POST OF FUNDRAISING OFFICER
APPLICATION PACK
Closing dates for Applications: Noon, Monday 14 June 2010. Applications may be made by e-mail.
Interviews will be held on: Monday 21 June 2010. Please ensure that you are able to attend on this date.
Thank you for your interest in the above post. This document contains: -
1. A Job Description containing information about the primary purpose and the main duties and responsibilities of the postholder.
2. A Person Specification that sets out the selection criteria for the post in terms of essential and desirable across a range of qualifications, experience, knowledge, communication and organisational skills and personal attributes.
3. An outline of the terms of employment.
4. Background information about Friends of the Lake District including history, structure, working relationships and current issues of interest.
5. Details of the recruitment process.
We strongly recommend that you read this information before completing your Application. If there are any points that you feel need further clarification or you would appreciate an informal discussion then please telephone the Executive Director, Andrew Forsyth, on 01539 720788.
1. JOB DESCRIPTION.
Job title: Fundraising Officer
This is a new post which will work in an integrated way with other staff to maximise income for Friends of the Lake District by developing new and improved means of fundraising.
Primary purpose of the post: To lead the development and implementation of a fundraising strategy to ensure that Friends of the Lake District is financially able to promote and organise concerted action to protect and conserve the landscape of the Lake District and Cumbria.
Main duties and responsibilities
§ To generate increased income from new and existing sources including trusts, individuals and corporate bodies
§ To develop effective communication materials and resources for fundraising purposes, in conjunction with other staff
§ To monitor progress of and secure or exceed the annual fundraising target
§ To review and develop the current fundraising strategy and devise action plans for the organisation
§ To identify potential income from European, National, Regional and Local sources and lead/support preparation and submission of proposals that maximise income from these sources
§ To identify potential income from Charitable Trusts and lead/support preparation and submission of proposals that maximise income from this source
§ To identify and research new areas of fundraising
§ To promote legacy giving to the organisation, building relationships with potential legatees
§ To develop a corporate member/supporter’s scheme and increase corporate donations by developing relationships with appropriate businesses
§ To liaise with funders during the lifetime of projects ensuring that all financial claims, project reporting, acknowledgements and grant conditions are complied with according to individual grant giving bodies
§ To identify new methods of funding through membership utilisation
§ To identify potential major donors from the existing database and create opportunities to cultivate these individuals and convert them to major donors
§ To contribute to project development ensuring funders requirements can be met and projects can be delivered
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2. PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES
/DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES
Qualifications / A recognised degree-level qualification / A recognised qualification in fundraising or marketingMembership of an appropriate professional body eg Institute of Fundraising
Experience
/ Minimum of 3 years proven experience of working in fundraisingProven success in at least three of the following areas: statutory, Lottery, charitable Trusts, major gifts, direct marketing, legacies, corporate fundraising
Experience of promoting campaigning organisations / Experience in the voluntary or charitable sector
Knowledge
/ Knowledge of online and social networking opportunities for fundraisingAn understanding of research methods used to identify potential major donors
Computer literacy including operation of website, desktop publishing systems, word processing, spreadsheet and databases / Knowledge of principles of marketing and promotional techniques and their use
A broad understanding of landscape issues and policy
ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES
/DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES
Communication and organisation skills / Well-developed verbal communication, report writing and presentational skillsAbility to organise and manage fundraising events
Excellent negotiating skills
Ability to write business plans for multi-partner projects
Ability to prioritise, plan and manage a large and varied workload to meet demanding deadlines
High level of self-motivation and the ability to work effectively with minimal supervision and as part of a small team
Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to work alongside other organisations
Personal attributes
/ Enthusiasm to meet new challenges and opportunitiesEnergetic approach to work and a sense of humour
Confidence and presence to be an articulate spokesman for Friends of the Lake District to funders, with the public and with the media
A full driving licence
Willingness to work flexible hours if required, which will on occasion extend to weekends, and to travel throughout the Northwest and possibly further afield
Broad understanding of, and commitment to, the ethos of Friends of the Lake District, and the conservation and enhancement of the landscape of Cumbria and the Lake District / Geographical knowledge of the Lake District and Cumbria
An interest in and understanding of campaigning
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3. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Duration of contract: This post is initially for period of two years. It will be subject to review after nine months, on the basis of the record of achievement, with a view to extension as a rolling two year contract on completion of the initial contract period.
Hours of work: This is a full-time post for 35 hours per week, 9.00 to 17.00 (including a one hour lunch break) normally within Monday to Friday. We would take a flexible approach which allowed compressed hours over, for example, four days. Friends of the Lake District operates both a Time Off In Lieu and a flexi-time system for employees.
Salary for the post: On appointment the post will attract a salary of £35,000 pro rata. The post holder will be eligible to join Friends of the Lake District’s defined contributions group personal pension scheme, if so desired, on completion of six months’ employment.
Normal place of work: FLD Offices, Murley Moss, Kendal.
Commencement of post: FLD hopes that the selected candidate will be available to start as soon as possible but acknowledges that individual circumstances may have to be taken into account.
Holiday entitlement: Initially 25 days annual leave pro rata including working days between Christmas and New Year, plus statutory public holidays. If the contract is extended then one additional day per year of employment will be added subject to a maximum of 30 days.
Management and assessment: The post will be directly managed by the Executive Director. The postholder will be given a period of induction with an initial personal review undertaken after two months.
Probationary period: This post will be subject to a probationary period of three months.
Notice: One month’s notice of termination of employment from either side.
