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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead fundraising efforts to support transformative community projects and initiatives.
- Company: Join YMCA Essex, a passionate team dedicated to making a difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive environment, and the chance to create lasting change.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping a vibrant community space that transforms lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in fundraising and strong relationship-building skills are essential.
- Other info: Anonymised recruitment process promoting diversity and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 47000 - 63000 £ per year.
Make a lasting impact with YMCA Essex. We’re embarking on an exciting journey to redevelop our iconic Victoria Road site — creating a vibrant community space that transforms lives. To make this vision a reality, we’re seeking a dynamic Head of Fundraising to lead the generation of income across multiple streams and help shape the future of our organisation.
About the Role
As Head of Fundraising, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering YMCA Essex’s income generation strategy, ensuring sustainable and diverse funding for our redevelopment project and wider community initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you’ll bring creativity, strategic thinking, and drive to build meaningful partnerships and deliver strong results. You’ll lead on securing income from a variety of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate partners, major donors, legacies, community fundraising, and social enterprise. With ambitious targets and a clear vision, you’ll identify new opportunities, manage risks, and ensure a healthy return on investment. This role will also see you collaborate across teams - engaging staff, residents, volunteers and community supporters in our mission. You’ll be a visible and inspiring leader, fostering a culture of energy, growth, and shared purpose.
About You
You are seeking an opportunity where there’s space and scope to build something amazing from the ground up. This means you’ll almost certainly be an experienced fundraiser or income generation professional who thrives on building relationships and achieving results. You’ll combine strategic insight with hands-on delivery and bring a proven track record of meeting ambitious income targets for capital projects.
- Experience in one or more of the following: trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, major gifts, or community fundraising.
- Strong, pragmatic communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage senior leaders, donors, and partners.
- The ability to innovate, plan strategically, and manage competing priorities effectively.
- A commitment to YMCA Essex’s core values of Kindness, Fairness, Professionalism, Perseverance, and Joy.
Why Join Us?
At YMCA Essex, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. You’ll be joining a passionate, supportive team driven by a shared purpose - to strengthen our community and change lives for the better. If you’re ready to bring energy, expertise, and vision to this transformative project, we’d love to hear from you.
Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.
Head of Fundraising, YMCA Essex in Chelmsford employer: Ymca England & Wales
Contact Detail:
Ymca England & Wales Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Fundraising, YMCA Essex in Chelmsford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fundraising world, especially those who have experience with trusts, foundations, or corporate partnerships. A personal introduction can make all the difference when you're trying to secure that all-important meeting.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential partners or donors, let your enthusiasm for YMCA Essex's mission shine through. People want to support causes that inspire them, so share your vision and how they can be part of it.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared with a killer pitch! Whether it's a casual coffee or a formal presentation, have a clear and compelling story about the impact of your fundraising efforts. Tailor your message to resonate with your audience and highlight the benefits of their support.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After meetings or networking events, send a quick thank-you note or email. It keeps the conversation going and shows that you value their time and interest. Plus, it’s a great way to remind them of your shared goals!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Fundraising, YMCA Essex in Chelmsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for fundraising and community impact shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours at YMCA Essex, so don’t hold back on sharing why this role excites you!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in fundraising, especially in areas like trusts, corporate partnerships, or community initiatives. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so connect your past achievements to our goals.
Be Clear and Concise: While we love a good story, keep your application focused and to the point. Use clear language to describe your skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see how you’ll contribute to our mission.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ymca England & Wales
✨Know Your Impact
Before the interview, take some time to research YMCA Essex and its mission. Understand how your role as Head of Fundraising can directly contribute to their vision of transforming lives. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you would implement to generate income and build partnerships.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to share concrete examples from your past fundraising experiences. Highlight successful campaigns you've led, particularly those involving trusts, corporate partnerships, or community fundraising. Use metrics to demonstrate your achievements and how they align with the ambitious targets set by YMCA Essex.
✨Engage with Their Values
YMCA Essex values kindness, fairness, professionalism, perseverance, and joy. Think about how these values resonate with you and prepare to discuss how you embody them in your work. This will show that you’re not just a fit for the role, but also for the organisation's culture.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Inquire about their current fundraising strategies or how they envision the redevelopment project impacting the community. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.
