Role & Responsibilities
We’re seeking a dynamic and experienced grants fundraiser to drive forward and build on our current success with trusts and foundations. Over the last 5 years income from trusts and foundations has gone from strength to strength increasing by 230% and the successful candidate will be responsible for increasing this key area of funding. You will be a positive and solution focused fundraiser, ready to embrace challenging targets and be a senior and integral part of this growing Christian charity. You will enable support for the life-saving work Medair delivers to some of the world’s most vulnerable people by leading our relationships with UK trusts and foundations.
Project Overview
Medair is a Christian humanitarian organisation that responds to conflict, disease, and disaster so that the world’s most vulnerable and hard-to reach people can live with dignity and hope. Medair UK is an affiliate of the Swiss-based humanitarian organisation, Medair International. Together, we work in some of the most remote and difficult places on earth, empowering people to build a better future.
Workplace & Working conditions
Medair UK office is based in Kennington, London. There is possibility to adopt hybrid working. Only those eligible to work in the UK can apply.
Starting Date / Initial Contract Details
ASAP. Full-time open-ended contract.
Key Activity Areas
Lead Generation
- Be primary responsible for account management of large, medium and small trusts.
- Regularly research and review opportunities for building potential relationships with prospective Trusts and Foundations and progressing with applications to them
- Line manage and develop Supporter Engagement Officer in the research and approach of new small and medium trust prospects
- Work with existing networks and contacts to identify and approach potential trusts and foundations and develop relationships with key decision makers there
- Identify and pursue opportunities to increase income from existing Trust and Foundation relationships
- As a senior member of the Medair UK team seek out opportunities for external speaking, events and networking to grow the presence and awareness of Medair in the UK.
Grant Application and Management
- Work towards an agreed target each year of engaged trusts and related income, both restricted project and unrestricted funds.
- Write compelling cases for support and proposals in order to secure grants
- Effectively work with internal contacts throughout the global Medair organisation in the preparation of approved proposals, reports and supporting financial and impact information
- Initiate and deliver creative touchpoints throughout the year to build relationships with trustees and representatives through video, online meetings, events and face-2-face opportunities.
- Work closely with the Medair UK Director in managing large trust relationships, working collaboratively on proposal writing for Statutory donors which is a nascent area of funding in Medair UK.
Planning, Monitoring and Pipeline Management
- Develop and implement a regularly updated strategic plan for Trusts and Foundations
- Maintain a good record of the application pipeline and CRM (salesforce), monitoring application output, income targets, fund allocations and reporting deadlines.
- Working with the Engagement Support Officer be responsible for all aspects of the application process for small and medium -sized grants from trusts and foundations in support of Medair’s work, growing financial support from your portfolio of trusts as a result.
- Ensuring all grants from trusts and foundations are correctly allocated to Medair programmes, with the appropriate grant card on Medair’s project management platform and maintaining good contact with country programmes and finance partners throughout the lifecycle of Medair UK co-funded projects.
Pipeline Management
- Liaise with Medair’s Heads of Country Programmes, Country Directors and Communications Officers in order to gather information and data for the purposes of applying and reporting to funders
- Work collaboratively with finance colleagues in the preparation and approval of budgets and reports.
- Foster dynamic and mutually beneficial relationships with other fundraisers within Medair international and the affiliate offices, readily sharing proposals, reports and information.
Tasks common to all staff
- Act as an ambassador for Medair UK at all times when liaising externally and internally.
- Ensure consistent implementation of Medair brand across all relevant activities. Record information as necessary and comply at all times with requirements for handling personal / sensitive data.
- Contribute to the annual planning and budgeting cycle, providing appropriate input from your area of responsibility. Adhere to the Medair values and mission at all times.
Team Spiritual Life
- Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
- Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
- Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.
This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.
Qualifications
- Relevant degree or equivalent, or work experience related to the charity sector preferably in an international relief/development organisation.
- Professional fundraising qualification desirable.
Experience
- A proven track record in generating grant income from trusts and foundations and converting prospective givers into engaged donors
- Experience of producing in-depth, motivating and inspiring proposals and funding reports
- Experience in responding appropriately to the requirements and demands of funders, with the ability to handle and respond positively to pressure
- Experience of building and maintaining good relationships with funders to ensure positive outcomes, and keen networking skills both online and in-person.
- The ability to build and maintain effective and collaborative relationships internally and externally
- Understanding and experience using fundraising database(s), ideally Salesforce
- Excellent writing skills and highly proficient in Microsoft office, including Excel, Word and Powerpoint
- Able to work to tight deadlines and handle a wide and varied workload and work on own initiative
- Capable planner with attention to detail for data quality, accuracy and consistency
- Strong team player and able to work with colleagues across the world
- Inspired by and in full agreement with Medair’s Christian values and ethos
- Willing to contribute to the spiritual life of the team including prayer meetings
- Willingness to be flexible in terms of hours worked at occasional, moments of crisis