Advancement Officer
| Posting date: | 26 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Includes London Allowance |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 September 2025 |
| Location: | sw7 2eu |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | The Royal College of Art |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 085-25 |
Summary
Advancement Officer
Department: Advancement & Alumni
Reports to: Deputy Director of Advancement & Alumni
Join the RCA’s Advancement & Alumni Team
The Royal College of Art (RCA) is the world’s leading university of art and design. With a global community of over 30,000 alumni, we are proud to champion a dynamic network of artists, designers, innovators, educators and cultural leaders shaping the creative landscape worldwide.
As we enter an ambitious new strategic phase, we are investing in the Advancement & Alumni team, and are excited to recruit for two new roles that will play a central part in strengthening our fundraising and alumni engagement programmes.
About the Role
The Advancement Officer will support the Deputy Director of Advancement & Alumni in developing and delivering the RCA’s first proactive legacy programme and enhancing regular giving. Working in a collaborative team of 12, the postholder will play a key role in building donor relationships, crafting compelling fundraising proposals, and ensuring best practice in legacy administration.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to the success of the College and its students by growing philanthropic income and ensuring donors feel engaged and valued.
Key Responsibilities
Support the Deputy Director in designing and implementing plans to secure new legacy funding.
Research and support the cultivation of donor prospects, working closely with colleagues including the Major Gift Managers.
Provide administrative support for donor meetings, events and approaches.
Work with solicitors, executors and beneficiaries to ensure sensitive, accurate handling of the probate process.
Collaborate with the Events team to create meaningful engagement opportunities for donors and legacy pledgers.
Draft and deliver high-quality donor communications and proposals, aligned with RCA standards.
Maintain accurate donor records in Raiser’s Edge and ensure all work complies with GDPR and ethical guidelines.
Build positive working relationships across the College to promote the work of Advancement & Alumni.
Undertake occasional evening or weekend commitments, with TOIL provided in line with RCA policies.
About You
We are looking for a motivated, proactive individual with:
Some experience of legacy fundraising, ideally within arts or higher education.
Understanding of probate, tax law, Wills, trusts and estate administration.
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to engage donors and colleagues at all levels.
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Experience of using Raiser’s Edge or a comparable fundraising database.
Desirable qualities include a genuine enthusiasm for art, design, higher education and the work of the RCA.
Why Join Us?
The RCA Advancement & Alumni team is responsible for all philanthropic income and for sustaining relationships with over 26,000 alumni. We are a small, high-performing team that values collegiality, creativity and collaboration. Every member contributes to our shared success, supporting one another and working openly to achieve results.
This role offers the chance to develop your career in legacy and donor fundraising while making a real difference to the College and its students. You will gain valuable experience in a supportive, ambitious environment where your skills, ideas and commitment will have a genuine impact.
Department: Advancement & Alumni
Reports to: Deputy Director of Advancement & Alumni
Join the RCA’s Advancement & Alumni Team
The Royal College of Art (RCA) is the world’s leading university of art and design. With a global community of over 30,000 alumni, we are proud to champion a dynamic network of artists, designers, innovators, educators and cultural leaders shaping the creative landscape worldwide.
As we enter an ambitious new strategic phase, we are investing in the Advancement & Alumni team, and are excited to recruit for two new roles that will play a central part in strengthening our fundraising and alumni engagement programmes.
About the Role
The Advancement Officer will support the Deputy Director of Advancement & Alumni in developing and delivering the RCA’s first proactive legacy programme and enhancing regular giving. Working in a collaborative team of 12, the postholder will play a key role in building donor relationships, crafting compelling fundraising proposals, and ensuring best practice in legacy administration.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to the success of the College and its students by growing philanthropic income and ensuring donors feel engaged and valued.
Key Responsibilities
Support the Deputy Director in designing and implementing plans to secure new legacy funding.
Research and support the cultivation of donor prospects, working closely with colleagues including the Major Gift Managers.
Provide administrative support for donor meetings, events and approaches.
Work with solicitors, executors and beneficiaries to ensure sensitive, accurate handling of the probate process.
Collaborate with the Events team to create meaningful engagement opportunities for donors and legacy pledgers.
Draft and deliver high-quality donor communications and proposals, aligned with RCA standards.
Maintain accurate donor records in Raiser’s Edge and ensure all work complies with GDPR and ethical guidelines.
Build positive working relationships across the College to promote the work of Advancement & Alumni.
Undertake occasional evening or weekend commitments, with TOIL provided in line with RCA policies.
About You
We are looking for a motivated, proactive individual with:
Some experience of legacy fundraising, ideally within arts or higher education.
Understanding of probate, tax law, Wills, trusts and estate administration.
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to engage donors and colleagues at all levels.
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Experience of using Raiser’s Edge or a comparable fundraising database.
Desirable qualities include a genuine enthusiasm for art, design, higher education and the work of the RCA.
Why Join Us?
The RCA Advancement & Alumni team is responsible for all philanthropic income and for sustaining relationships with over 26,000 alumni. We are a small, high-performing team that values collegiality, creativity and collaboration. Every member contributes to our shared success, supporting one another and working openly to achieve results.
This role offers the chance to develop your career in legacy and donor fundraising while making a real difference to the College and its students. You will gain valuable experience in a supportive, ambitious environment where your skills, ideas and commitment will have a genuine impact.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.