About the Role
As Head of Donor Engagement, you will lead Norwood's relationship fundraising strategy across major donors, trusts and foundations, legacy giving and emerging supporter audiences.
Leading a high performing team, you will drive sustainable income growth while building meaningful, long term relationships with supporters.
Working closely with the Director of Fundraising, trustees and senior stakeholders, you will help shape fundraising strategy, strengthen donor pipelines and ensure donor engagement is coordinated and connected across the organisation.
About Norwood
Founded in 1795, Norwood is the oldest Jewish charity in the UK. We support and empower neurodiverse children and their families and people with neurodevelopmental disabilities to live their best lives.
At Norwood, you’ll make a real difference every day. You’ll be part of a supportive and inclusive team, guided by values of kindness, respect, empowerment and belonging. We invest in your growth, care about your wellbeing, and give you the pride of knowing your work changes lives.
Who we are looking for
We're looking for an experienced fundraising leader who believes that strong relationships have the power to change lives.
You'll be motivated by building meaningful partnerships with donors, trusts, philanthropists and supporters, helping them see the difference their generosity makes to children, families and people with neurodevelopmental disabilities. You'll enjoy creating long term relationships built on trust, shared purpose and exceptional stewardship.
As an inspiring leader, you'll bring out the best in others, developing a high-performing team that is collaborative, ambitious and committed to delivering outstanding supporter experiences. You'll be comfortable balancing strategic thinking with hands on leadership, whether you're shaping fundraising strategy, meeting major donors, working alongside trustees or coaching your team.
You'll thrive in an organisation where relationships matter. Working closely with colleagues across Marketing, Events, Data & Insights and our operational services, you'll help create a joined up approach that strengthens supporter engagement and delivers sustainable income for the future.
Most importantly, you'll share our belief that every child, family and person we support deserves the opportunity to live their best life. Your leadership will help ensure Norwood can continue providing life changing services for generations to come.
You will:
- Lead and develop Norwood’s donor engagement strategy across high-value and pipeline audiences
- Drive a relationship-led approach across philanthropy, trusts, legacies and supporter engagement
- Build sustainable income growth through strategic relationship management
- Work closely with trustees, ambassadors and senior volunteers to strengthen networks and donor engagement
- Oversee donor cultivation activity, stewardship and major funding approaches
- Support the development of future supporter pipelines through community and next-generation engagement
This is an opportunity to lead a function with significant organisational impact while helping shape the future of fundraising at Norwood.
Your Day to Day
You will:
- Lead, develop and inspire a multidisciplinary fundraising team
- Manage performance, targets and professional development across the team
- Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and high-net-worth prospects
- Oversee trusts and foundations fundraising strategy and pipeline performance
- Lead Norwood’s legacy fundraising strategy and supporter journeys
- Work closely with Events & Sponsorship teams to maximise donor cultivation opportunities
- Partner with Data & Insights colleagues to strengthen forecasting, segmentation and reporting
- Support trustee and SLT engagement through research, briefing and relationship coordination
- Ensure fundraising activity is compliant, insight-led and relationship-focused
Your impact will be demonstrated through:
- Increased high-value income and long-term donor engagement
- Stronger donor stewardship and supporter retention
- Sustainable pipeline growth across fundraising audiences
- A collaborative and high-performing fundraising culture
- Clear alignment between donor engagement, events and data insight functions
Qualifications, Experience & Training
Essential
- Significant experience leading high-performing fundraising teams
- Proven success securing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals and foundations
- Experience working with trustees, philanthropists and senior stakeholders
- Strong track record of developing and delivering relationship fundraising strategies
- Experience managing and developing teams to achieve ambitious income targets
- Excellent relationship-building, influencing and communication skills
- Strong strategic planning and analytical capability
Desirable
- Degree level education or equivalent experience
- Experience within charity or not-for-profit fundraising environments
Reward and Benefits
- 21 days annual leave + 8 Bank Holidays (FTE) + Jewish Festival Days
- Enhanced parental pay
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Health cash plan covering dental, optical, and therapy treatments, with virtual GP access, private consultations, and wellbeing tools via the My Medicash App
- Blue Light Card scheme access
- Cycle to Work scheme
- £300 refer-a-friend bonus
- Career development pathway
- Free on-site parking
- A supportive, experienced team and management.
A bit more information: Norwood’s Broadway House, located at 80 - 82 The Broadway, Stanmore HA7 4HB, is the charity’s head office and main administrative base.
It brings together Governance, Leadership, Fundraising, Finance, People and Culture, and Marketing and Communications, providing coordination and support to Children & Family Services and Adult Services.
The office supports Norwood’s mission to help people with neurodevelopmental disabilities, their families, and children in need across London and the South East. It is also the main point of contact for referrals, general enquiries, and charity business.
Safe Recruitment: Norwood is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children, young people, and adults we support. This role is subject to safer recruitment checks in line with CQC Regulation 19, and appointment is conditional upon satisfactory pre-employment checks, including Right to Work in the UK and a DBS check appropriate to the role.
Email: careers@norwood.org.uk
Disclaimer: At Norwood, we welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates. At this time, Norwood is not a UK Home Office licensed sponsor and is unable to offer visa sponsorship.
