The British Academy – the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - is seeking an Individual Giving Manager to join our Development and Fellowship Directorate, leading the development and delivery of the individual giving programme.

ROLE PURPOSE / OVERVIEW

The Individual Giving Manager is a critical role in expanding our supporter base as we prepare to launch the Academy’s 125th Anniversary Campaign in 2027.

The post holder will inspire potential donors to give to the British Academy. They will lead targeted appeals and multi-channel fundraising campaigns. They will also develop supporter journeys that connect donors with the impact of their gift and build long term engagement with the British Academy.

We are looking for someone who enjoys communicating ideas into a compelling narrative. They will be creative and collaborative in their approach, bringing real momentum to the programme as it enters the next phase. They will also need to analyse individual giving data, using it to draw out giving trends, review engagement with donors, and identify milestone giving.

This role offers an amazing opportunity to take our individual giving programme to the next phase and to join an organisation at an incredibly exciting moment.  We are searching for applicants who have several years’ of individual giving experience and will bring strong knowledge around the principles of donor cultivation, acquisition and stewardship.

OFFICE LOCATION - 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James Park, London, SW1Y 5AH

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.    Individual Giving Programme Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive individual giving strategy aligned with the British Academy’s overall fundraising objectives working closely with Deputy Head of Individual Giving and Legacy. 

• Identify opportunities to grow income from individual donors, including acquisition, retention, and upgrade strategies.

• Contribute to the Development team’s planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring processes.

2.    Campaign Management

• Plan and deliver multi-channel fundraising campaigns (digital, email, direct mail, and events).

• Lead on annual appeals and targeted campaigns to support agreed priorities and initiatives. 

• Monitor campaign performance, analyse results, and optimise future activity.

• Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies, ensuring our fundraising efforts remain innovative and effective.

3.    Donor Acquisition and Retention

• Grow the individual donor base through effective acquisition campaigns.

• Develop supporter journeys to improve donor retention and lifetime value.

• Implement stewardship plans to ensure donors feel valued, informed, and connected to the Academy’s impact and fosters long term engagement.

• Directly engage with individual donors, for example through emails, phone calls or speaking to at events.

4.    Digital Fundraising Campaigns

• Work closely with communications and digital teams to maximise online fundraising opportunities.

• Oversee website donation journeys, email fundraising campaigns, and digital advertising where relevant

• Ensure content is compelling, audience-focused, and aligned with the Academy’s voice.

5.    Donor Insights and Data Management

• Use CRM systems and analytics to track donor behaviour and campaign effectiveness.

• Segment audiences to deliver targeted communications and improve engagement.

• Ensure accurate record-keeping using the CRM and where relevant, the physical archive.

• Ensure  compliance with data protection regulations (e.g. GDPR).

6.    Stewardship, Collaboration and Data Management

• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure a joined-up supporter experience across all fundraising streams.

• Contribute to fostering a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.

• Support the work of colleagues delivering engagement events for Fellows, awardholder alumni and other individual giving audiences. 

• Support senior leadership with briefing materials, reports, and donor-facing content.

• Develop tailored communications to demonstrate the impact of donations.

• Support the Academy’s approach towards Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). 

 Key Stakeholders

Internal:

Development Team, Fellowship and Awardholder Alumni Team, Communications Directorate

External:

Fellows of the British Academy, Awardholder Alumni (former awardholders)

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educated to bachelor’s degree level, qualified by experience, or equivalent

• 2-3 years minimum of individual giving fundraising experience

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Works and communicates effectively

• Proactive in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with others internally and externally, up to board level

• Demonstrates a positive attitude towards helping others by providing appropriate support, using initiative and not waiting to be asked

• Adopts a communication style appropriate to the situation and the audience, understanding that communication is two-way

• Is sensitive to different working styles and views, adapting where appropriate

• Willing and able to compromise and negotiate, including to resolve possible conflicts

• Handles difficult situations with sensitivity & respect

• Communicates effectively with staff across different teams and at all levels

• Promotes a positive impression of the Academy both internally and externally

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Demonstrates and develops appropriate knowledge and skills

• Experience of individual giving or direct marketing fundraising within a charity, higher education or cultural institution.

• Strong analytical skills and experience using CRM systems.

• Knowledge of donor acquisition, retention and stewardship principles.

• Creativity and innovation in fundraising approaches.

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling donor messaging.

PROACTIVITY AND PLANNING

Manages time and resources effectively in order to achieve own and organisational objectives

• Prioritizes work to meet deadlines and manages expectations appropriately

• Displays resilience in coping with workload

• Keeps relevant colleagues informed and seeks input

• Evaluates and manages risks effectively

• Reliably takes ownership of tasks, including delegating effectively where appropriate

• Monitors progress effectively and adapts plans where possible

PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING

Ensures good decisions are made through a rational and methodical approach

• Identifies problems and opportunities and acts on them

• Has a pro-active, can do, attitude, taking personal responsibility for correcting problems or resolving issues

• Focuses on solutions and manages pressure

• Anticipates obstacles and thinks ahead

• Copes with the unexpected

• Sets the right balance between referring decisions to the appropriate level and taking things forward without referral

LEADERSHIP

Gives a clear sense of direction while inspiring others with vision and actions 

• Inspires personal trust, engenders kinship around an inclusive and shared vision

• Shows integrity and wisdom, decisiveness and consistency, sincerity and honesty, especially under pressure

• Tackles and owns difficult issues, resolves rather than avoids conflict

• Looks to the medium and long-term future, anticipates change

• Enables and empowers others to effect change

• Is courageous, making and seeing difficult decisions through in a calm manner, handling crises well

• Takes responsibility on behalf of the team (for difficult issues and equally for mistakes), leads by example, attracts support

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Openness to undertake some out of hours working for events in evenings or weekends

WORKPLACE VALUES

The Academy’s workplace values and supporting text are set out below. We share these core values with each other. They guide how we work together and with others. We demonstrate them through our behaviours.

COLLABORATION- We consistently work together to a common purpose, supporting each other, communicating openly and sharing knowledge. We are flexible and adaptable, receiving feedback constructively

CREATIVITY - We bring imagination and curiosity to our work, valuing learning, diverse thinking, and innovation. We are open-minded, receptive, and responsive, taking account of alternative perspectives

EMPATHY-We are understanding, sensitive, compassionate, and considerate, mindful of our own wellbeing alongside that of others

EXCELLENCE - We always do our best, without striving to be perfect, applying our expertise and experience to develop and grow

INTEGRITY - We are open and honest with each other, accepting personal responsibility and demonstrating loyalty. We are reliable and dependable, having belief that we will be transparent and clear

RESILIENCE - We are confident, bold, and tenacious, knowing when to listen as well as when to speak up. We respond positively to challenges and overcome problems

RESPECT - We are inclusive in our regard for each other, showing courtesy and appreciation. We treat people fairly and equally, welcoming everyone’s contribution and difference

APPLICATION PROCESS

We have a two-step approach to hiring, beginning with submitting an application through the Applied platform. This will be followed by a panel interview and may involve a task component.

Please note that we use AI screening software to identify responses that have been copied from AI sources and are not your own work.

The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on 7 October 2026, however, we may close this role sooner if we receive a high volume of applications.  In these circumstances we will give those who have shown interest 24 hours notice of the change of deadline.

Interviews for this role are currently scheduled for 29 October 2026 but this may be subject to change.