External Funding Officer

JOB TITLE: External Funding Officer

LOCATION: Bolton Lads & Girls Club, Spa Road, Bolton

SECTION: Fundraising: Grants & Trusts

STATUS: Full time, Maternity Cover – part time considered

SALARY: Salary in the range of £24 – 28k per annum

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Head of External Funding & Partnerships

MAIN PURPOSE

The External Funding Officer will be responsible for submitting written applications to a range of charitable funding sources including statutory, lottery funders, charitable trusts and foundations, in order to maximise funding potential for core services and targeted projects at BLGC, in line with the Club’s Business Plan, Fundraising Strategy, Departmental Operating Plans and financial targets.

MAIN TASKS

• Raise income to agreed targets within the Grants and Trusts Operating Plan by writing and submitting sufficient number of compelling and high-quality funding applications on a timely basis, and securing the desired Return on Investment

• Cultivate and maintain effective personal relationships with a wide range of prospective and existing funders through telephone, email, and face to face contact

• Deliver presentations to, and convene meetings, with funding bodies where required

• Use a variety of online and printed tools to research into potential funders

• Understand the needs of BLGC and communicate them in a clear, consistent way to appropriate funders

• Maintain knowledge of relevant local, regional, and national statistical information and use effectively in funding applications

• Ensure that supporting documents including detailed income and expenditure budgets, work plans, job descriptions, and case studies are produced to a high standard

• Acknowledge funding awards in a timely and consistent manner

• Liaise with the Communications and PR Officer to ensure any funder publicity requirements are implemented

• Communicate with Project Managers to ensure delivery of the project as required by the funders

• Liaise with Project Managers and staff to identify and retrieve data necessary for the preparation of monitoring and evaluation reports including financial information

• Draft and submit all monitoring and evaluation reports to existing project funders within given time-scales

• Be pro-active in supplying unsolicited reports and information to funders

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective computer-based systems for recording funder details and monitoring information

• Deputise for the External Funding Manager where relevant

  OTHER INFORMATION

Undertake any other reasonable tasks to maintain, improve and promote the work of the Fundraising: Grants and Trusts Team and BLGC generally as requested by Senior Management.

Person Specification

Experience

• Ability to write compelling and persuasive funding applications with clarity and flair, and to present complex information accurately and precisely
• Articulate verbally the impact of Club projects on young people through telephone contact with funders and site visits
• Understanding and experience of funding streams for voluntary youth work
• Track record of engaging and managing professional relationships at all levels including Trustees, Grant Officers and Departmental Officials
• Ability to work alone using own initiative
• Fundraising with a background in a large charity or local or central government
• Demonstrable track record in securing large amounts of funding
• Evidence of working within a team environment
• Understanding and experience of social development issues relevant to young people

Skills/Knowledge

• High level of proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word and Excel to support day to day work and reporting
• Ability to plan and monitor income and to produce management reports
• Ability to deliver effective presentations
• Honed planning and organisational skills
• Ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines
• Be aware of and able to use relevant sources of information to conduct research
• Numerate and articulate
• Ability to work closely with other statutory and voluntary organisations
• Project Development
• Ability to create and maintain budgets for funding applications, and cash flow analysis

Qualifications

• Certificate in Fundraising Practice/Management (Institute of Fundraising)
• Be educated to degree standard or equivalent

Other

• Prepared for occasional travel
• Prepared to work in a non-smoking environment
• Prepared to work unsocial hours as required e.g. evenings/weekends
• Driving Licence
• Member of the Institute of Fundraising