Corporate Fundraiser Four Day Week

Corporate Fundraiser

Job Description

Location: flexible- can be home based, but at least one day per week likely to be required at our Chelmsford office.

Status: Employed, permanent contract subject to successful 6 month probationary review

Hours: 28-35 per week

Remuneration: £28-33.5k FTE depending on experience

Benefits: Pension contribution of 3% (employee contribution 5%), free parking, flexible working

We are looking for an enthusiastic and effective Corporate Fundraiser to drive forward the Corporate element of our fundraising by researching, building and securing new partnerships and growing existing relationships. Interest in partnering with The Country Trust is growing and we expect this to become a significant income stream within two years.

Imagine a job where your skill at identifying and building the best corporate partnerships for our charity results in a step change in our ability to improve the life chances of disadvantaged children through food, farming and countryside opportunities and experiences.

We are looking for a self-motivated individual, with experience of relationship and account management, (preferably but not essentially in a fundraising environment) with exceptional communication skills, who is engagingly tenacious and has the entrepreneurial flair to develop creative, deliverable, cost effective, high impact win-win partnerships. You’re someone who thrives in the fast paced and pressured environment of a small charity with no shortage of ideas but limited resources, you’re self motivated and independent but you also love to collaborate and people love to collaborate with you.

You will be a vital part of a small central team of 8 mostly parttime colleagues supporting a team of c.30 Coordinators around the country delivering our programmes to disadvantaged children.

Main purpose of the role

Companies are showing increasing interest in partnering with The Country Trust and to meet the demand and ensure we unlock all the potential we are looking for someone to take on this exciting role within our Fundraising Team. Reporting to the Fundraising Manager, you will be responsible primarily for driving the Corporate element of our fundraising forward by researching, building and securing new partnerships and growing existing relationships. We expect this to become a significant income stream within two years. You will also support the Fundraising Manager on other funding streams as required and as opportunities arise.

Responsibilities

·         Work with the Fundraising team, our Trustees, VPs and wider supporter network, as well as your own contacts to develop and maintain your own pipeline of companies- both existing relationships and new leads.

·         Work with the Fundraising Manager (and the CEO) to set an ambitious but achievable fundraising target. Track income and forecast monthly.

·         Proactively research and develop our company portfolio, building relationships with key individuals within organisations and working together to ensure the development and growth of mutually beneficial relationships.

·         Work with the Fundraising Manager to develop and deliver compelling (but accurate and deliverable) proposals and strong business cases to secure new partnerships and funding for the Trust, including developing appealing, cost effective employee engagement opportunities.

·         Ensure appropriate Memorandum of Understanding or contracts are in place, protecting the Trust’s assets and complying with HMRC and Fundraising Regulator guidance, seeking (ideally pro bono) legal advice where necessary.

·         Identify and develop corporate partnerships that might contribute to our programme innovation work.

·         Where employee led fundraising is part of the partnership, work with companies to set fundraising targets, developing a relevant calendar of fundraising events, engaging staff, generating income and providing PR content.

·         Work with our Digital Manager and colleagues working on communications to plan and deliver effective communications, appropriate to the scale of the partnership, the opportunity afforded by it and any agreed commitments.  This includes using social media proactively as an effective tool for relationship development

·         Manage the distribution and administration of all Country Trust collection goblets- recording income and identifying new organisations and individuals to take goblets.

·         Work with the Fundraising Manager to support and/or produce funding bids and applications as required.

·         Take part in monthly fundraising team Teams calls and annual fundraising team meetings (may be virtual or located in London) reporting back on your pipeline as required.

·         Working closely with the Fundraising Manager, Communications Manager, Major Donor Fundraisers, Office Manager and the CEO to ensure everything you produce fits strategy and brand, contains appropriate calls to action and is backed up with appropriate and effective administrative processes.

·         As you get to know us and our cause, to feel free to put forward ideas and examples of accessible, sustainable and engaging ways for people to support us, in line with the ambitions of our strategic plan.

·         To keep accurate records of all spend, working within budget.

·         To track audience response and contribute to planning where and how we focus our efforts for maximum effect

Person specification

Required

·         Experience of relationship and account management, preferably but not essentially in a fundraising environment.

·         The ability to prioritise and act with determination to achieve targets.

·         Exceptional telephone, and verbal communication skills. Confident to represent The Country Trust, both internally and externally, in a professional, competent and positive manner whether on a one to one basis or to a packed room.

·         Professional and engaging with an ability to network and negotiate at all levels. You will have a ‘can do’ positive approach and be able to work independently.

·         Entrepreneurial Flair: commercially aware and able to articulate how the Trust’s aims support individual business needs and operations.

·         Committed and tenacious: keen to engage contacts with the Trust’s aims and objectives and find exciting ways to deliver and develop partnership activity to mutual benefit

·         Demonstrably strong written communication skills, to present ideas, presentations, reports or simply  as part of relationship management.

·         Ability to prioritise a heavy and demanding workload including planning and delivering your objectives on time, and responding to opportunities.

·         A full driving licence, access to a reliable car with insurance for business use and the ability to travel to meetings and to Country Trust visits and programmes.

·         Self-motivated but also naturally collaborative – internally as well as externally.

·         Ability to devise and utilise innovative ideas to engage key individuals to maintain and develop relationships

·         A genuine enthusiasm for the cause.

·         Able to build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues in a small, open plan office environment

·         Able to thrive in the fast- paced environment of a small charity with limited resources, remaining calm and with a sense of humour.

·         Well organised, able to manage information so that it is easily accessed by others

·         Trustworthiness and discretion when handling sensitive information.

·         Strong IT skills: Very proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook, SharePoint (Office 365) and familiar with cloud-based systems and databases.
Committed to Diversity, Inclusion, Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding.
·         A good understanding of risk.
·         An understanding of data protection and both the law and best practice surrounding fundraising including the requirements of HMRC, the ICO and the Fundraising Regulator.
·         An instinct for continuous improvement.
·         Accuracy, an eye for detail.
·         Always striving for excellence.
·         Willingness to be flexible, to take on new challenges and to support team members as required.

Desirable

·         Experience of developing and managing corporate partnerships

·         A network of contacts

·         Experience of drafting partnership agreements

Key Expectations

·         A positive and passionate work attitude

·         A desire to show pride in all aspects of your work

·         A flexible approach with a willingness to adapt to changes

·         The drive to quickly absorb the story of The Country Trust and make it your own.

·         An ability to work using your own initiative both independently and as a competent, effective, empathetic team member

·         Always treating others with courtesy, dignity and respect

·         Committed to the purpose and values of The Country Trust

Safeguarding:

The Country Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This is to be achieved through effective recruitment and retention of competent, motivated staff members and volunteers who are suited to, and competent in their roles.  All eligible post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We want our team to better reflect the amazing diversity of the children and the communities we work with and are excited about the connections, creativity and inspiration that this will bring. Please talk to us about your application if you have questions about matching your experience to our job specification.

How to apply

Closing date:  Midnight January 17th 2021

Interviews: w/b January 25th 2021, first interview likely to be virtual

For all recruitment information please go to our vacancies page on our website: http://www.countrytrust.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-us

Please note: applications must be via a completed application form in Word and submitted to info@countrytrust.org.uk