Friends of the Lake District strongly encourages staff to travel on business by public transport or cycle. In the event that this is not appropriate, an office car is available. Should it prove necessary to use a vehicle owned by the postholder then a mileage allowance for use of a private vehicle will be paid, subject to conditions. Cycle mileage allowance is also payable.
Friends of the Lake District complies with legislation and operates a no smoking policy at all times in offices and vehicles.
Friends of the Lake District observes the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
4. FRIENDS OF THE LAKE DISTRICT
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Introduction
Friends of the Lake District was founded in 1934 with the main purpose of campaigning for the designation of the Lake District as a National Park. Now a registered charity it has been continuing its work of landscape protection and conservation for nearly 75 years. In 1978 Friends of the Lake District became the official representatives of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) in Cumbria and our work now extends to cover the whole County.
Charitable Objects
Friends of the Lake District is a registered charity (1100759) and a company limited by guarantee (4878364). The charitable Objects are as follows:
a) to promote and organise concerted action for the protection and conservation of the landscape and natural beauty of the Lake District and the County of Cumbria as a whole and
b) to co-operate with other bodies having similar objectives or interests.
Who we are
Friends of the Lake District is supported by a membership of around 6500 members and affiliated societies, including members from Cumbria, the rest of the UK and many overseas. It has 11 permanent members of staff (Executive Director, four Policy Officers, a Communications Officer, a Planning Officer, an Administrative Officer, two part-time Membership Officers and an Administration Assistant). In addition there are three part time, fixed term Project Officers (Our Green Space (2) and Overhead Wires), plus 3 staff working on a Flora of the Fells project. The permanent staff is based in the office at Murley Moss, Kendal. The staff works through the Executive Director to an Executive Committee, which is composed of the elected Trustees and meets monthly to discharge the responsibilities of directing the work of the charity.
Who we work with
Much of Friends of the Lake District’s work involves close co-operation with the Lake District National Park Authority and other local organisations including Cumbria Wildlife Trust, National Trust, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Voluntary Action Cumbria and many others. Liaison with national bodies such as the Campaign for National Parks (CNP), CPRE, the Ramblers' Association and the Open Spaces Society is equally important. We work closely with the CPRE branches for Lancashire and Cheshire, and together form a North West Regional Group which works on issues in the North West for the organisation; this is supported by a part time Regional Policy Officer. We also increasingly work with communities, helping them with their local issues.
Landscape – at the heart of what we do
The issues on which Friends of the Lake District campaigns are many and varied but retain a common theme of protection and conservation of landscape and natural beauty in Cumbria. In the early days of the Society the main threats to the landscape came in the form of afforestation and water abstraction and over the years other major issues have arisen including mining and quarrying, planning, electricity supplies, traffic and road-building, erosion, farming decline, fast power-boating (including a prominent role during the Windermere 10mph Byelaw Inquiry) and tourism development. Our current work on landscape includes agriculture, forestry, water, access and recreation use, Common Land and Village Greens, tourism, military usage, AONBs, National Parks, planning, transport, renewable energy, housing and related landscape issues. We were a prime mover in the campaign against the proposed Whinash wind turbine scheme.
More recently Project Officers have been employed to undertake specific projects on fixed term contracts, and Friends of the Lake District is moving towards a more project-based approach to campaigning and influencing.
In addition to campaigning work, Friends of the Lake District has been prominent in providing financial and other support for appropriate environmental improvement schemes in rural areas. We have given grants towards environmental projects throughout Cumbria. Friends of the Lake District organises annual hedge laying and dry stone walling competitions, provides volunteering opportunities across a gamut of types for Members, and regular events for Members to visit places of landscape, conservation or historic interest in Cumbria. Friends of the Lake District owns six areas of land in Cumbria, where we aim to demonstrate our principles in action.
The main issues and activities in which Friends of the Lake District is currently involved include:
· Support for the development of a sustainable environmental transport strategy for the Lake District and Cumbria including work to resist damaging major road schemes;
· Encouragement of sustainable tourism, and continuing attention to tourism development pressures;
· Consultation on Local Development Frameworks for the National Park, County and districts of Cumbria;
· Scrutiny of planning applications in Cumbria, including proposals for the development of wind-power;
· Changes in agriculture, forestry and woodlands, quarrying and recreational pressures and issues that impact on our landscape interest;
· Facilitating and grant-aiding a wide variety of environmental conservation projects around the county;
· Undertaking external research and assisting with student research and enquiries;
· Working on a regional agenda with our NW CPRE partners;
· Working on schemes to protect and enhance the landscape of the County, with financial support where possible and appropriate;
· Management of land and common land rights owned by Friends of the Lake District.
Fundraising – a new approach
Friends of the Lake District has been fortunate during the first 75 years, in being funded from membership subscriptions, legacies and donations. There is no recent history of active fundraising. Changed external circumstances mean that this position has had to be reviewed and it is concluded that proactive fundraising is now needed if the aims of Friends of the Lake District are to be successfully achieved. In reviewing, developing and implementing the Fundraising Strategy, the Fundraising Officer will work closely with the Trustees and the whole staff team.
For more information on FLD and on the issues outlined above please go to our website www.fld.org.uk.
5. RECRUITMENT PROCESS
FLD’s recruitment and selection process is based on equal opportunities. The aim of the procedure is to select the applicant whose skills; knowledge and experience most closely match the requirements of the post as set out above.
When completing your application we encourage you to: -
1. Examine carefully the Job Description and Person Specification and analyse how your qualifications, knowledge, experience and personal attributes match the requirements of the post.
2. Ensure that you include all the requested information and that it is clearly written so that it may be photocopied.
3. Complete the Application Form supplying as much detail as possible.