Job Description: Director of Fundraising and Communications

ABackground Information

The Connection at St. Martins is based in the heart of London, near Charing Cross Station and Trafalgar Square. CSTM has been helping homeless people since the First World War and is one of London’s largest homelessness charities. CSTM helps 4,200 people each year through five services for rough sleepers and people who are vulnerably housed:

  • A Day Centre supporting 2500 people to engage in mainstream services;
  • A Night Centre providing 750 people a year with access to emergency accommodation;
  • Advice for 900 people a year so that they can access housing and improve wellbeing;
  • Workspace helping 700 people a year to move towards into work, learning and volunteering.

Connection at St. Martins has an annual turnover of £4.2m, a staff team of 90 and around 50 regular volunteers. The fundraising team raises£2m a year and the charity benefits from the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal, run by our partners - the St. Martin’s Charity. CSTM has a high profile and a sound financial footing with significant independence from statutory funding. That said, there are close working links with Westminster City Council, The Passage, St. Mungos and West London Mission. The charity also has a number of high profile corporate neighbours who support our work.

Our new strategy from April 2018 includes our aim to grow fundraising from £2m to £3m a yearby 2023. We anticipategreater collaboration with St Martin’s Charity to grow the Christmas Appeal and individual giving. We also intend to develop our communications function to make best use of our high profile and geographical location. Therefore the charity is recruiting for a new Director of Fundraising and Communications to take this work forward.

This role requires someone with strong experience of fundraising and associated communications. The post holder must be able to oversee the work of a team of 6 and a range of different funding streams as well as securing five and six figure sums in their own right. The post holder must have experience of working successfully in partnerships and collaborations, be a confident public speaker and networker.

Responsible to: / The Chief Executive Officer and Trustees as part of the Leadership Team
Responsible for: / The Fundraising and Communications Team (Currently 5 posts)
Liaison with: / Other Leadership Team Members, St. Martin’s Charity, St. Martins Development Trust
Job Purpose: /
  1. Design, develop and implement CSTM’s fundraising strategy to increase fundraised income from £2m to 3m over 4 years;
  2. Design, develop and implement CSTM’s communications strategy;
  3. Raise funds and meet ambitious targets;
  4. Promote the work of CSTM to meet communications objectives;
  5. Provide management of the Fundraising and Communications team;
  6. Be a key member of the charity’s Leadership team.

Salary / £55 – £60k
Contract: / Permanent Full-time position

BMain Tasks

1Design, develop and implement CSTM’s fundraising strategy, increasing fundraised income from £2m to £3m a year by 2023

  • Research the fundraising environment, different types of donors and new, innovative approaches, building on an existing well establish support base spread between:
  • Individual giving
  • Legacies
  • Events
  • Companies and company volunteering
  • Trusts and Liveries
  • Produce and update a 5 year fundraising strategy which increases donations and improves donor acquisition to support the organisation’s strategic goals, meeting agreed income targets based on long term financial forecasts;
  • Build sustainable and predictable funding sources, ensuring that prospects are well researched, risk is identified, analysed and mitigated;
  • Work collaboratively with the St Martins Charity to support continued growth of the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal (currently raises c£3m annually);
  • Work collaboratively with the other St. Martins charities to develop a common and strategic approach to legacies.

2Design, develop and implement CSTM’s communications strategy to build the profile and influence of the charity as a leading provider in the homelessness sector

  • Research and identify appropriate methods to raise the profile of CSTM;
  • Produce a 3 – 5 year communications strategy which supports strategic fundraising, raises the charity’s profile, identifies and mitigates risks to the charity;
  • Ensure the charity has brand guidelines, on line and hard copy publications which reflect the charity’s core values and guide all staff to be consistent in external communications;
  • Build CSTM’s use of press and media links to support the achievement of the charity’s wider goals;
  • Identify ways in which CSTM can collaborate with partners to use frontline information to inform policy with key stakeholders.

3Raise funds and meet targets in order to ensure the security and stability of CSTM’s current work and future projects

  • Oversee the development of a balanced, sustainable and diverse portfolio of income streams;
  • Identify, nurture and secure six figure funding opportunities, working collaboratively with the St. Martins Charity and St. Martins Trust where appropriate;
  • Build relationships with Trustees and The Friends of The Connection to support fundraising;
  • Ensure CSTM communications and those of the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal activity are linked;
  • Ensure that all donors are recognised for their contribution, that the highest level of stewardship is maintained and IT is used effectively to underpin this;
  • Ensure policies and procedures are in place to meet legal regulations and reflect fundraising best practice.

4Promote the work of CSTM to meet communications objectives

  • Oversee the work of the Communications Officer;
  • Ensure that CSTM has high quality on line and hard copy publications which support the achievement of the charity’s overarching strategy;
  • Oversee the development of CSTM’s digital communications to build awareness of our work, increase our influence and support donor acquisition;
  • Develop and sustain high-level contacts to support the achievement of strategic objectives;
  • Represent the organisation to the media and at public events, giving talks and presentations as appropriate;
  • Ensure that all services use core marketing principles and follow CSTM’s brand guidelines in their planning and promotional work.

5Provide management of the Fundraising and Communications team

  • Provide leadership, direction, support and line management to the team. This will include producing an annual team plan, regular 1:1s and annual review to ensure objectives and targets are met;
  • Challenge performance and address difficulties in the team where appropriate;
  • Promote collaborative working across the team, with other teams and with the St. Martin’s Charity;
  • Develop and maintain systems to monitor and evaluate the objectives and activities of the team including reporting on performance;
  • Develop a culture of innovation, resourcefulness and best practice in fundraising to make the best use of time and skills in the team.

6To be a key member of the charity’s Leadership Team

  • Participate in CSTM strategic planning process, working with the CEO and Leadership Team members, ensuring the fundraising and communications strategies link to annual operating plans;
  • Work closely with the SMT to reflect the charity’s core values in the leadership of the organisation.
  • Promote cross-organisational working as agreed with the SMT;
  • Report progress and achievements in fundraising and communications to the trustees, highlighting risk and mitigation measures;
  • Deputise for the Chief Executive occasionally in their absence.

CPerson Specification

This person specification sets out the essential experience and abilities needed by the successful candidate for this post. Please bear these points in mind when completing your application form, as these requirements will be taken into account at both the shortlisting and interviewing stages.

Knowledge and experience
Strategic fundraising experience, with the ability to think ahead, set clear direction and formulate realistic strategic objectives
Experience of data analysis, IT and research to support fundraising growth
A strong understanding of strategic communications, marketing and how to raise an organisation’s profile and impact
Extensive experience of business development and demonstrable success in growing income through a diverse range of fundraising activities including experience of personally securing 5 and 6 figure sum gifts.
Experience of managing and developing a team to achieve excellence and meeting targets
Experience of influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
Experience developing innovative and targeted fundraising campaigns and high level events
Skills and Attributes
A strategic mind-set and able to pull away from operational issues to consider the bigger picture and long term health of the charity as part of a team.
Able to work autonomously to take forward and shape areas of work of key strategic significance with limited input from the CEO.
A role model to the wider staff and volunteer team, reflecting professional, values based leadership.
A creative and entrepreneurial approach, and willingness to innovate and take measured risks
Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills; both written and verbal
Demonstrates gravitas and credibility in order to represent the organisation and build confidence internally and externally.
An empathy with and an understanding of homelessness issues, with an ability to deal sensitively and authentically with clients, staff and volunteers
Brings energy, enthusiasm and drive which inspires others to achieve CSTM’s vision and strategic aims
Able to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.