Partnership Manager

Chance UK supports children aged 5-13 and families to develop social and emotional skills, building resilience to flourish in a changing world. We want every child to feel happy about themselves, realise their potential and be confident in their ability to build a bright future. . We know that if we provide the right support at the right time, children families and communities can thrive. We are committed to ensuring that their voices are heard and to play our part in ensuring that this happens so that there is a better, brighter future for al 

This is an exciting time to join the Chance UK team. In the past 3 years we have doubled the number of children and families we work with. In line with our Strategic Plan the organisation has grown to enable expansion into new geographic areas across London.

We have been running intensive mentoring programmes for 25 years and recently widened our portfolio to include school-based workshops and group work supporting the development of social and emotional skills and a parenting programme provided in a number of different settings.

Chance UK’s new Strategy places focus on strengthening our external voice. In addition to vital service delivery, Chance UK prioritise raising awareness for both families and professionals at this critical time of increased need.

As the need for our work continues to increase, our goal is to maintain our momentum of growth. In 2021 we launched an exciting new 5-year Strategy supported by a financial plan to enable our services to reach more children and families across the UK, strengthen the system to better service the communities we support, and work in a place-based way to make lasting change.

About the role

The Partnerships Manager role is crucial for our small but mighty Fundraising team, in helping to raise funds to enable Chance UK to achieve this growth and expansion of our impact. In preparing for the next stage of our Strategy we are looking to increase and diversify our income in a sustainable way. This will include major focus on building a wider strategic corporate partnerships portfolio which the Partnerships Manager will have a key part in delivering.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual who will bring energy and ideas to help us inspire and engage corporate partners and to convert opportunities into successful outcomes.

You will be pivotal to the organisation as we pursue our ambitious 5-year strategy to diversify and grow services sustainably to support children and young people and their families 

As part of a small team, you will work flexibly to support the wider funding portfolio to support income generation and fundraising more broadly including campaigns, community fundraising and trusts and foundations.

Chance UK welcomes applications from those from Black, Asian, and other Minoritised Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and also those with lived experience of the issues we work on, including: exclusion from school, being a parent of a child who has been excluded or who has additional social, emotional or behavioural needs. 

Job Description

New Business

• Work together with the CEO and Senior Management team to develop and drive long term high value partnerships. 

• Show creativity and resourcefulness, to not only identify current existing opportunities, but to conceive and develop new opportunities outside of traditional charity partnerships.  

• Prepare and deliver proposals with strong cases for support to engage companies in Chance UK’s work – targeting both CSR and marketing teams. This could include cause related marketing, events, sponsorships and social media activity.  

• Develop a Fundraising Toolkit to inspire support and help guide partners through their fundraising efforts. 

• Build a base of corporate prospects who are interested in supporting Chance UK, working with colleagues across the organisation, including Trustees, and where appropriate existing donors and their networks.

• Convert prospects into donors, by developing relationships through (where possible) face to face meetings, hosting events, thoughtful communication, networking, writing proposals and making presentations.  

• Ensure all active and potential corporate partners receive an excellent level of service, understand clearly the work of Chance UK, and feel positive about all their points of engagement with the organisation.

• Work closely with the Programmes team in preparing funding proposals, and liaise with others in the organisation to select appropriate projects/asks.  

• Ensure all Chance UK’s corporate fundraising meets appropriate charity law, and follows industry best practice, in particular Institute of Fundraising guidelines and Data Protection legislation.  

• Ensure the database is kept up to date with corporate relationships, and to keep and maintain up to date records of activity.  

• Ensure agreements are in place which set out the expectations and requirements of each corporate partner, ensuring each partner is made aware of Chance UK’s commitment to Child Protection and has received the Child Safeguarding Policy where needed.

• To undertake other duties as directed by the Head of Income Generation or CEO 

• Lead on approaches to corporates, major donors (70% of your time) and support to wider account management and fundraising initiatives (30%) 

Account Management

• Lead on Account Management activity ensuring partners and donors understand the impact of their giving and Chance UK can support a calendar of activity.

• Create effective relationships and exciting activity plans to inform and motivate staff to support and raise funds for Chance UK.

• Support with managing high-level donor relationships as needed. 

Planning and Development  

• Work closely with the Head of Income Generation and the CEO to create and deliver strategies and plans to develop and grow Chance UK’s Corporate Fundraising offering.

• Set annual budgets for income and expenditure, along with the Head of Income Generation, and provide regular updated forecasts  

• Be accountable for the delivery of an element of the budget and share accountability for the delivery of the wider Fundraising team income. 

• Give consideration to cost efficiency at all times  

General Responsibilities

• To support team members where necessary to achieve our goals as a team.

• To be an advocate for developing systems and processes specific to fundraising. 

• To regularly update activity on the CRM database. 

• To support with communications including generating and posting social media content, the preparation of case studies and donor communications.

• To carry out all tasks and responsibilities in accordance with Chance UK’s ‘Principles and Practices’ and contribute to the development of these in the light of organisational experience and learning. 

• The post-holder may be required to contribute in other areas not specifically outlined above to support the overall work and mission of Chance UK. 

Person Specification 

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Experience of building new business strategies in a corporate fundraising environment with up-to-date knowledge of funder priorities, strategies and application criteria, particularly in the area of corporate giving. 

• Experience of researching, developing new business pipelines and managing multiple points of contact.

• Demonstrable experience of fostering new relationships, generating leads, and experience of stewardship. 

• Proven track record of developing and writing successful proposals, applications, and business documents. 

• Demonstrable experience in a new business development environment with direct experience of successfully securing corporate new business. 

• Demonstrable success in generating income/sales and achieving financial targets. 

• Experience in developing business partnerships which will support the sustainability of the organisation and enable growth (financial, pro-bono and in-kind support) 

• Ability to think innovatively and strategically to support income generation.

• Ability to liaise with senior representatives in corporate organisations and businesses.

• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills. 

• Good team working skills. 

• A self-starter with the ability to manage time effectively.

Desirable 

• Have an understanding and experience of Child Safeguarding

• Understanding of and/or sympathy to the issues of early intervention and prevention   

• Experience of delivering a communications plan 

• Experience of delivering fundraising campaigns and supporting on communications

• Experience of fundraising through major donors, alumni and trust and foundations

• Confident public speaker 

• Experience of creating content to support fundraising (case studies, case for support) 

• Experience of running successful fundraising events

• Experience of using salesforce of similar charity database  

• Knowledge and understanding of UK fundraising laws and best practice  

• Understanding of budgets, financial reporting and strategies  

• Fundraising qualification