Senior Public Fundraising Manager (to July 2024)

Every 6 minutes someone learns that they are losing their sight. Every five hours, a baby is born with sight problems. In these moments, two profound questions emerge:

• Can this be stopped?

• How do I (or my child) live this life?

The merger of Fight for Sight and Vision Foundation on 1st April 2023 will enable us to address both questions. By combining our strengths and expertise we’ll be the only significant national funder with the efficiency, capability, and capacity to increase investment in medical research and social improvement. Together we can mitigate both the prevalence and impact of sight loss.

We have a clear ambition, led by our CEO, Keith Valentine, who has valuable lived experience of sight loss. We’ve secured well-respected and highly engaged ambassadors and patrons, from Sir John Major and Marsha De Cordova MP.

We are now looking for experienced, committed, and creative individuals to join our dynamic team as we devise and launch a new five-year strategy. You’ll be part of something impactful, we’d love to hear from you.

As Interim Senior Public Fundraising Manager, covering maternity leave, you will be responsible for an ambitious team of nine with three experienced direct reports covering Individual Giving Community and Challenge Events. As a newly merged organisation we launch our new organisational and fundraising strategy in Spring 2024. The Interim Senior Public Fundraising Manager will oversee the delivery of the new public fundraising strategy. The post holder will also lead the implementation of the new brand across these areas and support with its launch programme.

 

Responsible to

Director of Development

 

Direct reports

Events and Community Manager, Individual Giving Manager and Senior Individual Giving Officer.

 

Working hours and contract 

This is a part-time maternity cover role until July 2024 (3 or 4 days per week).

 

Salary

£50,000 to £55,000 (depending on experience) - full time equivalent, adjusted accordingly for part time hours.

Location

Aldgate E1 and hybrid working. Minimum one day in the office bi-weekly and external meetings and events as required.

Application closing date

Please submit your CV and covering letter as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications as they are submitted ahead of interviews planned for 27th November.

 

Interviews

Planned for w/c Monday 27 November.

Start Date

As soon as possible, ideally early December.

Role Responsibilities:

Strategy and team management

· Working closely with the Director of Development, to implement the new fundraising strategy and business plans within public fundraising to ensure delivery of the ambitious goals set for the newly merged organisation

· Develop and innovate the strategy as required to maximise on opportunities and risks are minimised

· Engage in market and customer insight to inform decision-making and development of new activity/products in areas identified as growth areas

· Investigate and implement opportunities to grow the charity’s digital fundraising offer

· Maintain up to date knowledge of fundraising, and retail trends and challenges proactively seeking and seizing opportunities to continuously improve and innovate

· Develop a good understanding of our supporter base, their motivations and behaviours and to use our CRM database and data analysis and insights to inform the development of new fundraising campaigns and products working closely with our Marketing and Communications team

· Play a lead role in developing digital fundraising capabilities within the team

Operational delivery

· Lead the public fundraising managers to deliver their individual area workplans

· Support the development of the new charity’s brand and take a leading role in implementing this across individual giving, community fundraising, static media collections and events

· Develop and oversee the delivery of stewardship events

· Be the fundraising lead for campaigns led by the organisation, coordinating communications activities and capitalising on fundraising opportunities associated with the campaign. 

· Be responsible for the setting and managing of public fundraising budgets, targets and KPIs. Report on progress, trends and take action when required. Analyse results and critically evaluate activity to inform future plans, supporting the fundraising managers to do the same

· Work collaboratively with the High Value, Marketing and Communications, Retail and Grants teams to ensure that all income generation activity is integrated and opportunities for cross-team working are maximised

· Support with developing new and existing relationships with donors and partners in addition to acquisition and marketing strategies

· Manage external partners and agencies involved in fundraising delivery, ensuring due diligence, high quality and effectiveness

· Ensure legal and regulatory compliance across all areas of the public fundraising portfolio, including with the Fundraising Code of Practice, data protection and Gift Aid. Model best practice and coach team members as required.

Leadership

· Drive a positive, ambitious and solution focused culture with the team, coaching and motivating where needed. Ensure that team members have the skills and attitude needed to succeed and deliver against income targets

· Be an effective and supportive line manager to all direct reports

· Provide management information for Directors and Board of Trustees as requested and attending meetings when required

· Ensure that the team are up-to-date with developments in the sector and keep abreast of latest fundraising innovations to ensure the charity can capitalise on new opportunities and adhere to regulatory and legal requirements

· Represent the charity at local, regional and national meetings and conferences as and when required

· Engage with the sector, learning from peers and sharing best practice.

Other

· Produce excellent written materials (hardcopy, email and online) to support all aspects of the team’s work

· Work closely with the Head of Marketing & Communications to ensure tone of voice is aligned.

Key relationships

· Direct reports and line manager

· Development Board and other high level fundraising committees

· Trustees, our Patrons and key supporters with influence to make the most of their networks

· Suppliers and third party providers

· Work closely with the corporate team, to ensure challenge events are promoted to employees and that opportunities for development and uplift are identified and mutually agreed

· Build good relations with the Grants and Impact teams, both to recruit supporters/volunteers and to understand and accurately reflect the charity’s  work in event communications

Person specification:

Desirable skills, knowledge & experience

· Appropriate professional fundraising qualification

· Track record of achieving high level Individual giving (£2-3m) overall income targets - both personally and through leading a team of fundraisers

· Line management experience with demonstrable commitment to staff development and progression

· Management (including the planning, resourcing, implementation & monitoring) of successful fundraising campaigns involving multiple income streams and rigorous deadlines

· Track record of implementing successful IG acquisition initiatives including digital and hybrid fundraising strategies.

· Experience of devising and implementing fundraising strategies and operational plans

· Excellent understanding of finance with experience in the development and management of budgets

· An effective networker, with an ability to build high level relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders and track record of managing high-level relationships with Trustees and/or senior volunteer committees

· Effective time-management with the ability to manage conflicting priorities to meet planned and unplanned demand, ensuring that deadlines are met.

· Understanding and experience of working within the requirements of the Code of Fundraising Practice and data protection legislation.

· Experience of working within medical research, disability, or social impact

 

Personal qualities

· An understanding of and commitment to the sight loss community.

· An accomplished written communicator, adept at using the latest statistics and data to evidence need and impact whilst maintaining an engaging and human tone of voice.

· Excellent financial fluency.

· Flexibility and a practical, can-do attitude.

· Highly motivated and able to juggle a varied workload.

· Personable, with excellent listening skills and high emotional intelligence, with the ability to think creatively.

· Ability to identify new fundraising initiatives, assess likelihood of success and impact on resources, develop appealing ‘asks’ and match donor interests to funding needs/projects.

· Excellent accuracy and attention to detail.

Flexibility 

The role description is a general outline of duties and responsibilities and may be amended as the newly merged charity develops and the role grows. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.