Interim Head of Fundraising

ABOUT US

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is a charity that exists to empower and support children who are living in complex and challenging circumstances. By fostering an environment of genuine acceptance and through the use of physical activity and group and one-to-one support sessions, SOHK enables people to find meaning and purpose to life. All of SOHK's activities are underpinned by an evidence based sport for development framework called the 5Cs.

OVERVIEW

We currently have a small fundraising team that has been together since April 2023, consisting of a Partnerships Manager, a Trusts and Foundations Manager and an Events Co-ordinator. The new Interim Head of Fundraising will lead this team, including our Communications and Marketing Manager.

Our desire is not just to bring a person on board who will lead the team from behind the lines, but someone who will take full ownership of the fundraising targets and be the visible lead fundraiser of the charity.

We want someone who will effectively deliver year one of our new three-year fundraising and marketing strategy to achieve future planned growth. Key responsibilities will be:

Team Leadership

• Take ownership of the fundraising targets and ensure that they are met.
• Lead the fundraising team and be ultimately responsible for their job satisfaction, appraisals and personal development.
• Ensure continuous evaluation of all fundraising activity.
• Monitor progress of each stream of fundraising and make adjustments as needed to achieve targets.

Relationship Generation and Stewardship

• Establish and nurture strong relationships with existing and potential donors, including individuals and corporations.
• Develop and implement tailored cultivation and stewardship plans to enhance donor engagement and loyalty.
• Ensure that regular communication with donors is in place, providing updates on projects, expressing gratitude, and soliciting continued support.

Strategy

• Lead on the execution of the new three-year fundraising strategy aligned with the charity’s mission and goals.
• Identify and explore new fundraising opportunities and innovative techniques to maximize revenue generation.
• Work as part of the Senior Management Team to develop plans and budgets that support the delivery of the organisation's strategic aims.

Reporting, Monitoring & Budgeting

• Report as required on all activity and progress to the Senior Management Team, (trustees) and Board of Trustees and its Fundraising Sub-committee.
• Monitor and manage expenditure related to fundraising activities, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to budgetary constraints.
• Lead on development and upkeep of pipeline processes, ensuring high quality and live information is available across the fundraising team and finance functions.

ABOUT YOU

Your Key Strengths:

• Be a highly experienced and proven fundraiser, with at least five years of UK based charity fundraising experience.
• Have exceptional interpersonal skills - comfortable speaking with senior business leaders, decision makers and High Net Worth individuals…. And comfortable making ‘the ask’!
• Maintain high levels of discretion and tact; able to maintain confidentiality.
• Be personable yet decisive and confident, capable of working with and inspiring colleagues and volunteers.
• Have exceptional organisational and critical thinking skills; able to keep abreast of all the different streams of income and prioritise projects.
• Be IT literate and comfortable with fundraising software.
• Be a genuine self-starter, proactive, collegiate, driven and committed.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

• This is an interim role, for 12 months from January 2025.
• The salary is £50,000 - £55,000 depending on experience.
• You will get 25 days annual leave per year plus UK National Holidays. Also, we give any normal working days between Christmas and New Year as additional holidays.
• Reasonable flexible working arrangement , but you must have the ability to work outside of core hours and travel across the UK when necessary.

Applications close at 10pm on Wednesday 11th December