Head of Philanthropy

King Edward’s School (KES) and King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS), two of the leading independent day schools in the country, seek an experienced fundraiser with a demonstrable track record of securing five- and six- figure gifts. This role would suit a candidate with a background in major gifts and individual giving.

The Head of Philanthropy will secure and cultivate major donor relationships, growing our existing giving programmes and helping to deliver our overall fundraising strategy. With the Development Director, they will continue to build our prospect pipeline to support Assisted Places fundraising. Additionally, there may be involvement with a small number of other discrete fundraising projects.

Community is a vital part of our schools’ ethos and the Head of Philanthropy will play their part in strengthening this ethos. Many of our major donors will support the schools in other ways, including through our vibrant careers network (CareersLink). The Head of Philanthropy will also embed themselves in school life by playing a leading role in our annual telethons, working with the Development Director and Database Manager to deliver this.

The Head of Philanthropy will be an experienced and highly motivated fundraiser with a passion for growing and cultivating our supporter base. They will be a firm believer in the aims of our Assisted Places programme and in the value of an independent education. The role would suit an articulate, tenacious and persuasive fundraiser, with a strong track-record of forging and cultivating long-term relationships. They will have up-to-date knowledge of charity legislation and best practice.

Development & Alumni Relations Office (DARO)

These historic schools seek to make an academic education accessible to able pupils, whatever their family background or financial situation. To this end, Assisted Places (bursaries) are funded by the Foundation, and through the donations of alumni and other donors to the Development Office.

To date, over £14.5m has been raised for Assisted Places at King Edward’s School (KES) and £4.5m has been raised at King Edward VI High School for Girls (KEHS) for the same purpose.

The DARO team leads the schools’ fundraising and alumni relations. The team is led by the Development Director and consists of a Database Manager, Finance Manager, Events Officer and an Alumni Relations Officer who all work across both schools. The office also works closely with the Director of External Relations. 

We are also responsible for keeping former pupils, parents and staff in touch with each school, and each other, through a comprehensive events and communications programme. We run around 20 events each year across both schools, including reunions, dinners, drinks receptions, lectures and concerts. Over 1,000 people attend these events every year. We communicate with our former pupils via our database, two websites, two Facebook Pages, two annual magazines and termly e-newsletters.

We have set up two separate charitable trusts to receive donations on behalf of the two schools: The King Edward’s School Birmingham Trust (for KES) and The King Edward VI High School for Girls Trust (for KEHS). Both trusts are registered charities with several trustees, most of whom are former pupils of the schools, and they receive all donations on behalf of both schools. 

The Foundation is responsible for fourteen schools within Birmingham. These include the two independent schools, six Grammar Schools and six Academies. Further details about the Foundation can be found at: https://www.schoolsofkingedwardvi.co.uk/

Both schools have their own alumni associations – the Development Office works very closely with the Old Edwardians Association (OEA) at KES and the Birmingham Girls’ Old Edwardian Club (BGOEC) at KEHS. Further details on both organisations can be found online at: www.oldeds.kes.org.uk and at: www.oldeds.kehs.org.uk.

How to apply:

If you wish to be considered for this post, please complete an application form (available for download at: https://kes.org.uk/about-us/work-with-us/, and send it, together with a letter outlining the reasons for your application and addressed to the Chief Master & Principal, to kesrecruitment@keschools.org.uk.

For any queries on the role please contact Laura Salt on l.salt@keschools.org.uk

The deadline for applications is 8am Thursday 9th January. Early applications are most welcome.

Interviews will provisionally take place in w/c 19th January