seven-figure gifts and managing long-term donor relationships. The ideal candidate will also have expertise in managing and developing relationships, delivering significant income through high-value committees, appeal boards, or equivalent, and successfully organising fundraising events. You will have experience leading, motivating and developing teams, particularly within a non-profit environment.

An interest in cancer and health issues is essential, along with the ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive, and confidential information and to negotiate effectively with senior stakeholders.

Application Process:

To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.

Please ensure that your application is emailed to , inserting "Application: The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity - Head of Major Gifts and Events" into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.

Timetable

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 3rd February 2025
Candidates informed of outcome: Tuesday 4th February 2025
First Stage Interviews: w/c Monday 3rd February (TBC)
Second Stage Interviews: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Tuesday 11th February 2025

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions.