The Access Project: Fundraising Manager Job Title Department / Team Reporting to Job Location Start date Hours Salary Closing date for applications Fundraising Manager The Access Project Director Bastion House, 140 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5DN October 2014 (or as soon as possible) 37.5 hours per week (full-time) 35,000 p.a. 9.00am on Monday 29 September 2014 About The Access Project We help students from disadvantaged backgrounds win places at top universities. This is an issue that matters: at present the most affluent young people are 6 times more likely to attend a highly-selective university than their less privileged peers. Unsurprisingly this is a significant factor in the decline in social mobility in the UK in recent years, and we are working to fix it. The main way we address this issue is by helping students from less affluent backgrounds to achieve better grades: we match our students with a volunteer graduate who tutors them for an hour a week. Next year we will work with 1,000 volunteers and motivated young people every week. Our tutorials and the advice we provide to students in schools have already helped to transform access to university in our first two inner-london schools. We now have a well-defined programme and a supportive network of major funders, ambitious schools, blue chip businesses and inspirational volunteers and we are looking to grow significantly over the next five years. The Fundraising Manager will be central to helping us achieve this goal. The role We bring together a unique community of businesses, schools, students and volunteers. We have high profile partnerships with several major international businesses across different sectors, such as Linklaters and the Telegraph Media Group. Our Fundraising Manager will take responsibility for these relationships, and will also establish new partnerships to support our growth. The Fundraising Manager will also be 1
responsible for liaising with our major individual donors, and looking to expand this network of supporters. We believe there is great potential to broaden and deepen both of these networks via an innovative and original fundraising strategy. For our business partners we provide a highquality, large-scale volunteering programme that makes a real difference to the local community: we believe we have only scratched the surface when it comes to engaging businesses with this opportunity. In terms of individual supporters, we have an existing network of around 600 City professionals who volunteer with us every week and believe passionately in our work. The Fundraising Manager will have an entrepreneurial approach and will help us realise the potential within our existing networks, whilst identifying new opportunities with organisations and individuals we have yet to reach. The Fundraising Manager will also become a key part of our management team, and have direct interaction with our Board of trustees. As an organisation we see this role as fundamental to our future success. The Access Project is absolutely committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and will expect the Fundraising Manager to share this commitment. Duties and responsibilities 1. Establishing new business partnerships Our vision is to grow from our current 16 schools to work with 100 schools across the country by 2020. To make this happen we need to develop new funding relationships with many more businesses. The Fundraising Manager will work with the Director to set targets for growth and will then be responsible for generating and pursuing potential business leads. The Fundraising Manager will also be responsible for successfully agreeing funding partnerships with these organisations. Lead generation is likely to involve (but not be limited to) representing The Access Project at networking events, organising showcase events to demonstrate the value of our work with current partners, and developing an appropriate external communications strategy with our Communications Coordinator. You will start from a position of strength, with 9 major business partners already on board and strongly supportive of our work. 2. Individual fundraising The Access Project addresses an issue at the heart of social mobility in the UK, and has captured the imagination of a number of individual donors. The Fundraising Manager will be responsible for stewarding these relationships throughout the year, updating our donors on the work of the programme and the impact of their investments. The Fundraising Manager will also work with the Director to set annual targets for new business, and be responsible for actively increasing our pool of donors via peer-to-peer networks and the development of an annual events and communications cycle. We have an existing network of over 600 City professionals who feel passionately about our work. 2
The Fundraising Manager will be responsible for shaping the events and communications cycle. This is likely to involve regular face-to-face meetings and written communication with donors and fundraising events. 3. Managing relationships with our major business partners The Access Project provides an impactful volunteer engagement programme for our business partners. Our Programme Coordinators in school are directly responsible for liaising with business partners, and provide a powerful link between school and business. The Fundraising Manager will be responsible for overseeing these relationships, working with Programme Coordinators to ensure that we are delivering a high quality of service. This will include meetings with senior staff at these firms, and ongoing development of best practice amongst our frontline staff. 4. Strategic development The Fundraising Manager will join The Access Project s management team, working with the Director and the Programme and Operations Managers to develop The Access Project s strategy as the organisation grows. Person Specification The Fundraising Manager will have experience of fundraising and stewardship, whether in a charitable or commercial context. For excellent candidates we are willing to consider offering this opportunity as a fixed-term secondment or part-time position. Essential characteristics and experience: Proven track record of soliciting financial contributions at a five and six figure level from businesses and philanthropists Proven track record of delivering income against agreed targets and timescales Tenacious, driven and entrepreneurial approach with a can-do attitude Exceptional influencing skills with the ability to be credible and persuasive at all levels internally and externally Outstanding interpersonal skills ability to discover a business or donor s interests, build rapport and trust Excellent written and oral communications skills - ability to make a cogent, confident and compelling case for support Excellent organisational and planning skills, meticulous attention to detail Proven experience of building long-term relationships with senior stakeholders within business and with philanthropists Experience of providing quality stewardship and account management to senior business stakeholders and/or philanthropists Implementation experience of the principles of major gift fundraising, including identification, research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship Passionate about educational disadvantage, with commitment to our mission and values (see below). 3
Disclosure of a Criminal Record The Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986 does not apply to posts where there is access to children. This means that applicants for employment which involves working with children and young people must disclose any criminal record. If your application is successful, you are required to make these disclosures and consent to The Access Project verifying the accuracy of your response with the Disclosure and Barring Service. If you require further information, please contact The Access Project on 0207 601 1939. To Apply Please complete our application form (available via our website). When complete, submit to Kathryn Busby (recruitment@theaccessproject.org.uk). Please put Fundraising Manager as the subject of your email. We would be grateful if you could also send us your equal opportunities monitoring form, however this is optional and does not form part of your application. 4
The Access Project s mission Our mission is to combat educational inequality by using volunteer tutors to help motivated students access top universities. The Access Project s values Community We build a community of schools, volunteers and partner organisations that share a common vision. Motivation We harness and reward motivation. Development We promote a culture of excellence, improvement and innovation. Academic Excellence We help students achieve their potential by matching them with tutors who have been given excellent resources and training. 5