Head of Fundraising and Communications

Tools with a Mission is a growing charity with ambitious plans.  The Head of F&C will be fundamental to the success of our growth and will be given great scope to develop new revenue streams and build their own fundraising team.  It is a great opportunity for someone with initiative and ability to see the potential and opportunity to be a key driver of the growth of our charity.   

We collect unwanted tools from across the UK, refurbish them, sort them into trade kits and send them to the developing world for livelihood creation.  We send 18-20 containers of tools every year and look to double this over the next five years. We currently have four paid staff and over 450 volunteers. 

Key to our growth and the first action from the strategic plan is the recruitment of an experienced Head of F&C to develop our fundraising, tool acquisition and volunteer recruitment strategy.  We are a Christian charity and have seen significant income growth over the past four years from the Christian community, but see our future growth by taking the charity into the secular world and sharing our vision with a new audience.

The Role

This is a new role as currently the Chief Executive is responsible for most of the fundraising and communication within the charity.  But for the growth required to drive forward the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, TWAM recognises the need to appoint a highly skilled and motivated Head of Fundraising and Communication.  The position will be key to the growth of the mission and will initiate and oversee the fundraising and communication strategy of the organisation. Initially this will be very hands-on, but in time, as finances allow and capacity demands a skilled and motivated fundraising team will be recruited.

This is a challenging and exciting opportunity to work with the CEO to develop the work and recruit the team who will fund the ambitious growth plans of the organisation.

Scope of Role

TWAM has the unique selling point of being highly environmentally responsible as well as creating long term sustainable livelihood creating projects across Africa.  TWAM therefore can appeal equally to those passionate about the environment as well as those passionate about sustainable overseas development. It appeals equally to people of faith and no-faith.

TWAM has traditionally appealed to the Christian community and we want to strengthen and develop our faith-based donor base.  But, we also want to promote ourselves to the wider secular and other-faith community, as we recognise this is a major opportunity for significant fundraising success.  The Head of Fundraising and Communication with drive this strategy with new and innovative fundraising approaches.

Summary of key tasks and responsibilities

Fundraising Operations

• Work with the CEO on the preparation of the organisations fundraising strategy and take responsibility for its implementation.

• Play a key role in the Senior Management Team and support the CEO in the execution, implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Plan. 

• Coordinate and manage fundraising, comprising Church, individual, community, trust, corporate, high level donor and digital fundraising, across the organisation.

• Take responsibility for the production of the quarterly newsletter in conjunction with the CEO and the designer.

• Work to develop strategic relationships with high level donors, trusts, grant making bodies and key stakeholders. 

• As resources allow recruit, develop and line manage a paid fundraising team.

Communications

• Be proactive in developing and promoting media stories with the maximum media coverage.

• Represent the charity externally, developing and maintaining links with the media where appropriate and acting as our spokesperson.

• Work with the CEO to develop the core messages of the charity in line with its Christian principles and strategic ambitions.

TWAM is a Christian charity,  currently supported mainly by Christians and Churches, and working mainly with Christian organisations in Africa.  We therefore require someone who is either a committed Christian and actively engaged in the life of their Church, or who can demonstrate a respect, sympathy and understanding of the Christian faith and the ability to engage sympathetically and empathetically with Christian donors.

Full Role Description and Line of Authority/Core Values documents can be downloaded from our website.