director of
Appointment Brief April 2026
Introduction from Andy Jasper and Dan James
Thank you for your interest in joining the Eden Project at this critical time in our development.
The Eden Project is an educational charity and social enterprise who celebrated its 25th Birthday in March 2026. Whilst we have much to celebrate about our past, attracting 25 million visitors from across the country and becoming an economic catalyst generating over £6.8billion of economic impact. Our ambitions for the future address some of the most pressing issues of the 21st Century: nature conservation, social cohesion and climate adaptation.
We’re at a really exciting point in our story right now, which is why this new post of Director of Philanthropy is so important. We have big ambitions – there has never been a more important time for people to appreciate and look after our planet and each other, and we’re creating connections at our Cornish home, across the UK and internationally. Our Case for Support outlines a desire to raise circa £300m to deliver 9 projects covering the themes of destinations, education and nature. Over £100m has been raised to date to help us develop new destinations in Morecambe and Dundee, plus support a reinvigoration of Eden Cornwall. Eden’s Big Lunch continues to unite millions of people in breaking bread together
and turning neighbours into friends. At our site in the Clay Country of Cornwall we inspire, entertain and educate over a million visitors every year. Through the National Wildflower Centre we are taking action to halt biodiversity loss and support social recovery through our Nature Connections programme.
Our work matters, and we can say with confidence that it is making a real and positive difference. We have much more to do; that’s where you come in. We’re going to need new sources of support: in particular, major donors and legacies to sit alongside our current funders such as trusts and foundations and the Lottery. We can provide important building blocks: a much-loved brand, millions of visitors, thousands of members and a track record of delivering imaginative and engaging projects ever since the original transformation of our site when Eden was created in 2001.
Our leadership team is driving a new and ambitious strategy and we aim to make good on our promise to change the world; as Eden’s Director of Philanthropy you will be an integral part of our team and sustainable growth strategy.
About us
Twenty-five years ago, a group of us transformed a china clay pit in Cornwall into a living theatre of plants and people.
This visitor destination, cultural venue and global garden showcases our dependence on plants and demonstrates technological ingenuity and the regeneration of landscapes
and livelihoods. It was our first ‘shop window’ for the future we want to make.
Today we are a growing movement, working on and developing projects locally, nationally and internationally. Our work is underpinned by the understanding that we need to live with the grain of nature and that everything is interconnected. What we do to the Earth we do to ourselves – let’s treasure and support a world we want to live in.
Work at
With around 400 core staff, we are a major employer in the county of Cornwall. In addition we have approximately 200 employees who join us for seasonal employment and around 150 volunteers. The majority of our employees are recruited locally. We aim to break ground on our second destination in Morecambe, this summer, with opening expected to be winter 2028.
Eden provides opportunities for a wide range of posts covering an even wider range of skills, from horticulture, education and catering, to maintenance, commercial operations and head office type jobs.
Eden
We are firmly committed to the development of our employees and provide fantastic opportunities for personal development and utilising skills in a creative environment.
Eden operates an equal opportunity policy. We’ve also signed up as a Disability Confident Employer, which means we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment and staffing policies are inclusive and accessible.
Let’s treasure and support a world we want to live in.
Case for Support
Eden’s future fundraising strategy is underpinned by 3 themes – destinations, education and nature. The work under each of those can be summarised as follows:
1
Public Education Centres: Building a Legacy
For over two decades, Eden has worked to foster understanding of the dependence of humans on the natural world and the intimate interconnections amongst living things. Our expertise in demonstrating how plants meet human needs underpinned our original goal of regenerating a lifeless clay pit by gathering together one of the greatest collections of economically important plants ever assembled.
The Eden Project is redoubling its efforts to demonstrate how we must change on a grand scale. Our Cornwall site must remain “best in class” and continue to demonstrate and inspire positive action.
Eden Project in Cornwall is a symbol of hope for a future that still remains ours to make, a showcase of human ingenuity and nature recovery and a catalyst for economic regeneration.
It’s this success that’s driving interest in bringing Eden to Morecambe and Dundee. Our public education centres are demonstrators of regenerative sustainability and showcase new ways of thinking, in their construction, operation, positioning and through their regional environment and socioeconomic impact. Their physical presence will be a global media driver for the local area, with digital reach to millions and a visiting supporter audience that is diverse and includes every age group and demographic from the UK.
These educational Eden Project destinations will provide lived experiences, education by stealth through storytelling, art, theatre, play and horticulture in the ultimate day
out. Combining eco-visitor attraction, contemporary horticulture exemplar, cultural venue, educational campus, playground, convening centre and community hub – each Eden will bring these elements together in a unique and compelling educational destination.
2 Education: Inspiring Every Generation
Despite widespread agreement that today’s education system is failing to equip young people with the tools to thrive in the 21st century — or to address the great ecological and social challenges of our time — there are still very few serious attempts to demonstrate an alternative model with the health of people and planet at its heart.
