Philanthropy Catalyst Lead

About the role

Research has shown that there is significant potential for new and existing wealth holders to use their resources to fund climate action, and demand for trusted advisors to accelerate both the pace and efficacy of philanthropy. The Impatience Earth team has a track record of delivering quality philanthropy advisory for climate action, and with a growing team we have the capacity to take on new clients.

As the Philanthropy Catalyst Lead, you will be instrumental in building a strong pipeline of clients who would benefit from our climate advisory services. You are someone who is comfortable connecting with and engaging wealth holders, such as high-net worth individuals, family foundations and corporate foundations that have the potential to commit substantial resources (£200k+ year) to climate action.

These clients may be based in the UK or Europe (as reflects the majority of our client base so far) although you will also work with colleagues engaged in catalysing philanthropy in other regions of the world.

You will report directly to the Co-CEO, but also work closely with other members of the team and partners such as the Environmental Funders Network (EFN) to grow climate philanthropy. This is not a fundraising role for Impatience Earth: the primary focus will be to further develop and hone our business development strategy; to find, qualify and cultivate prospects; and to support the delivery of advisory services as needed once prospects are converted into clients.

About Impatience Earth

Impatience Earth is a non-profit climate philanthropy consultancy founded in 2020 with a mission to educate, challenge and inspire wealth holders to take bolder funding decisions to address the climate emergency.

Since 2020, our engagement with over 40 philanthropic foundations and businesses has supported them to make over £250m of new funding available for climate action, and we have already helped them make grants to over 200 different organisations. A great deal of these clients have come from word of mouth and from within our team’s existing connections, and we are now looking to expand our reach beyond our own network.

We have ambitious plans to unlock greater funding for intersectional climate justice work, with bespoke advisory for new climate funders continuing to be a core pillar of our 2026-2030 strategic plan.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: 

• Further developing our business development strategy. This would include:
  • Reviewing and assessing previous and existing business development activities, and prioritising actions
  • Identifying key target audiences and referral partners
  • Proposing realistic and stretch targets for our business development activities
  • Developing concise and effective communications for our target audience, for example, by crafting compelling outreach emails
• Researching, qualifying and engaging with prospective clients. This would include:
  • Using your past experience of engaging wealth holders to suggest new business development or prospect research ideas
  • Reviewing funder databases for leads and relevant information
  • Initiating a new (simple!) system of tracking client leads from identification to conversion
  • Arranging and joining scoping conversations with potential clients
  • Identifying events and spaces to engage with prospective clients
• Initiating and managing key relationships. This would include:
  • Stewarding prospective clients who are not yet ready to engage with our services
  • Re-engaging and managing strong relationships with key referral partners and intermediaries, such as EFN, private banks, wealth advisors, family offices and other philanthropy advisors
  • Representing Impatience Earth externally at meetings and events to meet our business development objectives
• Working closely with colleagues to integrate business development across programmes. This would include:
  • Working with Impatience Earth colleagues who lead our Strategic Communications, Global South and International Partnerships work to guide and support their activities around business development
  • General support and advice to strengthen all staff members’ business development knowledge and skills
• Support client delivery. As and when you convert prospects into clients, we may need you to support client leads with delivery. This might include arranging and facilitating expert meetings and strategy sessions.

Requirements

• At least 3 years previous experience of working in major gift fundraising, trust and foundation fundraising, private wealth advisory, or similar that gives you insight and knowledge into the philanthropic landscape, HNWIs, and the networks and ecosystem in which they operate
• Someone who enjoys engaging with philanthropists in-person and at events, and comfortable having interesting but sometimes challenging conversations
• A proven track record of converting leads into confirmed high value clients (or funders) at the 6- or 7-figure level and managing successful relationships with them
• Strong research skills, including ability to use datasets and access information to find and qualify prospects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A self starter who is able to think both creatively and strategically about business development; able to work independently but also as part of a dynamic and highly collaborative team
• Confidence engaging with different types of stakeholders, especially high net worth individuals, and the emotional intelligence and social skills to build genuine, trusted relationships
• A good understanding of the role of philanthropy in the context of social, economic and climate injustices
• Committed to tackling the climate crisis with a good grasp of its causes and solutions – though our team will provide training if you have not worked in a climate-focused role before
• Commitment to anti-oppression and social justice

You’ll have an advantage if you: 

• Have developed or contributed to the development of a successful fundraising or business development strategy
• Have previously advised philanthropists, family offices, or foundations

How you’ll know you’re doing a good job

• Impatience Earth is advising new clients that we had not previously engaged with
• You have converted prospects into clients that will contribute to our headline KPIs around funding catalysed and disbursed for impactful climate solutions
• You build and manage a high-quality pipeline of prospects
• You have stewarded trusted relationships with key partners turning them into a source of referrals and leads
• You have collaborated with the client delivery team to ensure a smooth handover from agreeing the terms of the client project to starting the engagement
• You contribute to increasing the team’s knowledge around business development, and understanding our Unique Selling Point