Principal Gift Fundraiser

Closed: 30 July 2017
Fundraising Business Development Major Donor

Sorry, this vacancy is now closed and applications can’t be submitted!

  • Salary £42,854 to £45,374 per annum
  • Location Remote
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Sectors Disability
  • Job Reference : 0000017795

Role details;

  • Location: Home Based with requirement to travel to our Central Office in Burghfield Common, Reading. Flexibility in terms of location offered, to be discussed further at interview
  • Contract: Permanent
  • Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week.
  • Interviews: to be held week commencing 14th August 2017
  • Key requirements: Right to work in the UK.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal Gift Fundraiser to join the High Value Partnerships team at an exciting time in our strategy to grow and diversify income over the next five years. The Principal Gift Fundraiser will be instrumental in helping Guide Dogs to achieve our ambitious plan to significantly increase income by identifying, cultivating and securing new high value supporters. 

This is a new role and you will have the opportunity to shape and build your own work programme and prospect pipeline, with full support from the Head of High Value Partnerships and our dedicated in-house Prospect Research team. The post holder will be responsible for generating new business activity and identifying new leads and prospects in order to support Guide Dogs adult and children’s services.

We are open to applications from candidates who are already specialists in this field and from people with relevant, transferrable skills who may be considering a move into the charity sector.

Job Responsibilities

  • As the external high-value ‘fundraising face’ of Guide Dogs, you will be responsible for driving forward: a. Major donor fundraising, b. Peer-to-peer networks and lead generation, c. Leading and owning cultivation plans for prospects and lead gifts, and d. Working in conjunction with other teams within Guide Dogs to identify opportunities to maximise income.
  • As an experienced major donor fundraiser (or as someone with transferable skills), you will identify and cultivate successful relationships with High Net Worth Individuals by developing compelling tailored funding proposals and bespoke presentations/proposals for our prospects.
  • You will demonstrate a high level of stewardship to manage effective relationships with existing donors to secure on-going support and to ensure that our supporters receive the best customer care.  

Education

Degree or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Proven ability of soliciting major gifts from HNWIs - including five and six figure gifts
  • Proven experience of investigating and establishing new networks. 
  • Proven experience of identifying, cultivating and recruiting new ‘cold’ donors.
  • Relevant experience of cultivating and securing HNWIs to become senior volunteers and/or join a Development Board.
  • Excellent networking and interpersonal skills that facilitate strong relationships with a wide range of people, specifically High Net Worth Individuals.
  • Negotiation skills.

We believe that wellbeing at work is about creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows all employees to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and for Guide Dogs.

As a member of staff we offer you a wide range of benefits to suit your individual needs. These include; 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (rising to 28 days after 3 years' service), a flexible benefits package and a defined contribution group personal pension plan. We will also consider flexible working arrangements.

Diversity

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome, and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We encourage applications from disabled people as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.

Safeguarding Statement

Guide Dogs is committed to ensuring that children, young people and vulnerable adults who come into contact with Guide Dogs staff and volunteers are treated with respect, and are free from all forms of abuse or mistreatment. We are also committed to ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities, and have the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and maintain the welfare and safety of those with whom they come into contact.