HEAD OF FUNDRAISING
REPORTS TO: CEO
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Community & Events Fundraiser/ Fundraising Assistant
HOURS OF WORK:Full time (35 hours per week), permanent
SALARY:£40,000 plus benefits including pension contribution, season ticket loan, 25 days holiday, flexible working by arrangement
LOCATION: London, SW9 with some travel to attend meetings and events as needed
About The Brain and Spine Foundation:
The Brain and Spine Foundation (BSF) is the national charity that aims to improve the quality of life of people with neurological conditions and to reduce neurological disability by providing a national focus for information, education and research. We work with people affected by neurological conditions, their families and related health professionals. The charity was started in 1992 in response to a lack of support for neurological patients across the UK, a challenge which continues today.
The Foundation’s strategic goals are: to improve access to quality information and support for patients and carers; to raise the profile of neurological conditions and disabilities; and to secure the income and support needed to maintain and improve the charity’s services. We have around 30 booklets and factsheets about neurological conditions, treatments and investigations, anda well established helpline which has a good reputation and supports around 4000 people every year through answering calls and emails about the full spectrum of brain and spine conditions.
10 million people in the UK are currently living with one of over 350 neurological conditions including common conditions such as dementia and stroke, and others that are less well understood including subarachnoid haemorrhage and Chiari malformation. BSF is entirely self-supporting and relies on voluntary donations to provide its services. It is the only charity of its kind in the UK
Job Purpose:
We are currently working to increase the range and capacity of services for people with neurological conditions and to grow the profile of the organisation, so this new post is a significant part of the plan to increase funds to support this ambitious growth. We have a well-established and successful programme of event fundraising and legacies, and wish to develop our capabilities in trust and corporate fundraising as well as individual giving and community.
The post holder is expected to be ambitious about achieving success, to be proactive and self-motivated. This role would suit someone who has an excellent track record of trust and corporate fundraising who is looking to take the next step in their professional development. You will be creative and driven; looking for a new challenge. In this growing organisation there is room for the successful applicant to develop professionally and make their mark. For the right person this will be a rewarding and fulfilling role.
This post will manage two direct line reports (one of which you will recruit when you arrive) as well as having a proactive fundraising role, being the lead post for trusts and corporate fundraising. The post holder will be expected to devote a significant part of their time to these functions alongside management of the team.
Main Areas of Responsibility:
Develop and implement the fundraising strategy. This will involve:
- Implementingand developingthe fundraising strategy, incorporating plans for raising funds from trusts, companies and individuals.
- Lead and co-ordinate fundraising activities for the organisation.
- Personal responsibility for raising funds from trusts and corporates.
Job Description
Strategy and Management
To develop and implement the fundraising strategy to maximise funds from all income streams, leading to improved sustainability and furthering the Foundation’s charitable aims.
To agree, with the CEO, targets for all areas of fundraising and to achieve or exceed these.
To play an active role in the broader strategic development of the charity.
To liaise with the CEO to determine specific projects and programmes requiring funding and to match programme activity with appropriate fundraising sources.
Line manage members of the fundraising team, undertaking regular supervision and appraisal, manage performance against targets and provide opportunities for personal development.
Recruit staff to the fundraising team where appropriate, provide induction and on an ongoing basis develop the fundraising skills of all team members.
In consultation with the Finance Manager and the CEO, contribute to budget preparation in line with fundraising team expenditure and anticipated income, and monitor.
Set ambitious targets overall and for individual team members, providing a clear time line for all planned activities in any given year
Prepare written reports for the CEO and trustees on activities, progress and incomeagainst objectives as required.
Work with Trustees and attend quarterly trustee meetings when required
Investigate the financial feasibility of each and every project undertaken and provide clear regular communication of the ROI and outcomes of each source of income
Develop and maintain external relationships locally, and nationally to support the growth and long-term viability of the Trust.
Trust and Corporate Fundraising
To identify opportunities to raise unrestricted and restricted funds from charitable trusts and companies and take personal responsibility forthese income streams.
Work with the Helpline and Information team to develop project proposals for new and existing work, and secure service and project information for reporting to donors on how their giving made a difference.
Be responsible for prioritising, completing and submitting compelling applications and reports to funding organisations
Oversee research and identification of new trusts.
Maximise income by building and maintaining relationships with charitable trusts,corporate prospects and donors through excellent relationship management
Reengage lapsed funders and increase donation levels from existing funders
Utilise the Trustees’ networks for peer-to-peer approaches where possible
Other
To oversee the development of the existing, established, legacy programme.
To oversee the development of individual giving through Direct Debits.
To develop the programme of Events and Community fundraising to maximise income.
To manage direct marketing activity to the Foundation’s database of individual donors and to ensure that all potential supporters are approached appropriately.
To develop other new potential sources of income.
Administration, Data and Reports
To ensure that accurate and up-to-date database records are kept on all donors (including all donations and correspondence) and to provide regular reports and statistics relating to these
Ensure best practice in the development of the database and ongoing recruitment and management of the charity’s network of supporters.
To oversee the creation of general materials to inform potential donors of opportunities to support the Brain and Spine Foundation.
To ensure that all donors receive timely thanks and feedback as appropriate.
To co-ordinate Gift Aid administration.
General
Operate within Charity Law and Data Protection legislation and adhere to the Institute of Fundraising Codes of Practice.
Take responsibility for all the administration relating to the role with support from the Fundraising Assistant.
Perform any other duties relevant for a post of this nature in discussion with the CEO.
Person Specification:
Experience / Essential / DesirableAt least three years trust and corporate fundraising experience / X
Experience of writing successful funding applications and achieving significant fundraising targets / X
Educated to degree level and/or has a fundraising qualification or training / X
Experience of building and maintaining successful professional relationships / X
Experience of line management / X
Experience of developing and implementing new ideas for fundraising / X
Skills and Abilities / Essential / Desirable
Excellent writing skillsincluding grammar, spelling and creative writing / X
Good verbal communication skills with the ability to build positive relationships with internal and external contacts at all levels / X
Confident and assertive in working with trustees and other internal contacts / X
Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and plan to manage a varied workload / X
Good IT skills, including experience of working on CRM databases / X
Strong numerical skills / X
A strategic thinker: able to identify a vision along with the plans which need to be implemented to meet the end goal / X
Analytical thinker: able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts to explore and evaluate them. / X
Maximises effectiveness: looks for the best value, sets realistic budgets and manages them effectively, considers the implications of decisions / X
Influencing and persuading: can create a compelling case for support and able to present sound arguments to convince others. / X
Ability and willingness to work under pressure / X
Self-motivated, able to work on own initiative / X
Ability tocreate deadlines and targets, then meet them / X
Ability to identify opportunities; to respond quickly and innovatively / X
A team player; able to work in a small team / X
Flexible, adaptable, able to respond to new information and opportunities / X
Knowledge of a variety of fundraising methodologies / X
Ability to think laterally to make a positive contribution to the direction of the whole organisation / X
Attitude and Personal Qualities / Essential / Desirable
Self-confident, ambitious, driven / X
A lateral creative thinker and doer / X
A commitment to the policies and aims of the charity / X
Other / Essential / Desirable
Understanding and knowledge of the charity sector / X
Awareness of issues surrounding health and disability / X
Willing to undertake occasional evening and weekend work* / X
* B&SF operates a time off in lieu scheme (TOIL) for any overtime worked