Gifts and Partnerships Manager

Reports to: Head of Development

Salary: £32,000 – £36,000 depending on experience.

Staff reports: No direct reports – key relationships with internal delivery teams, CEO and the Board of Trustees.

Contract: Permanent, 37.5 hours per week although will consider flexible hours between 30-37.5 for the right candidate.

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Who are we?

Why is a culture of curiosity important? Everyone needs to feel safe and confident to ask questions, challenge current thinking and test things out.

We The Curious is an educational charity and social movement using questions to:

• Overcome educational inequality
• Create a compassionate, connected society
• Connect people with art, science and culture
• Remain relevant and accessible to the diverse communities of Bristol
• Lead the way in environmental sustainability

The Gifts and Partnerships Manager will lead on several of our fast-growing fundraising streams: major donors, corporate partnerships and academic partnerships. The Development team have established a strong foundation for these streams and we are now looking for a self-motivated individual to implement this strategy and take the organisation’s fundraising to the next level.

Job description

Lead on new fundraising streams

• Ensure that supporters’ relationship management needs are met.
• Implement the organisation’s Major Supporter Strategy, building key relationships with High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), corporate partners and strengthen the existing relationships with regional Universities (University of Bristol, University of the West of England, University of Bath and Exeter).
• Develop individual solicitation plans for HNWI’s.
• Establish and deliver an annual cultivation events plan, to support greater engagement with our key funder audiences.
• Manage and develop the We The Curious Life Membership and Friends schemes.
• Further develop the We The Curious corporate membership strategy with support of the Development Manager.
• To ensure due diligence, agree and produce relevant corporate contracts
• Manage corporate engagement events.
• Contribute to the wider We The Curious fundraising strategy.
• Support other Development Team members with building funding proposals and project reporting.

Consultation

• Work with the Board of Trustees to expand our fundraising base and influencing network.
• Work with the Head of Development in contributing to the annual business planning process.
• Work with Head of Development to ensure responsibilities are aligned and supportive of overall fundraising strategy.
• Contribute to Board reports as required.
• As part of the Development Team ensure that the Tessitura database is an effective and efficient fundraising tool.

Person specification

• At least three years of fundraising experience, with success at delivering against targets within deadlines.
• The ability to network, build and manage high value relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Knowledge of philanthropic motivations and current funding trends across the UK with the ability to identify and maximise new opportunities and mitigate against threats.
• A good understanding of budget management and the ability to work effectively with allocated resources.
• Highly organised, with excellent time management skills and experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• The ability to understand broad-ranging project content and financial data and tailor it into appropriate style and content for target funders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with internal and external stakeholder at all levels.
• Ideally an understanding of education, culture and science charities.
• A commitment to equitable and inclusive practices.
• Embody our vision and values.
  • Progressive – we think about what’s next, we listen and invent
  • Creative – we generate and test new ideas and experiment freely
  • Inquisitive – we ask questions and listen
  • Collaborative – we share and learn generously and value difference and the space where ideas and disciplines meet
  • Playful – we embrace the unexpected with a sense of fun and support each other to explore uncertainty
  • Inclusive – we are led by people and the curious nature of human beings. Curiosity belongs to everyone.

Benefits include:

• A pension scheme with 5% company contribution
• 25 days holiday, in addition to bank holidays 
• Death in service benefit of 4 x your annual salary
• Access to an Employee Support Programme which offers confidential advice and counselling in addition to free professional coaching and a range of support from the Being Well team.
• A vibrant, friendly working place hosting a range of free in-house clubs, from yoga to Planetarium karaoke club!
• Ample opportunities for training and professional development.
• Free entry to We The Curious with up to 4 guests. You are also entitled to 12 entry tickets per year to give away.
• Discounts:  You will be eligible for staff discounts of 20% off in the We The Curious café and 25% off in our shop, as well as a range of discounts with local organisations, from restaurants to free family passes to local attractions.
• Flexible, family friendly policies and working environment.
• Free, secure parking for your bike or car.
   

We believe in celebrating people's differences. So regardless of your background or personal characteristics, if you are great at what you do, we want to hear from you.