Deputy Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships

Deputy Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships

Reports To: Director of Marketing & Engagement (Executive Leadership Team)

Salary: £80,000 - £85,000 per annum

Location: GDST Trust Office, Victoria, London

Contract: Full time, Permanent

The Girls’ Day School Trust are seeking an exceptional and dynamic Philanthropy and Partnerships leader to drive forward the GDST’s philanthropic strategy and ambitions.

The mission of the GDST — to help girls learn without limits, so they go on to lead lives without limits — has never been more important. We are empowering girls to become confident leaders and changemakers, equipped to tackle society’s toughest challenges and close the persistent equality gap. The GDST Alumnae Network is one of the largest global communities of female professionals, with over 100,000 members spanning diverse industries and geographies, and whose achievements make a profound contribution to a more equitable world.

To fulfil our public purpose of reaching as many girls as possible, we have an ambitious fundraising strategy focused on transformational bursaries, enabling girls from a wide range of financial backgrounds to access a GDST education.

As Deputy Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, you will lead the GDST’s philanthropic strategy, securing transformational support from high-net-worth individuals, alumnae, parents, trusts, foundations, corporations and other strategic partners. You will work closely with the Executive Team, Trustees, Heads and senior leaders across the GDST to secure their active support and engagement in fundraising efforts. You will lead a skilled team at Trust Office and collaborate with colleagues across our family of schools to deliver high-impact campaigns, meet financial targets, and drive long-term growth. Your leadership will be central to advancing the Trust’s mission and delivering its strategic goals.

We are seeking an ambitious and creative leader with a proven track record in major gift fundraising, strategic planning and building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders. You will be data-driven and results-focused, with a warm and engaging communication style that inspires others through the vision and values of the GDST. Your leadership will bring energy, clarity and influence — motivating your team and schools to achieve their very best, while strengthening partnerships and unlocking new opportunities for philanthropic investment.

This is a significant opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of girls and young people by enabling them to access a GDST education. If you are inspired by our mission and excited to lead this work, we would love to hear from you.

What we do

At the Girls’ Day School Trust, our public purpose is clear: to reach as many girls as possible, supporting and empowering them to achieve their full potential. Everything we do — from our educational approach to our philanthropic ambitions — is driven by this commitment.

We lead by example, equipping girls with the skills, confidence and resilience to navigate a world that still presents structural inequalities and complex challenges. Through our teaching, mentoring and leadership, we help girls become changemakers — equipped to shape a more inclusive and equitable future.

Philanthropy is central to our mission. We work tirelessly to provide exceptional value in our schools and fundraise with purpose and passion to offer transformational bursaries. These open doors for girls from a wide range of financial backgrounds, giving them access to a GDST education and the opportunities it brings.

Meanwhile, our alumnae network — one of the most influential networks of its kind — is a powerful force for change. These inspiring women act as mentors, role models and advocates, helping to advance representation in fields where women remain underrepresented and supporting the next generation to thrive.

Our schools are deeply rooted in their communities, building meaningful partnerships with local schools, businesses and organisations to create collaborative learning experiences and shared growth. We also work globally, partnering with leading institutions and experts to share best practice, drive innovation in girls’ education and advocate for equity through education.

If you would like more information on the GDST’s difference, please visit: https://www.gdst.net/

Giving

Fundraising in the last 12 months has grown to £4 million, reflecting the strength and generosity of our community. Our ambition is to grow annual philanthropic income to £10m by the end of the decade.

Our latest Giving Report, published in April 2025, celebrates the philanthropic and alumnae achievements of the 2023–24 academic year. In her introduction, Chief Executive, Cheryl Giovannoni, thanks the donors who generously supported our transformational bursary programme, pays tribute to the brilliant girls who have benefited, and applauds our alumnae—who continue to make us proud by leading change and breaking barriers across every industry, every day.

During the 2023-24 academic year, £2.5 million was raised for bursaries and financial assistance from 1,420 donors. A total of 1,000 students benefited from a GDST bursary, with nearly half awarded a full bursary based on means testing. In total, 153 new bursaries were awarded. You can read the report in full here.

GDST 150

To mark the GDST’s 150th anniversary in 2022, we launched an ambitious campaign to accelerate fundraising and offer an additional 150 transformational bursary awards—helping even more girls learn without limits, now and into the future.

We kick-started the campaign with a multi-million commitment from our bursary endowment fund, demonstrating our dedication to this goal and creating early momentum. Building on this foundation, we are working to secure an additional £10 million in matched funding from organisations and individual supporters who share our values.

Through the GDST 150 Campaign, we are partnering with like-minded individuals and organisations—locally, nationally and for the long term:

• Locally – enabling donors to see the impact of their support close to home, through the school that matters to them
• Nationally – creating new opportunities and driving change across the country
• Into the future – supporting partnerships and outreach initiatives that pave the way for a sustainable programme, ensuring girls from all backgrounds have the chance to fulfil their true potential

How to Apply

If you’re ready to lead ambitious philanthropic growth, forge powerful partnerships, and help girls learn without limits, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

The closing date for applications is: 11.59pm, Monday 15th September 2025.

Interviews: w/c Monday 22 & 29th September 2025.

There will be a first and second stage to the interview process.

Your formal application for this role will include your tailored CV alongside a supporting statement (no longer than 2 sides of A4).

There are many other good reasons to work with us. At the GDST, we are committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included. Each of our schools and our Trust Office has its own sense of community, and you’ll be part of it. You’ll be part, too, of the wider GDST family. You’ll be in the company of some of the best and brightest people in independent education. Most importantly, no matter what your role, you’ll be playing a major part in the highly regarded education we give our girls.

The GDST are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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