Objective
To increase fundraised income for BRACE and dementia research through major donors and high-value supporters, both cultivating existing supporters to increase their support and networking to develop new major donors.
Role
As our Major Donor & Philanthropy Fundraiser, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive major giving programme to increase revenue from high-value supporters. This is a new and exciting opportunity to establish and grow this income stream for BRACE, requiring proven experience in securing major gifts.
Key Tasks:
Major Donor Fundraising
* Develop and implement a strategic plan to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high net worth individuals.
* Build and maintain a strong portfolio of potential funding sources through thorough prospect research.
* Manage a diverse portfolio of existing and new major donors, delivering excellent relationship management to meet ambitious individual fundraising targets.
* Build, manage, and maintain a full and consistent pipeline of prospects, ensuring timely progression through each stage from identification to stewardship.
* Conduct frequent and regular contact with donors and prospects by phone, video, and in-person meetings, utilizing the Head of Fundraising and CEO for potential new and existing high net stakeholders.
* Develop compelling, tailored proposals and funding applications to secure significant donations.
* Create and implement bespoke stewardship plans to ensure long-term support.
* Represent BRACE at networking events to build relationships with potential high-value supporters.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all major donor activity in our database.
Strategy & Planning
* Work closely with the Head of Fundraising to develop and implement a major donor fundraising strategy.
* Monitor performance against budget targets and analyze data to support future budgeting.
* Contribute to the overall fundraising strategy of the charity.
* Stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in major donor fundraising.
General Responsibilities
* Be an active and supportive member of the BRACE team, supporting colleagues across the organization to support the charity’s wider organizational goals and objectives.
* Gain and maintain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the charity's work, priorities, and future plans.
* Assist the CEO, Head of Fundraising, and other colleagues with charity-wide development initiatives.
* Attend meetings and events as required both during and outside normal office hours, including the annual Let’s Talk Dementia.
* Carry out any other duties compatible with this post as directed by the Head of Fundraising.
Candidate requirements
Essential:
* Demonstrable experience in major donor fundraising or equivalent high-value relationship
management
* Proven track record of securing large and repeat donations from individuals
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills with good copywriting and proofreading ability
* Experience in creative proposal writing and the ability to demonstrate clear outcomes and impact
* Confident and persuasive presentation skills
* Ability to build and maintain relationships with high-net worth individuals
* Experience in developing and implementing stewardship plans for major donors
* Strong research skills with experience in identifying quality new business leads
* Proven ability to form good working relations, both internally and externally with people at all levels
* Innovative and keen to find solutions to problems
* Strong interpersonal skill set with the ability to be persuasive
* Excellent IT literacy
* Excellent planning, time management, and organisational skills
* Willingness to work flexibly in order to adapt to the needs of supporters and the charity
* Able to work unsupervised and independently from home and on the road
Desirable:
* Excellent ability to motivate, inspire, and influence people
* A self-starter with entrepreneurial spirit
* Experience in launching or growing a major donor program
* Understanding of the medical research funding landscape
* Experience using Raiser's Edge to manage donor relationships
* Empathy with the cause that BRACE represents (knowledge of dementia and research is not essential, as information and informal training will be provided)