Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Officer

As Trusts & Foundations Fundraising Officer with the Lake District Calvert Trust, a specialist residential centre for people with disabilities, you will be raising funds to enable children and adults with all types of needs to take part in challenging activities – adventurous experiences which have life-changing outcomes.

The charity supports around 4,000 visitors each year staying in our 60 bed residential centre in the Lake District National Park and operates 7 days a week. Annual fundraising income is in excess of £400,000 and is used by the charity to develop services and keep costs as low as possible for our beneficiaries. Additional funds are also raised for major appeals to support development of the trust.

Our Vision

People with disabilities sharing in life’s opportunities.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to enable people with disabilities to achieve their potential through the challenge of adventurous activities in the countryside in order for them to develop, change perceptions and make positive and lasting changes to their lives.

Overview of Post

The role is essential to delivering the charities income targets for Trusts and Foundations and developing long term relationships.  In addition the post holder will support the Centre Director with approaching, reporting and maintaining Trust and Foundation relationships for major appeals.

The Fundraising Officer will work as part of the Fundraising team and focus on delivering income targets from trusts and foundations. The role is responsible for growing LDCT’s trust and foundation income by increasing the amount and longevity of funding from current supporters, as well as building a portfolio of new trusts and foundations through research, maintaining a pipeline of prospects, updating the Funding Matrix and making successful applications. Building good relationships with new funders including regular reporting, as well as good stewardship of existing funders, is an important part of the role.

Key Responsibilities

1. Delivering on fundraising priorities and targets for trusts and foundations income, including our current and future major appeals.
2. Researching, identifying and prioritising appropriate trusts and foundations to maintain and convert a pipeline of new, prospective trusts and foundations.
3. Working with colleagues across the organisation to help shape projects for funding and creating strong Cases for Support to ensure effective applications.
4. Writing and submitting high quality targeted funding applications.
5. Maintaining an effective stewardship programme for trusts and foundations including appropriate accurate records, ensuring the fundraising e-Tapestry database is kept up-to-date and that fundraising income is processed efficiently with timely thank you letters and acknowledgements.
6. Managing relationships with existing and new funders to encourage maximum funding, multi-year funding awards and repeat funding.
7. Monitoring outcomes, updating the Funding Matrix and producing timely reports and information as required externally by funders and internally for Management reporting.
8. Promoting the support of funders through press releases and social media posts.
9. Adhering to standards of fundraising best practise as set out in the Institute of Fundraising’s Code of Practise and ensuring all activities comply with relevant Data Protection obligations and any other legislation.
10. To undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by the Centre Director.

Person Specification

We are looking for a driven, enthusiastic individual to help realise our fundraising ambitions. You must have a genuine commitment to the voluntary sector and identify with our core values.

An understanding and empathy for working with people with disabilities and those working in the disability sector is essential. Disability Awareness Training will be provided upon commencing the post.