Director of Philanthropy

This is senior role in an entrepreneurial and ambitious charity, requiring extensive strategic and operational experience. The Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for establishing a highly professional, coordinated fundraising operation that can deliver the funds needed to achieve the charity’s social mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• Establishing a highly professional, imaginative and driven team which can deliver the expectations of the Board and the organisation’s stakeholders;
• Developing and delivering a fundraising strategy ;
• Providing vision, direction and expertise to the philanthropy/fundraising team and to the wider organisation;
• Identifying and securing philanthropic opportunities including major donors; trusts and foundations; and corporates as well as Government and its agencies;
• Exploring new and innovative ways of delivering major funds to the charity which may lie outside the traditional channels of philanthropic giving;
• Personally delivering major donations from high net worth individuals and other sources ;
• Working collaboratively with the Chief Executive on all aspects of fundraising, producing regular reports of progress against plan;
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with donors and prospective donors, maximising opportunities to secure new sources of income from individuals, companies and other sources;
• Leveraging the contacts of Trustees and pro bono supporters to good effect;
• Attracting, developing and leading a team of high performing staff that can raise the bar for the charity’s fundraising;
• Supporting and following-up with the Chairman, Trustees, senior management and senior volunteers to encourage introductions to potential sources of giving and to ensure their successful involvement in the fundraising process;
• Developing a detailed plan for any new major giving fundraising appeal, taking account of required staffing and resource (and building a leveraged resourcing model);
• Taking the lead in the development of a culture that builds and values engagement with donors;
• Ensuring all communications with charities, associates, Board members and other stakeholders are prompt, clear and transparent; this includes the regular and accurate production of reports and papers as required for the Chief Executive, the Board, the Senior Management Team and all staff;
• Demonstrating an exemplary level of professionalism and best practice across the philanthropy team and within the organisation;
• Contributing effectively to the operational and strategic development of the organisation as part of the Senior Management Team, contributing to the larger vision of the organisation and how it operates, acting as a role model within the organisation.

In summary, the new Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for establishing a best-in-class fundraising capability that supports Founders4Schools to achieve its mission to improve opportunities for young people.

Purpose of Role:

To lead and develop the philanthropy team of Founders4Schools building capability, professionalism and innovation in every area of fundraising to ensure significant and sustained progressive growth of income over this period.

Responsible to:

Chief Executive

Key relationships:

Chair, Chief Executive, Senior Management Team (the Director of Philanthropy will be one of five comprising the Senior Management Team), Board of Trustees, Policy team, high-level volunteers, existing and prospective donors, senior representatives of trusts, Government bodies, portfolio charity CEOs and the Education Endowment Foundation.

Salary Package:

Competitive

Location:

Central London

The Person

The new Director of Philanthropy will be a highly respected professional fundraiser with a proven track record of raising personally, and through their team, significant funds for a charitable cause. They will have experience of growing and developing a fundraising team and of building the appropriate infrastructure to support that team.  They will be able to demonstrate their ability to function at a strategic and operational level. They will be excellent communicators, networkers and relationship builders. They will show meticulous attention to detail, be very organised and structured in all that they do. They will have the ability to master - and to communicate effectively - the venture philanthropy model that Founders4Schools deploys. They will be able to work under pressure and to thrive on challenge. They will have excellent leadership and management skills and be good team-players. They will have the reputation and ability to establish a high performing team and a best in class fund-raising operation. They will have experience in all areas of fundraising with a particular emphasis on having raised substantial funds from high net worth Individuals, but also with experience of trusts, foundations and corporates.

In detail, essential experience and skills include:

• a proven track record in fundraising, supported by evidence of raising significant amounts of money for charities;
• experience across all channels of fundraising with a particular emphasis on major donor fundraising;
• ability to maximise networks – both internal and external to Founders4Schools;
• the ability to direct, lead and personally work through the fundraising cycle with donors (identify, research, prospect, cultivate, ask, close, thank, steward);
• experience of operating at a senior level with demanding and challenging people;
• a track record as a high-performing member of senior management teams, helping to run the organisation and contributing beyond own area of responsibility;
• ability to develop and deliver on an ambitious fundraising strategy which meets the results expected;
• good financial management with an ability to establish and deliver a budget, streamlining and finding economies where necessary;
• excellent written and communication skills;
• good project and people management skills;
• intellectually strong, able to grasp and interpret complex ideas, including the venture philanthropy model of Founders4Schools;
• presence, credibility, good leadership and motivational skills, natural ability to command respect based on experience, delivery and ability to look beyond own area of expertise;
• good leader, able to get the best out of people within and beyond the team;
• excellent relationship skills to establish and maintain contacts with key stakeholders across sectors;
• proven experience of building partnerships;
• strategic thinking, planning and doing – with an ability to generate concepts and ideas, translate them into tangible tactics and execute them;
• evidence of an innovative, creative approach and the ability to think laterally;
• self-starter and team player with excellent interpersonal skills;
• excellent negotiation skills;
• working well under pressure with the ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple projects;
• assertiveness, tenacity, the commitment to ‘win’;
• enthusiasm, flexibility and a determined approach to deliver winning strategies
• a commitment to, and interest in improving the life opportunities of young people.

About Founders4Schools

Founders4Schools is a pioneering Edtech Charity whose mission is to inspire students and prepare them for the rapidly changing world of work. We do this by enabling teachers to invite business leaders into the classroom in just 4 minutes.

Our online platform is a free service, connecting teachers with leaders of successful growing businesses in their community. To date, we have helped create over 124,000 student-employer encounters.

You must be eligible to work in the UK without restriction.

In submitting an application, please note you should include:

• a comprehensive Curriculum Vitae giving details of relevant achievements in recent posts;
• a brief covering letter that summarises your interest in this post.  Please provide evidence of your ability to meet the criteria outlined above.