Fundraising Relationship Manager (North America)

Closed: 01 July 2021
Fundraising Intl Development Major Donor

Sorry, this vacancy is now closed and applications can’t be submitted!

  • Salary £30,942 - £40,322 per year
  • Location Birmingham, West Midlands (On-site)
  • Job Type Contract, Full-time
  • Sectors Education
  • Job Reference : 57321Z

Do you want to be part of a dynamic and innovative fundraising team? Do you want to raise money for some of society’s most pressing challenges and play a key role in a new and ambitious fundraising and volunteering campaign?

We are an ambitious and successful research-intensive University (one of the top 100 research-led universities globally) and have produced 11 Nobel Prize winners, including three who received their awards in 2016.  Academics here are tackling some of the world’s most pressing global challenges such as antibody testing and Covid-19, the impact of climate change on our woodlands and forests, issues caused by migration and displacement, the rise in youth mental health issues, and the prevention of needless maternal deaths in the developing world. Our students come from nearly 150 countries and our flagship outreach programmes mean that almost 25% of our student population come from disadvantaged backgrounds, one of the highest proportions in the UK. Philanthropy has always played an important role in shaping the University, most recently in 2015 when we closed the Circles of Influence Campaign, which raised £193 million, making it the largest HE fundraising campaign outside Oxbridge and London. Through ‘Birmingham In Action’, philanthropy will continue to play a vital role in delivering projects to change lives locally, nationally, and internationally. 

The Fundraising Relationship Manager (North America) role is your opportunity to join our excellent team at an exciting time. You will have sales experience or major gifts expertise, and will be passionate about progressing your career and understand the impact the University’s teaching and research has on the world.  Your role will be responsible for the relationship management both virtually and where possible, in person, of a portfolio of prospective and existing donors who are based in the US and Canada.  You will seek to gain knowledge and understanding of the giving preferences of these audiences, and work to help the University to develop a philanthropic offer that meets their interests. All activities will be delivered in close collaboration with DARO colleagues as well as other parts of the University. 

As part of an award winning team and led by some of the most respected names in higher education fundraising, you will work with our current Fundraising Relationship Managers to generate gifts to the University and encourage new donors to make long-term, sustainable and significant (5 and 6-figure) gifts. Your objectives and KPIs will be set by the Associate Director (Fundraising). You will also have the opportunity to work with our senior team including the Head of Principal Giving on major proposals to top donors enabling you to get experience of working with some of the most successful and experienced major gift fundraisers in the UK Higher Education sector. 

Main duties

The Fundraising Relationship Manager will excel in the following areas:

Major Gift Fundraising

As a Fundraising Relationship Manager you will have experience of securing substantial major gifts, or have worked as a high performing individual in a sales environment. Experience of international philanthropy will be a benefit. You will meet and encourage amazing individuals to join forces with the University and create brilliant outcomes. You will be creative, full of enthusiasm and passionate about relationship building with alumni and supporters of the University. You will also be adept at building wider networks for future benefit. This means that in essence your role will be responsible for the cultivation, delivery, promotion, and stewardship of major gifts (5 and 6-figure).
Development of current prospect pool 
•  Personally managing a portfolio of 50-75 of the University’s high value (5 and 6-figure) North America based prospective donors, maintaining close personal relationships with each prospect and integrating them with the University whenever possible to bring the prospective donors to the point where you can ask for philanthropic support.
•  Responsibility for an income target of a minimum of £350k
•  When practicable, this role will involve travel to the US to meet with current and potential donors. Travel to Canada may also be required. 
•  Working with the Associate Director (Fundraising) and Head of Principal Giving on 7-figure gifts and where appropriate across the portfolio. 
•  Experience of working to robust objectives and KPIs, including the number of asks made, the number of meetings held, and the sum of philanthropic and charitable funds secured. 
•  Working with senior academics and professional services staff to develop mutually beneficial working relationships and using initiative to develop or react to sometimes unusual possibilities which could open up new fundraising opportunities.
•  Assisting with partnership and relationship building activity across the University and DARO by suggesting useful contacts and by accessing relevant internal and external networks. 
•  Maintaining detailed records of all actions taken and information collected on the CRM database. 
•  Focusing on the successful funding of projects that are critical to the mission and objectives of the University.
•  Being familiar with methods of tax-efficient giving in the UK and the US and understanding the relevant charity, Freedom of Information, and Data Protection legislation.
•  Responsibility for adhering to relevant fundraising regulation and GDPR whilst ensuring fundraising processes are ethical and that due diligence is undertaken as necessary.

Development of new audiences, prospects, and pipeline

•  Understanding, promoting, and expressing thanks for the philanthropic relationship between the University and its major philanthropic supporters.
•  Developing bespoke philanthropic packages for our major donors and volunteers to inspire them to enjoy and engage with fundraising and volunteering. These packages will span the giving lifecycle from donor identification and cultivation through to thanking and recognition.
•  Generating a sustainable pool of committed supporters who are willing to support and act as advocates for the University’s charitable work.
•  Working closely with colleagues in the Volunteering team to bring donors closer to the University through a range of engagement opportunities.
•  Working closely with the Events team to facilitate cultivation events, organising events where possible to bring prospects together. 
•  Working with the Communications team to promote audience relevant communications via the quarterly Old Joe USA newsletter. 
•  Supporting the Gift Accounting team in their work with British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF, a 501c3 in the US) and the BSUF Volunteer Representative. 
•  Supporting the Regular Giving team to ensure that US and Canada feature appropriately in direct mails, e-appeals and telethons. 
•  It is expected that new ‘supporter leads’ will come from a variety of sources including the wider DARO team, academic and staff networks and volunteer, donor, and University friend networks. You will also be expected to develop your own networks in a number of ways that will include connecting into your prospect pool networks and securing advocates.

Performance & resource management

•  Understanding the priorities for the academic colleges and the University Strategic Plan, and its implications for colleges, DARO and the University.
•  Developing a medium to long term working plan with your line manager to ensure achievement against KPIs and feedback evidence via monthly 1-2-1s.  
•  Developing medium and long term solicitation strategies and using these to maximise income and foster a ‘culture of giving’ across the whole of your prospect pool.
•  Making the most efficient use of time and financial resources through rigorous planning.
•  Taking responsibility for own personal/professional development, identifying training needs and courses or other activities that will fulfil these requirements.

Communication

•  Communicating confidently with individuals at all levels.
•  Influencing senior academics, leadership volunteers and potential donors.
•  Being empathic with potential donors, academic and clinical colleagues and members of DARO and the wider University.
•  Expressing complex ideas coherently through a variety of media, primarily to individual, senior stakeholders and on occasion to a wider audience.
•  Playing an active part across the Fundraising Team, by contributing to team meetings and engaging with colleagues proactively.
•  Working effectively and collaboratively with colleagues for the greater good of DARO objectives.
•  Identifying and capitalising on all opportunities to engage and develop relationships with key prospects and donors. For example using University lectures and events as opportunities to bring donors back onto campus.
•  Promoting equality and valuing diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.