Our learning programmes inspire and equip learners to imagine a world where both people and the rest of nature can flourish. Our work spans every generation from early years and tiny tots through school and into further and higher education as well as our public engagement sites for all ages.
We believe that everyone should learn from and in nature — to nurture creativity, improve health and wellbeing, and build a lifelong connection to the natural world. From an early age, nature based experiences cultivate the knowledge, confidence, and values needed to become the future guardians of the planet we so desperately need.
We believe that a visit to Eden provides a vital opportunity to understand our connection to and dependence on the natural world — a fundamental step in reshaping how we live and learn.
That’s why we believe every generation should have the opportunity to learn with Eden Project – and every child should have access to Eden Project in their journey towards being a Guardian of the future.
Within our public education centre in Cornwall, we run an extensive range of educational workshops, lessons, courses and activities to engage learners of all ages. We need to accelerate our reach, beyond only those who can come to our current site and have plans to expand our physical locations and use the latest technology to reach beyond our sites and into classrooms all over the country with Eden Project Roots.
3 Nature: Leading Nature’s Recovery
We face two interconnected crises: a global mental health emergency and a devastating decline in biodiversity. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and one of the least nature connected. The World Health Organization estimates that mental illness will be the biggest health issue globally by 2030.
Many people, especially the young, are struggling with poor mental health, loneliness, and disconnection from the natural world. The rise in anxiety, depression and economic inactivity reflects a deeper issue — our broken relationship with nature.
Eden Project is working to demonstrate the true value of nature: the value of nature to people and also the value of people to nature. The health of our people and our planet is inextricably linked and we have 3 key interventions to help improve the health of the planet, and its people.
The Big Lunch brings people and communities together on an annual basis in a UK wide act of community and friendship. Building social capital and resilience in neighbourhoods and communities is vital to effect real change and by getting to know one another better, communities are better placed to deal with the social, political and environmental challenges they face, and can develop solutions to make a difference where they live.
Eden Project Nature Connections connects people with nature through nature-based activities that rebuild human health, and restore nature at the same time. Research shows that spending time in nature improves mental and physical health, reduces stress, and builds resilience. When people spend time in nature, and are equipped with the skills to support it, they recognise nature’s value and feel more value in themselves, a virtuous circle where nature supports us to recover, and we support nature to recover too.
With 97% of wildflower habitats in the UK lost since the end of World War one, the Eden Project National Wildflower Centre is working with landowners and communities to halt the decline and restore our wildflower habitats. With 100 hectares of new wildflower habitats being created across the UK each year for the next decade, we are bringing back biodiversity, supporting wildlife and connecting people to the natural world through wildflowers.
Trustees and Directors
As a visitor attraction, a social enterprise and a charity, Eden is a unique and complex organisation.
The Eden Trust owns a group of companies established to support the delivery of its charitable work. Teams across Eden ultimately report to the Trustees of the Eden Trust, who ensure that our charitable aims are met.
The Eden Project in Cornwall is operated on behalf of the Eden Trust by Eden Project Limited. Any profit generated is reinvested back into the Trust. Eden Project Limited is managed by a Board of Executive Directors and a Nonexecutive Chairman, who together remain ultimately responsible to the Eden Trust, a UK Registered Charity (number 1093070).
Trustees
Orna NiChionna - Chair of the Trust
Sir Tim Smit – Co-founder of Eden Project
Sir Ferrers Vyvyan
Fiona Godlee
Dane Julia Slingo OBC DSc FRS
Erica Neve
James Fulcher
Jon Watts
Matthew Lusty
Victoria Valentine
Edwin Booth CBE DL
Chris Haynes
Leadership Team
Andy Jasper – Group Chief Executive Officer
Julia Schoenmakers ACA – Chief Finance Officer
Dan James – Development Director
Peter Stewart LVO – Chief Purpose Officer
Simon Townsend – General Manager – Cornwall
Dr Jo Elworthy – Chief Science Engagement Officer
Lindsey Brummitt MVO – Programme Director
Peter Jones – Director of Horticulture
Role description
Director of Philanthropy – Eden Project
Location: Eden Project HQ or London (with an expectation that the post holder will make regular visits to the Eden Cornwall site)
Salary: £80,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time, permanent
About the Eden Project
The Eden Project is an educational charity, a social enterprise and a global movement working to regenerate the planet. Our future projects address some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century: nature depletion, mental and physical health risks, social cohesion and climate adaptation. Through immersive experiences, storytelling, and science, we aim to reconnect people with the natural world and inspire collective action. As we look ahead to 2030, Eden is entering a transformative phase of growth — including the expansion of our physical destinations and the launch of ambitious new programmes in the UK and internationally. Philanthropy will play a central role in enabling this next chapter.
