Corporate Partnerships Manager

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled Corporate Partnerships fundraiser to join the Schoolreaders team. Schoolreaders is a dynamic and fast-growing charity based in Bedford. It is a national charity tackling poor literacy through a network of volunteers who provide one-to-one reading support to children in primary schools across the country. We are the largest national in-school child literacy charity, supporting over 30,000 children in over 1,500 schools every week. We have ambitious plans to grow and support many more children in future, so it’s an exciting time to join us. You will be joining a high performing and well-established Trust Fundraising Team, you’ll help maintain and develop an ambitious strategy to ensure that all opportunities for approaching and securing increased funding from trusts, foundations and other grant making bodies are maximised.

Role Overview

We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic fundraiser, who will grow and manage partnerships to generate increased income and supporter engagement.

Over recent years, Schoolreaders has established a number of highly impactful corporate partnerships whose shared commitment to improving literacy is reflected in their long-term support. Now that Schoolreaders has become a nationwide programme, our ambition is to develop a larger portfolio of national and regional corporate partners who will help us transform life outcomes through improved literacy for children living in their local communities.

Role Description:

This is the ideal opportunity for someone with initiative and fundraising flair to make a real impact on a dynamic, rapidly growing child literacy charity. We are looking for someone with a minimum of 3 years corporate fundraising experience, or relevant experience of securing high value new business from a different sector, to join our small, successful fundraising team.

The role-holder will be responsible for developing and managing a rolling program of approaches to new and existing partners. This includes scheduling and making high-value applications, proposals, and pitches to secure COTY/multi-year grants, donations,

sponsorships, and mutual benefits, in order to meet annual targets and ensure a robust income stream.

Whilst there will be a necessity to work at our Bedford HQ on a regular basis, there is flexibility regarding the level of home working depending on home location. The remit of the role extends more widely across England and occasional travel to meet with existing and new corporate partners will be required.

Main Duties

– Identify and engage potential corporate partners with the capacity and affinity to support the work of Schoolreaders.

· Develop and manage a pipeline of corporate opportunities through research into potential supporters matched to the strategic focus of Schoolreaders.

· Manage and grow Schoolreaders portfolio of existing corporate partnerships through excellent stewardship and providing relevant information about the impact of their support and maximising opportunities for further support.

· Deliver face-to-face and online presentations to potential supporters – producing high quality propositions, reports and stewardship communications.

· Carry out due diligence on all new potential corporate partnerships, ensuring appropriate business and ethical standards align with Schoolreaders values.

· Develop the Schoolreaders offering to corporate partners.

· Work closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager to optimise joint PR, comms, and social media activity with corporate partners.

· Work closely with our County Teams network to identify corporate opportunities nationwide (for example to secure corporate funding for activity in particular geographic locations) and maximise potential corporate donors.

· Ensure the role is carried out in accordance with fundraising and marketing legislation and best practice.

· Provide regular performance updates and reports to the Head of Fundraising and Communications, and contribute to fundraising strategy development, annual plans, budgets and other fundraising duties as required.

· Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation and fundraising team where necessary – in particular the role will include the development of employee fundraising and participation in challenge events.

Personal Specification

· 3 years relevant experience in a similar role with proven track record of developing successful fundraising relationships with corporate partners or new business development.

· Demonstratable previous success in achieving targets and raising five and six figure gifts.

· An excellent networker, capable of connecting with a wide range of people to influence and negotiate partnerships.

· Experience of liaising with and managing high level supporters or customers with a solid understanding of the principles of excellent donor/customer care.

· An entrepreneurial, proactive and delivery-focussed approach to your work, with drive and motivation towards achieving targets.

· Financially and IT literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and CRMs.

· Demonstrable excellent communication skills – written, multimedia and face to face.

· Excellent attention to detail and good project and time management skills.

· Experience of adhering to GDPR legislation.

Benefits

As part of our commitment to making Schoolreaders a great place to work, we offer access to the following employee benefits:

· 25 days annual leave (3 of which must be taken over Christmas) plus an additional paid day off on your birthday and public/bank holidays (pro-rated for part time staff)

· Contributory pension

· Access to a free 24/7 support service providing legal, financial, emotional, and medical advice

– Access to a variety of onsite services, including a gym, a canteen and pop-up events

To apply:

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews offered, on an ongoing basis. We reserve the right to close the role prior to the closing date should a suitable applicant be found, so please submit your application as soon as possible.