New opportunity: Fundraising Manager on a short-term assignment

THE ROLE

On 5th February 2021 we re-launched our charity under its new name, The Ivors Academy Trust. Simultaneously, our boards have approved a One Academy business plan that lays the groundwork for this short-term assignment.

During the past few months an external consultant has been helping the team and trustees develop an initial fundraising plan. We have programmes already available for funding and a team in place to help the Fundraising Manager articulate to the donors how their support will sustain music. We are confident we have everything in place for an experience fundraiser to begin and make headway immediately. Our hope is for the candidate to be successful in raising funds quickly from donors and organizations with funding immediately available so that we may secure resources for a long-term fundraising role.

While the trust is an independent charity, you will be raising funds for The Ivors Academy to bring life-changing opportunities to thousands of music creators and, at the same time, demonstrating to the music industries that music creation can only be sustained by being completely diverse and inclusive of all people, whatever their backgrounds or circumstances.

You will be working with a high-calibre board to help individual donors, businesses, and trusts and foundations respond to the important call to action for increased support for the songwriters, composers and musicians hit hardest by the pandemic and a lack of opportunity.

Your success in raising significant funding will enable the Academy and our partners to support, educate and nurture songwriters and composers so they can keep making the music that the world loves.

OVERVIEW

The Ivors Academy Trust is the fundraising charity of The Ivors Academy. The Ivors Academy is the UK’s independent professional association for music creators. The aims of the Trust are education and support of less advantaged music creators. While separate legal entities, the Trust and Academy share similar objectives and a management plan under the unifying philosophy, One Academy.

Work under the leadership of the CEO to initiate and begin to develop a portfolio 5-figure+ donations, grants and sponsorships from statutory sources, such as Arts Council, trusts and foundations, businesses and individuals to support the aims and impact of the Trust. An important priority is for the post holder to begin grant applications immediately.

The post holder will work closely and quickly with colleagues to understand which projects need funding and present them to funders most likely to support. This requires the post holder having a current, in-depth knowledge of donors, trusts, statutory funders and businesses which have an interest in supporting music education and career development.

The post holder will use their experience and live fundraising applications to ensure the Academy’s CRM system is be used efficiently for coordinating fundraising and donor relationship management.

They will also work closely with Trustees, inspiring and supporting their fundraising efforts, and preparing regular prospect and income reports for management and Trust meetings.

The post holder will ensure that donors/supporters/partners are kept at the core of everything we do.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with the CEO, Trustees and colleagues, and refining the case for support as needed to appeal to target prospect groups, implement a short-term plan of fundraising aimed at securing major levels of support.
• Identify appropriate funding opportunities and take the lead in developing high-quality, tailored grant applications and sponsorship proposals, working with relevant colleagues.
• Proactively identify and research potential funders. This includes grant-givers, statutory and lottery sources, corporates and music industry businesses, as well as key people within organisations, including trustees of trusts and foundations and music executives.
• Negotiate and secure gifts, grants and sponsorships.
• Maintain and update reports on income secured, expected income from applications and solicitations pending, and potential income for future projects.
• Ensure all data on donors and prospects is current on the CRM database and managed in compliance with the Data Protection Act, GDPR and internal policies.
• Work collaboratively with the team to arrange and attend events with and for donor cultivation and fundraising and attend relevant Academy events.
• Work with relevant colleagues to establish fundraising messaging, monitor and evaluate fundraising projects.
• Give the highest level of care and attention to all donors.
• Ensure adherence to expenditure budgets.

EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

• Previous significant experience of successful major grant applications in a start-up fundraising role within a pacey, target-driven environment.
• Previous experience of fundraising in music or the arts or career support for less advantaged people highly desirable.
• Demonstrable experience developing or contributing to fundraising plans.
• Demonstrable experience in researching prospects, preparing and submitting tailored applications and achieving significant charitable grants.
• Proven success in budget management, reporting and tracking performance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate appropriately with a wide variety of people including senior contacts and supporters, both written and verbally, as well as proven ability to solicit donations and sponsorships.
• Ability to build and sustain effective relationships, engage with and influence a wide range of people internally and externally.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrable creative and analytical skills for evaluating fundraising opportunities, preparing and presenting quickly effective proposals and budgets to a high standard.
• Robust knowledge and understanding of fundraising, including legal implications, due diligence, risk and reputation management.
• Excellent knowledge of legislation relating to charities and tax efficient giving relating to individuals and corporates.
• Robust working knowledge of Codes of Fundraising Practice and data protection GDPR legislation as it relates to fundraising.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent with relevant professional experience.
• Good planning, problem solving and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work with colleagues across teams in a collaborative manner.
• Strong time management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and associated pressure demands.
• Experienced IT skills using MS Office and Teams, CRM systems, Zoom and other common business systems.
• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when inputting data.
• A full member (MInstF) of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising is advantageous, but not essential.

CONTRACT

4-6 month contract.

FEE

£15,000

LOCATION

Home-based while COVID restrictions are in place. Requires candidate to have necessary technology and quiet working space where they live to perform the role and participate in video calls. Subject to government rules, role may require occasional meetings in London.

VALUES AND COMMON BEHAVIOURS

The role of Development Manager requires enthusiasm for fundraising, music and breaking down the barriers for music creators. The role requires discretion in working with confidential information and ensuring administrative processes and best practices in fundraising are consistently applied with regard to prospect and donor research and records, gift agreements, recognition and stewardship.

It requires operating at all times consistently with the Academy’s values, behaviours and policies. The Development Manager is required to initiate and maintain tactful and positive working relationships with prospective funders, including trusts, foundations, and executives from music and other industries. The post holder is encouraged to participate in external networks, such as fundraising forums.

The role also requires working flexibly as part of a team and maintaining productive and positive relationships with Trustees and the Academy, its board members, members, staff and volunteers within the One Academy plan. The role also requires willingness and ability to adapt to new technologies, especially those required for remote working.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply through CharityJob. Send a cover letter and CV highlighting your experience relevant to this role. Please list three recent examples of major fundraising success and what might you reasonably expect to achieve in this short-term assignment to.

CLOSING DATE

5th March 2021.

Please note: due to the urgent need to support music creators impacted by COVID 19, we will be considering applications on a rolling basis with a few to recruiting the most experienced candidate at the earliest opportunity which could be prior to the closing date.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief.

We particularly encourage applications from the following less-represented groups and communities identified within our industry to join The Ivors Academy team: black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, women and LGBTQI+ communities.