Fundraising Manager

The Doorstep Library Network trains volunteers to pay weekly home visits to low income families to read with the children and to lend them books, helping children to enjoy reading and providing an opportunity for parents to take an active role in their children’s education.  Doorstep Libraries allow volunteers to befriend the parents and to reach out to those families most in need helping them to access local community services.

This is an exciting time to join Doorstep Library, with plans to expand projects in to new London boroughs. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious fundraiser to make their mark in a growing charity, with the aim of increasing income from trusts & foundations, alongside working with the director and as part of the management team to ensure the effective running of the charity.

Job Purpose:

• Managing the delivery of an ongoing trusts and foundations fundraising strategy;
• Using excellent writing skills to put together trusts and foundations funding bids, with the support and guidance of the Director;

• To manage the charity’s fundraising operations including coordinating prospect research and prioritisation, managing workflows, and ensuring effective stewardship of trust and foundations grants.

Responsible to: Director;

Responsible for: Supporting the Director in a range of duties, including trusts and foundations, community and corporate fundraising.

Responsibilities and duties:

1. To write compelling and professionally-presented funding bids (up to £25k), each tailored for its audience and making the case for supporting the charity in the most persuasive terms;
2. To work with the Director to plan a funding timetable to meet the needs of the charity’s plans;
3. Research new funding opportunities and keep a record of all enquiries;
4. Identify potential sources of funds including charitable trusts, individuals and the local community, and assist with generating funds for the organisation’s activities;
5. Ensure appropriate systems and procedures are in place to manage fundraising campaigns and donor contacts effectively;
6. To ensure the operation of failsafe systems for funder thankyous, acknowledgements and reports;
7. Prepare reports for the Director;
8. To prepare high-quality presentations, reports and fundraising materials as needed;
9. To work with the Programme and Marketing Managers to research local statistics to ensure that funding information, reports and applications accurately reflect the projects and the local community;
10. To recruit and manage a team of community fundraising volunteers (responsible for managing relationships with independent schools and local community groups to drive fundraising activities and income);
11. To organise and support any events which may require evening and weekend work;
12. Keep records of fundraising activities and money raised.

General:

1. To carry out all duties and responsibilities in line with Doorstep Library Network policies and procedures;
2. To positively promote the work and activities of the charity at all times;
3. To undertake additional duties as from time to time may be required.

Person Spec:

1. Wholehearted committed to and engaged with the work that we do, with a fierce belief in the difference it can make to children, families and the community;
2. Experience in generating income from trusts and foundations;
3. Excellent written and spoken English;
4. Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues across departments;
5. Excellent all round communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, pitch succinctly and write in an engaging, tailored manner to a range of audiences;
6. Drive, enthusiasm and determination to deliver against targets;
7. Ability to prioritise, plan and organise own workload;
8. A positive team player, working with, supporting and encouraging colleagues;
9. Excited by the prospect of playing a vital role in building Doorstep Library’s income streams as part of our ambitious expansion plans across London;
10. Ability to work flexibly, adapting to rapidly changing demands and opportunities while retaining a clear strategic focus;
11. Excellent organisation and administration skills, with the ability to pay attention to detail and use office systems;
12. Take pride in being supremely efficient, very well organised and display excellent time-management skills.

Salary - £32,000 per annum – 12 month contract with potential to become permanent

Hours – 35 per week

Benefits – 6% pension contribution, 25 days per annum annual leave, flexible working arrangements (including working from home part of the week).