Trusts and Foundations Officer

Come and work for one of the longest-running charities and independent hospitals in the UK. Set in a beautiful Grade II listed Victorian building, with big gardens and space for our residents to engage in music, art and even pottery workshops, the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability is more than a hospital. The RHN is a community in which everyone comes together to help adults with neurological disability achieve the best possible quality of life.

We are looking for a Trusts and Foundations Officer to use our unique history to engage with grant-giving organisations and help the RHN fund more of the vital work we do.

Salary: £19,800 (£33,000 pro rate to 3 days)

Hours of work: 3 days per week (part time role)

Contract Type: Permanent, part-time

Location: Putney, Southwest London

Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave entitlement
• Flexibility to work from home 1 day per week
• Pension scheme
• Free parking (rare in London!)
• Blue Light Card
• On-site cafeteria
• RHN Wellbeing Programme and EAP service
• RHN Volunteering opportunities

Scope

As a charity the RHN has to raise over £3.4M in voluntary income each year to pay for vital therapies and services that improve the quality of life experienced by people with severe or complex disabilities caused by brain injury. This includes a chaplaincy service, music therapy, therapeutic art, leisure and family services, assistive technology, research, medical equipment and capital refurbishment projects.

The Trusts & Major Gifts Team has annual income responsibility of £1M; the Legacy Team has annual income responsibility for £1M; the Events Team has annual income responsibility for £230kk from event and £75k from Corporate fundraising; the Donor Development Team has annual income responsibility of £550k.

The Trusts and Foundations Officer will work with the Senior Trusts Fundraiser and the Trusts and Major Gifts Manager to generate income though grant giving organisations. As a member of a small fundraising team, there is also a requirement to help with other ad hoc fundraising activities, in particular helping with events when necessary. In order to fulfil the role and understand nature of the hospital, it is required to work on site the majority of the time, with flexibility around hours.

Key Responsibilities

• Prospect Research - To conduct prospect research into appropriate trusts & foundations to identify new support for the RHN, and to and carry out suitable research on trusts and trustees using the internet and secondary research sources.
• Planning – Carry out extensive income planning and preparation ahead of each new financial year, including application planning using Excel to chart monthly applications, amounts sought and estimated response dates.Assist the Trusts and Major Gifts Manager to prepare the Fundraising Team’s projected income ahead of each new financial year. Take ownership of, understand, rationalise, and where necessary, adapt how the post holder’s personal income target is to be achieved.
• Annual Trusts Mailing, collating and checking the list of recipients, writing funder updates, administering the mailing, acknowledging all gifts and documenting all correspondence or Raiser’s Edge, relevant spreadsheets and electronic files.
• Administration – Ensure that records are regularly updated to reflect fundraising activity on Raiser’s Edge; use spreadsheets to record planned applications, projected income and secured income. Keep records of all donor correspondence on Raiser’s Edge and electronic files.
• Information gathering - To have an updated and working knowledge of funding requirements for the RHN which have been budgeted for and develop an understanding of how gifts for special purposes are allocated.
• Events – To support the wider team in hosting and preparation for events. Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Best Practice - To adhere to best practice in prospect cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, and ensure that the appropriate ethical policies and practices of the RHN are followed.
• Relationship Development – to ensure effective and co-operative relationships are established and maintained with donors and also internal staff, volunteers and senior volunteers.

Essential skills

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of fundraising best practice, with at least 12 months experience in trusts fundraising and a proven track record of developing a trusts pipeline and securing funds.
• Possess an energetic, pro-active, ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Good IT skills with experience of using Microsoft Office, and preferably a fundraising database such as Raiser’s Edge.
• Experience of using research tools to acquire information about existing and prospective funders. Excellent prospect research and profile creation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – relationship building and networking skills to develop and nurture donor relationships. Ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of people.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail and financially numerate.
• Organised approach to work – proactive, good and methodical administrative skills, with good planning and time-management. Ability to prioritise and think work well under pressure.
• Creative thinking and problem solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills to put across compelling and persuasive cases for support with outstanding written style.
• Experience of working as part of a team as well as on own initiative.
• Disability awareness and understanding and adherence to equal opportunities, with understanding and adherence to data protection.
• Willingness to attend events, including some evening and weekend events
• Empathy for and understanding of the work of the RHN and its values.

RHN is proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer that respects and values the differences of our people to achieve their full potential.