Head of Philanthropy

Job Description

We’re looking for a talented leader, with a background in major gifts fundraising, to join as Head of Philanthropy and help deliver significant growth in our income, leading our Trusts, Major Donors, Special Events, and Prospect Research fundraising teams.

Alongside a track record of successful major gifts fundraising, you’ll bring ambition, drive and tenacity to the role to help us be the generation to beat blood cancer.

Key Responsibilities

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Deliver short and long-term budgeted income through managing a high value portfolio of donors · Personally manage a pipeline of donors, inspiring them to give their largest donations to Blood Cancer UK.· Ensure consistent and long-term income across the Philanthropy Team through creating engagement opportunities and presenting compelling propositions.· Build a network of influencers who can help the charity secure regular six figure gifts. This could be through the creation of an Appeal Board or the management of a Patrons Programme.· Drive forward standardised and creative stewardship programmes to ensure a best-in-class experience for our donors, closely monitoring retention and uplift rates.
2. Lead the Philanthropy Team and support line reports in the management of their portfolios and pipeline:· Maintain a solid understanding of all significant donors, including their giving motivations, circumstances, capacity and propensity.· Be a sounding board for creative thinking, for new ways of engaging donors and ensuring their on-going support.· Be a critical friend, challenging line reports to meet and exceed their income, retention and uplift targets, and to consistently reflect on their approaches, use of time, and the engagement of internal stakeholders.· Embed KPIs and metrics which enable the team to be data led in their management of their pipeline and opportunities. Report back on this activity regularly to the Engagement Leadership Team and Executive.
3. Project Lead the strategy for launching a major appeal and the development of strong propositions to enable income growth· Project manage the existing major appeal working group. Lead the operational planning stages of the appeal, including capacity assessment and the delivery of new activity as required. · Work closely with members of the Research, Services and Policy teams to design compelling propositions which will be the heart of the major appeal case for support.· Establish the strategy for recruitment of Appeal Board members and lead the Philanthropy Team in acquiring those members and setting up the Board.· Use data and insight from current supporters to ensure processes are in place to track income and expenditure and embed strong pipeline management.
4. Oversee the delivery of the special events function for the P&P team . Be a key representative of the charity at events, engaging with donors to ensure they are bought closer to the charity.· Lead the Special Events team to build a special events strategy which creates an audience led diverse and innovative portfolio of events.· Ensuring that P&P donors and prospects are provided with the touch points needed for effective engagement, and that income is secured as budgeted within the special events portfolio.
5. Ensure high-quality prospect research is provided across P&P and own the Gift Acceptance Policy at Blood Cancer UK· Ensure the Prospect Researcher’s time is used effectively across P&P, guided towards the areas of greatest need and with most benefit.· Support the Prospect Researcher in implementing the charity’s Gift Acceptance policy, ensuring effective due diligence to protect the charity’s values and reputation.
6. Be a valued member of Blood Cancer UK’s Leadership Team, taking on cross organisational projects as required· Contribute to and own the values and culture of the leadership team, being an active participant, and demonstrate an appetite to understand and contribute to other areas of the organisation.· Adhere to the established organisational policies and ways of working across the Engagement Team, striving to make Blood Cancer UK the very best place to work for your team and other employees.· Live our E,D&I strategy within your day to day activities and where appropriate, take on E,D&I responsibilities or other cross team projects within the Leadership Team.
7. General Responsibilities:· Be an effective member of the Leadership Team and relevant sub-groups, and the Engagement Leadership Team· Budget, monitor and report on income and expenditure . Strategic and operational planning . Regularly assess the success of our donor interactions, events, products and experiences and adapting where relevant· Effective line management, ensuring a focus on delivery, wellbeing, development and succession planning· Deputise for the Deputy Director of Fundraising as necessary THINGS WE ALL DO• Promote Blood Cancer UK’s vision, mission and core values • We’re all fundraisers. This is slightly different for all roles and your team will have fundraising KPIs and objectives we all work to• Attend and assist at Blood Cancer UK events and activities as required (NB this involves evening and weekend work)• Be an effective ambassador for Blood Cancer UK at any activity you attend• Develop an in-depth understanding of our work • Follow the principles of LEAN and continuous improvement • All staff are expected to adhere to Blood Cancer UK’s policies and procedures• Do any other reasonable things your manager needs you to do

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

. Experience of successful fundraising at a major gifts level (six-figures). Experience of building long-lasting beneficial relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Experience of setting and delivering strategies for income growth. Experience of line management, team retention and team development. Experience of operating at Leadership level with confidence and ability to implement, critique and influence organisational and directorate priorities. Experience of setting and monitoring long-term and annual income and expenditure budgets and providing detailed financial analysis. Solid understanding of current trends in philanthropy, special events and charity law relating to these areas. Knowledge (or direct experience) of leading a cross organisational fundraising appeal. Ability to build compelling propositions, working with teams outside fundraising to develop strong cases for support . Ability to match potential income with organisational strategic priorities and experience of managing restricted income. Able to work well under pressure and be solutions focused. Excellent, written and verbal communication skills