Fundraising Manager

For over 1,000 years West Horsley Place has been a hidden, private estate centred around a grade I listed manor house and 400-acre landscape. Now, we are a fledgling arts charity. At our heart is the belief that culture, heritage and nature improve people’s wellbeing. Added to that is the opportunity to see just how differently an historic house and estate could be used.

We now run a vibrant programme of arts & crafts courses, open house days, house and estate tours, school holiday family fun, performance, theatre and cultural talks. We are looking for a Fundraising Manager to successfully grow our philanthropic income to underpin our work. 

Overall role:

We have successfully secured grants from trusts and private individuals for specific projects and have been supported by freelance bid writers to do so. We now want to capitalise on these beginnings to grow our philanthropic income. To do that, we are seeking a dynamic, experienced fundraiser who can develop and implement strategy, create and manage giving platforms and grow both restricted and unrestricted income.

Main responsibilities:

 Strategy

• Create a short-, mid- and long-term fundraising strategy to achieve maximum success for restricted and unrestricted funding.
• Develop and articulate a clear case for support for each project.

Trusts and Foundations

• Working with the team, assess planned projects for fundraising potential
• Identify new trusts and foundations for identified projects, writing and submitting applications.
• Manage relationships with existing trusts, fulfilling reporting needs and financial compliance.
• Identify key sources and develop bids for the future capital campaign in line with the strategy.

Individual giving

• Create and manage giving vehicles for unrestricted funding from individual donors.
• Create and run a cultivation programme to support the soliciting of individual giving.
• Personally manage a portfolio of donors
• Cultivate and uncover new prospects working with and growing the charity’s network
• Advise and support the Director, Chairman, Board and staff in managing relationships with key funders

Compliance

• Be responsible for accurate record keeping and database management
• Be accountable for all development activity including compliance with relevant legislation such as data protection, GDPR, Gift Aid and tax efficient giving, and applicable charity commission legislation

General

• Represent the West Horsley Place Trust at a senior level to existing and potential supporters

Person Specification

Essential experience

• Demonstrable experience in a senior fundraising role
• Experience of devising and implementing fundraising strategies
• Track record in personally securing 5 – 6 figure gifts
• Substantial experience working with high-net-worth individuals
• Experience of devising and managing budgets; financial management skills
• Experience or reporting to Boards of Trustees and SMTs

Desirable experience

• Demonstrable experience of securing funds from other sources, e.g. companies, events, legacies
• Experience of fundraising in the arts or heritage sectors
• Experience of creating a new fundraising operation in a young organisation

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and presentational skills, with gravitas and the ability to act as an ambassador for the charity at the most senior levels
• Excellent written communications
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent judgement & decision-making ability
• Excellent financial management skills and experience of devising and managing budgets