The Role
We are seeking an outstanding Director of Philanthropy to lead our major donor and individual giving strategy. This is a pivotal role in a growing team, responsible for securing transformational gifts from highnet-worth individuals and developing Eden’s philanthropic culture at scale.
You will support the delivery of Eden’s major fundraising campaign, develop a refreshed Patrons scheme, and forge powerful relationships that fuel our mission — locally, nationally, and globally. As a senior leader within the organisation, you will work collaboratively across teams and with Trustees to embed philanthropy and fundraising into Eden’s culture.
Key responsibilities
1. Lead Eden’s Major Donor strategy
Develop and execute a high-impact strategy to engage high-net-worth individuals, inspiring significant philanthropic contributions aligned with Eden’s growth and regeneration goals.
2. Grow and evolve the Patrons Programme
Refresh and manage Eden’s Patrons scheme, introducing innovative approaches to donor engagement across physical destinations and digital platforms.
3. Build strategic relationships and partnerships
Identify, cultivate, and manage high-value donor relationships, developing a highquality CRM and pipeline of individuals and partners to support Eden’s mission.
4. Support global philanthropy development
Work closely with the Development Director to create and deliver a philanthropy strategy for Eden Project North America, bringing alignment and insight to Eden’s global philanthropic approach.
5. Contribute to organisational leadership and culture
As a member of the Senior Leadership Group, provide confident and collaborative leadership—championing a culture of philanthropy and ensuring best practice in fundraising governance, ethics, and stewardship.
Person specification
Essential qualities for the role
Knowledge and skills
A senior manager with a proven track record in securing major donations and the effective management of relationships with high net worth individuals in the charity sector. Extensive relationship building skills with a niche audience and strong theoretical knowledge on how to cultivate these relationships to encourage philanthropic giving at the highest level required. The post holder will be a strong leader with experience of working with a CRM system to
export and manipulate complex data sets, segment audiences effectively and develop a CRM strategy. A solid understanding of the legal, regulatory and ethical environment of fundraising including Data Protection and Gift Aid is essential. For the US an understanding of the formation and running of 501(c)3 structures would be advantageous.
Decision making
Working to medium term objectives and making decisions which will impact the organisation over the medium to long term. Once formed, the post holder will have regular contact with
Eden Directors and Trustees and be a member of the Senior Leadership Group. The work will require close working relationships across the teams with particular reference to the Development Director, CEO, CFO and Projects Director. Reporting to the Eden Trust and on a regular basis providing input to Eden’s fundraising strategy and direction as well as board reports, professional judgement will be used in day to day decision making.
Resourcefulness
Adaptive thinking is a key aspect of the role and the post holder will be expected to ensure new and engaging approaches to keep the audience of potential donors informed and abreast of the campaign plan at all times. Key to the role is applying inventive approaches to relationship management and campaign planning that excite and impress our prospects and show real attention to detail. The post holder will need to understand current best practice in the fundraising landscape and apply this practically whilst adapting this to fit within our campaign in new and innovative ways. Specific importance will be placed on how we use new technology and our CRM system to maximise the impact of this campaign.
People and asset management
The post holder will be responsible for driving significant fundraising income. Particular emphasis will be placed on securing individual donations in the UK. They will have responsibility for a significant budget and the sign off against significant payments. Responsible for the careful management of highly sensitive personal data relating to HNW donors. The post holder will be responsible for developing a plan to grow the resource necessary to be able to fulfil the campaign ambition in an agreed timescale.
Communication and visitor experience
Exceptional interpersonal, presentation and negotiation skills are required for this role. Highly developed communication
and listening skills are essential as are tact, strength of personality and patience, excellent written and verbal skills and the ability to deliver the role with a sense of humour and lightness of touch where appropriate. The post holder will be required to communicate and manage relationships at a high level both within and beyond the organisation, using a variety of channels to produce and share information. This role will actively expand Eden’s networks and lead on key strategic relationships and negotiations.
Operational environment
Flexible on location, but a preference to being based in Cornwall. There will be time spent in Cornwall, Morecambe/Lancaster, Dundee/Scotland and London. Further travel including the U.S. would be required as future projects develop.
Additional qualities
Efficient, organised, professional, resilient, enthusiastic, fun. Full clean driving license essential.
How to apply
To apply for the role, please upload the following documents to the Prospectus website:
• Your CV, drawing out relevant experience for the role.
• A supporting statement of up to 1,000 words that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification as well as your interest in the organisation’s work.
Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.
If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk. Please also notify us if you require a postal application.
Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://prospect-us.co.uk/job/194412
At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.
Recruitment timetable
Deadline for applications: 12th May
First stage panel interviews: w/c 18 May
Second stage panel interviews: w/c 1st June
Queries
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained consultant Ryan Burdock at Prospectus on 020 7400 6398, or email: ryan.burdock@prospect-us.co.uk
