Philanthropy Manager (HNW)

About Us

We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.  

Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.

We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the role

At the Natural History Museum, we’re on an extraordinary journey — transforming how millions of people experience science, nature, and our shared planet. As a global centre of scientific excellence and a beloved cultural institution, we are reimagining our spaces, expanding our world-class collections, and tackling urgent challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change. Philanthropy is central to realising these ambitions, powering everything from groundbreaking research to bold capital developments.

The Philanthropy Manager plays a pivotal role in this transformation. As part of a high-performing, collaborative Development team, the postholder will secure transformational six-figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals, generating significant philanthropic income to support a diverse portfolio of inspiring projects. Working closely with senior stakeholders, curators, and scientists, the role will shape compelling cases for support that connect donors to the Museum’s mission and impact. The postholder will provide exemplary stewardship and create robust and long-term pipelines, whilst actively supporting the Philanthropy Executive with their portfolio.

This position offers the chance to influence the future of one of the world’s most iconic museums, whilst sharing the Museum’s ambition with like-minded philanthropists.

About you

As our next Philanthropy Manager, you’ll bring your talent for cultivating meaningful relationships and turning strategic vision into tangible support for one of the world’s most inspiring institutions. You’ll thrive on building and managing a dynamic portfolio of major donors by researching prospects, crafting tailored proposals, and delivering exceptional stewardship that deepens engagement year after year. With your outstanding communication skills and confident ambassadorial presence, you’ll represent the Natural History Museum to an array of high-profile supporters, translating complex ideas into compelling stories that spark generosity. Collaborative and proactive, you’ll work closely with colleagues across the Museum to shape innovative funding opportunities that align with our bold scientific and cultural ambitions. Meticulous organisation, a sharp eye for detail, and an ability to stay composed under pressure will ensure you deliver exceptional results in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment.

If you’re a motivated relationship-builder with a track record of securing significant gifts and you want to use your skills to make a lasting difference, we would love to hear from you.

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

What we offer

• 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
• Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
• Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
• Life insurance
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
• We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
• Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures. For more details, visit https://www.cssc.co.uk
• Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi

Hybrid working

We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first-hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events.  We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.