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- Tasks: Lead a fundraising team to meet targets and enhance donor relationships.
- Company: Join School of Hard Knocks, a charity empowering children in challenging circumstances through sports and support.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 25 days annual leave, and flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while leading a passionate team and driving innovative fundraising strategies.
- Qualifications: Must have 5+ years of UK charity fundraising experience and exceptional interpersonal skills.
- Other info: This is a 12-month interim role starting January 2025; travel across the UK may be required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 46000 £ per year.
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
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.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a current CV (no more than three sides) and a separate covering letter (no more than two sides of A4). Express in your covering letter what makes you the right person for this role at School of Hard Knocks. Please send these as separate documents – attached to an email to
Applications close at 10pm on Wednesday 11th December
Interim Head of Fundraising employer: School of Hard Knocks Charity
Contact Detail:
School of Hard Knocks Charity Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Head of Fundraising
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to showcase your leadership experience in fundraising. Highlight any previous roles where you successfully led a team, met fundraising targets, or implemented strategies that resulted in significant revenue growth.
✨Tip Number 2
Demonstrate your relationship-building skills by preparing examples of how you've engaged with donors in the past. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you cultivated relationships that led to increased support for your organization.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarize yourself with the 5Cs framework mentioned in the job description. Understanding this evidence-based approach will help you align your fundraising strategies with SOHK's mission and goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss innovative fundraising techniques you've used before. Think about creative campaigns or unique partnerships that have helped you maximize revenue generation in your previous roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Head of Fundraising
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Mission: Before you start writing, take some time to understand the mission and values of School of Hard Knocks. This will help you align your application with their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
Tailor Your Cover Letter: In your covering letter, clearly express why you are the right person for the Interim Head of Fundraising position. Highlight your relevant experience, particularly in UK charity fundraising, and how it aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Make sure to emphasize your leadership experience in your CV and cover letter. Discuss specific examples where you have successfully led a team, met fundraising targets, or developed strategies that resulted in growth.
Be Concise and Clear: Keep your CV to a maximum of three sides and your covering letter to two sides of A4. Use clear and concise language to convey your qualifications and experiences, ensuring that your key strengths stand out.
How to prepare for a job interview at School of Hard Knocks Charity
✨Show Your Passion for Fundraising
Make sure to express your genuine enthusiasm for fundraising and the mission of School of Hard Knocks. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led fundraising initiatives in the past and how they align with the charity's goals.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you plan to inspire and develop the fundraising team. Highlight any previous experiences where you successfully managed a team and achieved fundraising targets.
✨Build Relationships
Be ready to talk about your approach to building and maintaining relationships with donors. Provide examples of how you've engaged with high-net-worth individuals or corporate partners and the strategies you used to cultivate those relationships.
✨Discuss Strategic Thinking
Articulate your understanding of strategic fundraising and how you would implement the new three-year strategy. Be prepared to share innovative ideas for maximizing revenue generation and how you would evaluate the effectiveness of different fundraising streams.
