Partnerships Officer

Based at: RDA National Office (Lowlands Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire)

Hours: Full Time 37 hours per week, (flexibility to routinely work from home 2-3 days per week / hybrid working)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary range: £26,000 - £30,000 per annum DOE

To apply, please send a CV and Cover letter to HR@rda.org.uk. Closing date Thursday 26th March 5pm

Role Purpose

This exciting new role is vital to increase the income generating capacity of RDA UK’s Fundraising Team. The Partnership Officer post has been created to increase fundraised income for the charity, cultivating and stewarding an expanded and sustained funding and supporter base. In line with current priorities, the postholder will be required to raise commercial sponsorship, and income from high value partners/individuals to meet operational targets/KPI’s. The postholder will be expected to create sponsor/donor packages, support the delivery of cultivation events and steward donors and supporters on all aspects of fundraising as directed. The postholder will have experience of managing sponsorship agreements to ensure value, compliance and delivery of benefits. The role will share responsibility for the management of data, compliance and stewardship of growing funding streams and support the administration of the philanthropy team.

The Philanthropy Team raises and manages funds from grants, trusts and foundations, individuals, organisations, business, legacies, etc, and the new postholder will work with the highly effective and dedicated team of Head of Philanthropy and Partnership Managers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Achieve income and performance targets in accordance with RDA’s agreed Fundraising Strategy and business needs, as directed by the Head of Philanthropy.
• Raise funding with compelling case for support from sponsors/from individuals, to meet the targets of the core budget, and fundraising from other sources such as grants, as agreed.
• Contribute to managing RDA’s fundraising function data, ensuring accuracy of data and information on RDA’s CRM system to comply within internal requirements and GDPR.
• Work with Member services, Coaching and Participations, Finance Teams and other staff to formulate proposals, maximising opportunities for raising funds to support core functions and projects.
• Manage funding contracts with sponsors and those of philanthropy funders - including payment schedules, high quality impact reports, monitoring and compliance with any conditions of funding.
• High quality personalised stewarding of donors and supporters, ensuring RDA’s reputation as an exemplary charity is maintained.
• Respectful approach in all fundraising.
• Research and cultivate funding prospects and submit high quality well‑researched applications, securing new supporters and interest within the wider funding strategy.
• Work with Marketing to manage fundraising messaging and communications, including digital, print and press coverage, all in accordance with fundraising regulation.
• Liaise with RDA Finance staff to ensure reporting meets RDA’s wider business and charitable requirements.
• Support with organising relevant cultivation events/visits to the RDA groups and approved centres, special thanks and stewardship delivery outcomes, talks, events, tours and hospitality.
• Manage any volunteers working in support of the philanthropy function at RDA.
• Deliver donor benefits and acknowledgements.
• Manage the pipeline through the Charity’s central relationship management (CRM) system and record/update key information as required.
• Identify and manage a pipeline of high‑value prospects and opportunities which have the potential to deliver five‑ and six‑figure grants.
• Develop relationships with colleagues and other key stakeholders across RDA UK maximising opportunities for cultivation and development and collaborate to align partner activity with service delivery and communications.
• Plan and organise opportunities for funders to view RDA UK’s work first‑hand, ensuring all safeguarding procedures are followed and met.

Reporting

• Provision of monthly and quarterly income and expenditure re‑forecasts.
• Monitor and report on income, expenditure and KPIs throughout the year.
• Compile comprehensive and compelling progress reports for partners, sharing in a timely manner in order to incentivise continued support.

Other

• To undertake such other duties as the line manager shall from time to time determine.
• To be flexible in working from other locations in the UK as required for the effective delivery of the role.
• To ensure due consideration is always given to our charitable aims and objectives and that this is demonstrated in all activities.
• Ensure compliance with General Data Protection Regulations (2018) across all relationships including data collection.
• Keep abreast of key income stream trends/issues and the regulatory environment around grant funding, ensuring standards are set, procedures are followed, and issues addressed or escalated as appropriate.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends when required.

Person Specification

• Experience of developing inspiring sponsorship proposals and pitches.
• Experience of developing and implementing a funding partnership programme.
• Development of relationships with philanthropy partners, successfully delivering creative stewardship and securing repeated support.
• Operational delivery, planning, budgeting and reporting.
• Knowledge of fundraising trends, techniques, and best practice incorporate fundraising and UK fundraising landscape.
• Use of a donor database such as Salesforce/Beacon/Raisers edge.
• Knowledge, or experience, of the disability or voluntary sector especially membership bodies/federated charities.

Skills -required

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to pull together a range of information from across the organisation to create clear, concise and compelling packages to support.
• Proactive, focusing on targets and results with ambition to drive activity forward.
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation and time management skills.
• A flexible, creative and solutions‑focused approach to problem‑solving, championing innovation, developing a growth mindset and learning from failure.
• Commitment to personal learning, development and improvement.

RDA is committed to creating a workplace where everyone belongs. We welcome applications from talented candidates of all backgrounds, abilities, and experiences, and celebrate the diversity that makes our team stronger.