Senior Philanthropy Manager for Individual Giving

Position: Senior Philanthropy Manager for Individual Giving
Reports to: Development and Communications Director
Hours: 5 days a week (1 FTE)
Holiday: 25 days
Salary: competitive and commensurate with a role of this importance

This role is advertised as a permanent position with a hybrid schedule of 2-3 days a week in-office.

Job Purpose

The Senior Philanthropy Manager for Individual Giving is a senior, strategic fundraising role with accountability for the development, delivery and performance of Opera Rara’s individual (Patron and Friend) giving strategy to 2030. Reporting to the Development and Communications Director, the postholder will own the planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting of individual, annual giving income streams at the Patron and Friend level (£25-£10,000), ensuring sustainable growth in philanthropic support from individual donors.

The role has primary responsibility for generating and growing giving income from Opera Rara’s Patron and Friend programme to c.£300,000 per annum by 2030, through the effective management of major annual fundraising campaigns, syndicate giving and fundraising events. The Senior Philanthropy Manager will lead the design and delivery of high-quality donor experiences, oversee all individual giving communications and stewardship, and provide clear performance reporting to senior leadership, Trustees and the Development Committee.

As a senior member of the Development team, the postholder will exercise a high level of professional judgement, represent Opera Rara confidently with key supporters, and play an active role in shaping fundraising priorities, resourcing and strategy. The role includes line management responsibilities and ownership of individual giving budgets, with accountability for financial performance, cost control and return on investment across campaigns and events.

The position offers a rare opportunity for a senior fundraiser with a keen interest in international fundraising to shape and grow philanthropic support for an opera charity whose award-winning work commands respect and admiration around the world.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Annual Fund Strategy, Planning and Reporting

• Develop and implement Opera Rara’s Annual Fund strategy for the charity’s Patron and Friend programme to 2030, including the launch of the “Opera Rara at 60” campaign, aligning with organisational priorities and income targets.
• Reporting to the Development and Communications Director, set annual income targets, budgets and forecasts for giving from Patrons, Friends, syndicates, campaigns and fundraising events.
• Monitor performance against agreed targets, producing regular written and verbal reports for the Development and Communications Director, senior leadership, Trustees and the Development Committee.
• Use fundraising data, insight and analysis to evaluate performance, inform decision-making and adapt strategy as required.

Patron and Friend Programme Leadership

• Lead and oversee Opera Rara’s Patron and Friend programme, managing a portfolio of approximately 120–150 individual donors and prospects at agreed giving levels.
• Design and deliver tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies to encourage long-term engagement and progression up the ladder of giving, while ensuring compliance with various international tax laws as well as policies from Opera Rara’s international named funds provider, Chapel & York.
• Retain accountability for high-value relationships within the portfolio, ensuring appropriate senior-level engagement and oversight.

Campaign and Syndicate Fundraising

• Take strategic and operational ownership of syndicate fundraising and major individual giving campaigns, including matched-funding initiatives such as the Big Give.
• Set campaign income targets and expenditure budgets, ensuring clear financial planning and effective use of resources.
• Lead campaign planning, messaging, solicitation activity, post-campaign reporting and donor stewardship.

Donor Events and Budget Management

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of Opera Rara’s programme of donor events (the Discovery Programme), ensuring events support strategic fundraising objectives.
• Hold budgetary responsibility for individual giving events, including income targets, expenditure control and assessment of return on investment.
• Guarantee that events and donor stewardship comply with Gift Aid standards.
• Ensure events are delivered to a high standard, reflect Opera Rara’s artistic excellence and contribute meaningfully to donor cultivation, stewardship and acquisition.

Development Communications for Individuals

• Be responsible for and oversee all development communications relating to individual giving, including donor newsletters, written appeals, stewardship materials and impact reporting.
• Ensure messaging is consistent, compelling, donor-focused and aligned with agreed fundraising strategy and targets.

Line Management and Team Leadership

• Line-manage the Development and Events Coordinator, providing clear objectives, support and professional development.
• Take responsibility for the effective deployment of individual giving resources and contribute to the planning and development of the Individual Giving team structure, including recruitment for the recently approved Development Operations Manager position.
• Establish clear processes, workflows and performance expectations to support efficient and high-quality delivery.

Cross-Organisational Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, including contributing specialist individual giving insight and materials to grant and sponsorship proposals when required.
• Represent Individual Giving priorities in internal planning discussions and contribute to wider organisational objectives.

General Responsibilities

• As part of a small team, contribute to the smooth and effective running of the Opera Rara office.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the seniority and responsibilities of the role as required.

Essential experience and competencies – candidates must demonstrate:

• Proven fundraising experience of at least 5-7 years with demonstrable success in individual giving and responsibility for managing and growing a portfolio of donors and prospects.
• Strong track record of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors, with the ability to move supporters up a ladder of giving through personalised and strategic engagement.
• Experience of planning and delivering fundraising campaigns, including broad-based or matched-funding initiatives, with evidence of meeting or exceeding income targets.
• Ability to develop and implement fundraising strategies informed by data, insight and organisational priorities, and to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience of producing compelling donor communications, appeals and stewardship materials.
• Experience of planning and managing donor-focused events, including fundraising events such as galas, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong supporter engagement and effective use of budgets and resources.
• Up-to-date knowledge of fundraising best practice, ethical standards and trends in individual giving, with a commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively across the team and with senior stakeholders, contributing to grant and sponsorship proposals and supporting wider organisational goals.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member in a collaborative and fast-paced environment as a part of a small, flexible team.
• Highly organised, proactive and resilient, with sound judgement, discretion and the confidence to represent Opera Rara professionally with senior supporters and partners.
• An interest in or enthusiasm for the arts, particularly opera or classical music, with an ability to learn about Opera Rara’s projects and communicate them to individual donors.

Desirable experience and competencies – candidates should ideally demonstrate:

• Proven experience of line-managing staff, with the ability to motivate, support and develop colleagues while ensuring high standards of delivery.
• Experience of donor prospecting and research, with confidence in using CRM systems, fundraising data and insights to inform decision-making.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and audience databases (e.g., Spektrix, Tessitura, or similar), particularly in the arts or nonprofit sector.
• Experience in box office management for VIP and donor ticketing around concerts or events.
• Ability and willingness to work occasionally outside normal hours, specifically for events.

The Senior Philanthropy Manager will work a hybrid schedule of 2-3 days a week of in-office work. This role will also require in-person meetings with various supporters in London and elsewhere, including potential international travel.

Application process

To apply for the role, please send a letter of application of no more than two pages along with a CV.  Please refer in your letter of application to the experience and competencies detailed in this job description, detailing your reasons for applying for the role and the skills and experience that you would bring to this role at Opera Rara. Please also state your current salary and period of notice.

The deadline for applications is Monday 9^th February 2026 at 5pm. All applications must be sent by email only please to [email protected], stating ‘Senior Philanthropy Manager’ in the subject line.

In-person interviews will be held in the week beginning Monday 16^th February 2026. In-person second round interviews with key stakeholders may be arranged following the initial interview.

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Zachary Vanderburg, Development and Communications Director, Opera Rara at [email protected].