Fundraising Lead

Fundraising Lead

Job reference: REQ002405

Salary: £40,000 per annum (FTE, pro rata)

Contractual hours: 22.5

Basis: Part Time

Region: National

Job category/type: Support Staff

Closing date: 17 January 2025 at Midnight

Job description

Join United Communities: Supporting Schools to be Good Neighbours.

Are you passionate about making a difference in communities and adept at securing sustainable funding? United Communities is seeking a Fundraising Lead to play a vital role in driving our fundraising efforts and ensuring the sustainability of our community hubs and development initiatives.

About United Communities:

United Communities is an ambitious initiative developed by United Learning, a leading national group of local schools. Our mission is to support schools in becoming community anchor organisations— place-based hubs that bring people together and drive positive change on a neighbourhood level. Over the past three years, we’ve been developing and growing this impactful work, creating 26 community hubs that are already transforming neighbourhoods and building stronger connections between schools and their wider communities.

This is an exciting time for United Communities as we are about to establish a new charity to lead this work into the future. To help us achieve our vision of sustainability and growth, we are seeking a passionate and experienced Fundraising Lead to join our team.

As part of United Communities, you will play a key role in the development of our fundraising strategy and securing vital funding to expand our reach and maximise the incredible potential of our school-based community hubs. This is an opportunity to be at the heart of an innovative movement that is having a tangible impact on communities across the country.

If you are driven by purpose and eager to make a lasting difference, we’d love to hear from you.

If you don’t fully meet the criteria outlined in the job description for this role, but the opportunity excites you and you think you could bring a lot to the role, please do apply.

The Role:

As the Fundraising Lead, you will:

·       Implement and develop our national fundraising strategy to support community hubs and broader organisational goals.

·       Support local fundraising efforts by providing expert advice, developing pipelines, and aiding in bid writing.

·       Prepare compelling funding proposals to secure grants and donations aligned with our mission and objectives.

·       Build and manage donor relationships, ensuring excellent stewardship and impactful communication.

·       Monitor and report on fundraising activities, aligning progress with financial goals.

·       Stay informed on philanthropic trends and incorporate innovative approaches into our fundraising strategies.

About You:

We’re seeking a dynamic individual with:

·       Proven experience in philanthropy and fundraising, particularly with trusts and foundations.

·       Success in developing and implementing fundraising strategies, especially for core costs.

·       Strong bid writing and proposal development skills.

·       A strategic mindset with the ability to establish funding pipelines and partnerships.

·       Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.

·       Knowledge of the UK’s fundraising landscape and philanthropic trends.

·       An entrepreneurial spirit, with innovative ideas to enhance our approach.

Rewards and Benefits:

·       Competitive salary.

·       Contributory pension scheme.

·       26 days holiday.

·       Occupational sick pay, protecting you and your family.

·       Competitive maternity, paternity, and adoption benefits.

·       Group Life Insurance Scheme

·       Extensive range of employee benefits through our partner Perkbox.

·       Westfield Health cash plan for eligible staff

·       Continuous Professional Development options that will be tailored to your needs.

·       A supportive team across the country.

·       We are open to requests for flexible or part-time working; we encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.

United Learning is a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.

Central Office staff work closely with schools, offering a wealth of expertise to underpin schools' own knowledge. Our specialist departments, including HR, finance, technology, strategy and performance, estates, and marketing, work alongside dedicated school improvement teams. By joining us, you will provide ongoing support to schools, ultimately improving the outcomes of our pupils.

United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online check.

We always appoint on merit, and we are open to discussing flexible working options.

United Learning comprises: UCST (Registered in England No: 2780748. Charity No. 1016538) and ULT (Registered in England No. 4439859. An Exempt Charity). Companies limited by guarantee. VAT number 834 8515 12. Registered address: United Learning, Worldwide House, Thorpe Wood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.