Senior Fundraising Manager in Bury St Edmunds

Role Description

The Senior Fundraising Manager will play a key strategic role in supporting the mission and ministry of St Edmundsbury Cathedral by developing and delivering a diverse fundraising programme, with a focus on Trusts and Foundations, major funding opportunities, donor stewardship and sustainable income.

The role will identify new funding opportunities, build strong relationships with funders and donors, lead high-quality applications and reports, and oversee Patron, legacy and regular giving activity.

The postholder will also provide strategic oversight of major fundraising events and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Legacy and Appeals
• Support the Cathedral’s legacy giving strategy, encouraging and securing gifts in wills.
• Develop legacy communications and stewardship with colleagues and volunteers.
• Support fundraising appeals, including the biennial ‘Gift Day’, and evaluate activity to improve engagement and income.
• Trust and Foundations
• Develop and implement a Trusts and Foundations strategy to increase income and diversify the funding base.
• Research and identify Trusts, Foundations and institutional funding opportunities aligned with the Cathedral’s mission and priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective funders, ensuring effective stewardship.
• Lead high-quality funding applications and reports, working with colleagues to gather budgets, impact measures and supporting evidence.
• Maintain a pipeline of opportunities, applications, deadlines and outcomes.
• Develop compelling cases for support and funding proposals.
• Support colleagues with grant applications, providing guidance on funder requirements and reporting.
• Monitor the funding landscape and identify emerging opportunities.
• Donor Acknowledgement and CRM Management
• Maintain accurate donor records in Donorfy, including donation history and engagement activity.
• Ensure effective systems for donor stewardship and relationship management.
• Produce reports and analysis to support fundraising planning, decision-making and income monitoring.
• Ensure donors and Patrons are thanked and acknowledged appropriately and promptly, including personal correspondence and letters from the Dean where appropriate.
• Use donor data to identify opportunities for increased engagement, retention and income.
• Planned and Regular Giving
• Work with the Planned Giving Committee to develop a strategy to increase regular giving.
• Develop communications that encourage supporters to become regular givers.
• Patrons and Donors
• Manage relationships with Patrons and key donors, ensuring high standards of engagement through regular communications, invitations and other appropriate activities.
• Oversee Patron events, including the Patrons’ Carol Service, Spring Trip and Summer Garden Party, ensuring high-quality delivery.
• Monitor Patron membership, renewals and income, ensuring timely renewal communications.
• Work with Finance to ensure Patron income and donations are accurately recorded and reconciled.
• Grow the Patron network and strengthen relationships with existing supporters.
• Identify opportunities to deepen engagement and encourage increased giving and long-term involvement.
• Major Fundraising Initiatives and Events
• Provide fundraising leadership and strategic oversight for major Cathedral initiatives and projects.
• Support the delivery team of the Abbey of St Edmund, Reborn Project, providing fundraising expertise and advice.
• Oversee fundraising strategy and income generation for major events, including the Grand Nave Autumn Ball, ensuring clear objectives and agreed targets.
• Work with event colleagues to provide strategic fundraising direction, supporter engagement and stewardship.
• Ensure income and expenditure are accurately recorded and monitored.
• Evaluate activity and recommend ways to maximise future income and engagement.
• Strategy, Planning and Reporting
• Contribute to the Cathedral’s fundraising strategy and annual plans.
• Set and monitor fundraising targets, providing regular updates to senior colleagues and committees.
• Use data, research and analysis to identify growth opportunities and inform decision-making.
• Prepare reports for senior leadership, Trustees and relevant committees.
• Work collaboratively across the Cathedral to identify and develop fundraising opportunities.
• Ensure fundraising reflects the Cathedral’s mission, values and ethos and is delivered with professionalism and integrity.
• Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, GDPR, data protection and best practice in donor stewardship.
• Support a culture of fundraising across the Cathedral, encouraging colleagues to recognise philanthropic opportunities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in fundraising or a related field
• Significant fundraising or income generation experience, with a proven record of securing income and meeting or exceeding targets.
• Experience developing relationships with Trusts and Foundations and other institutional funders.
• Experience researching funding opportunities and developing successful grant applications.
• Experience managing donor relationships and delivering effective stewardship and engagement.
• Experience developing and delivering fundraising strategies across multiple income streams.
• Experience managing or overseeing campaigns, appeals or events.
• Experience using fundraising data and CRM systems for donor management, reporting and decision-making.
• Experience monitoring and reporting on restricted and unrestricted funding.
• Experience preparing funding reports and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
• Knowledge
• Strong understanding of Trusts and Foundations fundraising and the wider fundraising landscape.
• Good understanding of fundraising income streams, including individual giving, Trusts and Foundations, major donors, corporate and community fundraising.
• Knowledge of fundraising regulations, GDPR, data protection and ethical fundraising.
• Understanding of budgeting, financial planning and monitoring in fundraising.
• Understanding of effective donor stewardship, cultivation and relationship management.
• Knowledge of legacy and regular giving.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce compelling funding proposals, cases for support, reports and donor communications.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to maintain positive relationships with funders, donors, Patrons and colleagues.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to identify and assess funding opportunities.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines and applications.
• Ability to use data and insight to inform decisions, monitor performance and measure impact.
• Ability to maintain accurate records using a CRM such as Donorfy.
• Ability to work collaboratively and influence colleagues to support fundraising objectives.
• Ability to provide strategic direction to fundraising activities and initiatives.
• Personal Qualities
• Highly motivated, proactive and results-driven.
• Strategic and creative thinker with the ability to develop new fundraising opportunities.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Able to work independently, use initiative and take responsibility for agreed objectives.
• Collaborative, resilient and flexible, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure.
• Professional, trustworthy and committed to integrity and ethical fundraising.
• Commitment to the values and mission of St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
• Sensitive to the Cathedral’s mission as a place of worship, outreach, welcome and care.
• Willingness to work varying hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, as required.

Qualifications

• Relevant professional fundraising qualification, such as a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Experience

• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals, major donors or philanthropic supporters.
• Experience securing significant gifts or grants from Trusts and Foundations.
• Experience fundraising within the Church of England or another faith-based organisation.
• Experience in a heritage, cultural, charitable or not-for-profit organisation.
• Experience overseeing fundraising events or major initiatives.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of funding relevant to heritage, faith, community or charitable organisations.
• Experience of public speaking and presenting to donors, funders, committees or stakeholders.
• Knowledge of legacy fundraising and planned giving.
• Experience using Donorfy or a similar fundraising CRM system.
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