Fundraising Director

HOW TO APPLY:

WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. 

APPLICATIONS SENT VIA EMAIL OR OTHER METHODS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

PURPOSE OF ROLE

Leadership of the fundraising function at Caudwell Youth. You will be responsible for our fundraising strategy, working with the CEO. You will take a personal lead on high value giving from Corporate and Major Donors.

Responsible as part of the Senior Leadership Team for the overall leadership of Caudwell Youth. Promoting the mission, vision and values of the charity, and the development and implementation of our strategic plan.

IN YOUR ROLE

• You are innovative and have a responsibility for developing and changing practice and services in varied levels of complexity;
• You are a leader with considerable responsibility and the ability to research, analyse complex challenges and create clear strategic responses;
• You are responsible in your area of specialism for service improvement and strategic development likely in conjunction with other leaders and influenced by the wider teams you are responsible for;
• You are accountable for the performance of the specialist areas you are responsible for and your own personal performance;
• Your work will have named legal responsibilities and accountabilities;
• You are accountable to the CEO.

CORPORATE LEADERSHIP

• As part of the Senior Leadership Team work with the Board of Trustees to: develop and progress the organisation’s strategy, set and manage the organisation’s budget and ensure risks are managed effectively
• Lead by example, instilling a values-led and inclusive culture
• As part of the SLT work with and for young people to ensure Caudwell Youth makes the greatest possible difference to their lives.

FUNDRAISING LEADERSHIP

• Lead the development of the fundraising strategy to grow and diversify the charity’s income, with support from the CEO.
• Evolve our fundraising function to maximise benefit to the charity; developing additional or existing income streams as set out in the fundraising strategy, with support from the CEO
• Lead the implementation of the fundraising strategy, setting annual plans, income targets and budgets
• Establish and grow an effective, high-performing fundraising function. Provide effective leadership for the team (Fundraising Manager and Fundraising Assistant). Nurture and develop colleagues to achieve their potential.
• Ensure systems and processes are in place for effective management and development of the fundraising function, including compliance with the Fundraising Regulator and our policies.
• Manage the fundraising budget, reforecasting income and expenditure throughout the year and reporting progress to the SLT and the Board of Trustees.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising activities and adapt plans where appropriate.
• Be an ambassador for Caudwell Youth and support the CEO in this role
• Involve young people in fundraising developments and activities as appropriate, championing a collaborative and participatory culture.

HIGH VALUE GIVING

• Responsible for leading the development, and managing the delivery, of our major donor and corporate fundraising strategies
• Identify and engage potential new donors
• Ensure effective stewardship is in place to develop relationships with donors
• Be the lead contact with John Caudwell’s Charity Pioneer, supporting the recruitment and engagement of Life Changer Circle members.
• Support the CEO to develop and maintain the charity’s relationship with our founder, John Caudwell.
• Carry out due diligence on new funder relationships; being mindful of any risks to John Caudwell’s reputation in the course of fundraising activities and the wider charity’s work.
• Deliver sustainable income growth through a focus on development of a varied range of corporate partnerships.
• Responsible for proposal and application development for potential Corporate donors, taking a lead in pitches and negotiations with potential partners, coordinating input from colleagues.
• Work with Operations team and wider colleagues to develop engagement opportunities for Corporate Partners which are of mutual benefit.

TRUSTS, FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL GIVING

• Support the Grants Manager to develop strategy and plans to maximise ROI from Trusts and Foundations.
• Oversee the grants pipeline, application process and procedures to ensure quality and compliance with financial and legal requirements.
• Work with Marketing team to support positive fundraising messaging through CY communications
• Work with Marketing team to support active challenge and community fundraising, ensuring that all our fundraisers are thanked and have appropriate donor journeys
• Support the Operations Director to grow income from statutory sources

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential skills and experience

• A minimum of 5 years' experience in fundraising, including a track record of securing high-value gifts of six figures.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and delivering fundraising strategies, including corporate partnerships, major gifts, trusts, and foundations.
• Sound leadership and team management experience, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve targets. The Fundraising Director will manage a team of two within a wider organisation of 25 staff.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with donors, corporate sponsors, grant-making bodies, and stakeholders, including grassroots and volunteer-driven fundraising efforts.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience in budget management, financial forecasting, and reporting on fundraising performance, with a focus on KPIs and success metrics.
• Ability to set and achieve clear fundraising growth targets, ensuring alignment between current income portfolios and projected expansion.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to craft compelling fundraising proposals and cases for support.
• Knowledge of fundraising regulations, data protection laws (GDPR), and ethical fundraising best practices.
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively with senior leadership teams to align fundraising activities with the charity’s mission and objectives.
• Knowledge of donor stewardship best practices, ensuring structured donor engagement journeys and retention initiatives.
• Experience of involving beneficiaries in fundraising strategy and activities

Desirable skills & experience

• Knowledge of individual giving, community fundraising and legacy fundraising
• A network of contacts within the philanthropic, corporate, or grant-making sectors.
• Experience in securing statutory funding or government grants.
• Experience in marketing, PR, or communications to enhance fundraising efforts, particularly in digital innovation and outreach strategies.
• Familiarity with impact measurement and reporting
• Experience of managing external partners or agencies to deliver fundraising initiatives
• Experience of working with young people
• Lived experience that aligns with the young people we support

WHY WORK FOR US

Benefits:

• Flexible working
• Hybrid – working from home and in the community
• WPA Healthcare (including Employee Assistance Programme and extended counselling sessions)
• Group Personal Pension with a 5% employer contribution and Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• 25 days annual leave (FTE) plus bank holidays, plus charity closure between Christmas and New Year
• Extra paid day off on your birthday
• Paid day off for volunteering in your community
• Training opportunities to support your personal development
• Employee discounts on everyday goods and services
• Being part of a passionate and dedicated team

Caudwell Youth is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment, we undertake disclosure checks in accordance with the Codes of Practice for all. Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants.