About the job:
Job Title: Head of Fundraising
Contract: Full time
Salary: £50-60k depending on experience
Location: Remote but South East based
Closing date: 30th January
Application process: Please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your interest in this role and how your skills and experience meet the person specification below. Please send to [email protected].
Background
The Lily Foundation is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to advancing research, raising awareness and providing support for individuals and families affected by mitochondrial disease (mito). Our vision is for a world in which every mitochondrial disease patient has a voice and access to treatment, support to improve their life and, ultimately, a cure.
We currently raise around £1 million per year – largely through our successful community fundraising, sports and special events programmes. But as demand for our support grows, it’s clear we need to increase and diversify our income so we can reach more families, fund more breakthroughs and drive lasting change for the mito community.
With a new fundraising strategy in place, plans for a flagship event underway and work beginning on our 10-year vision to develop a nationally coordinated Research Institute, this is a genuinely exciting time to join The Lily Foundation and help shape what comes next.
About the role
Following the development of our 2025-2029 fundraising strategy, we’re seeking an experienced senior fundraiser to lead its delivery and support our small but mighty fundraising team to unlock new opportunities and deliver sustainable growth.
This is very much a “head and hands” role. You’ll set direction, lead the fundraising team and shape the strategy – but you’ll also get stuck in to campaign creation, pitch development and donor stewardship, rolling your sleeves up where needed.
We’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates with a strong background in Individual Giving & Legacies and/or Corporate Partnerships, where we see the greatest scope for growth. If you feel you’d be a good fit and would like to play a leading role in helping to improve the lives of people affected by mito, we’d love to hear from you.
Key responsibilities
- Lead the ongoing development and delivery of our fundraising strategy – ensuring the team have the tools, skills and resources needed to achieve our fundraising goals.
- Manage and develop the fundraising team (including 3 direct reports), maintaining a supportive, motivated and high-performing culture.
- Oversee and support delivery across the full fundraising portfolio – covering Individual Giving, Legacies, Community and Events, Corporate Partnerships and Trusts & Foundations.
- Develop and launch a new Corporate Fundraising programme – building on our regional successes to identify, engage and retain new national corporate partners.
- Work with the COO and Head of Marketing to develop and launch a Legacy marketing programme to build awareness, interest and intent from our warmest supporters.
- Ensure the maintenance of complete and accurate records on our CRM, Donorfy – utilising this data and insight to evaluate and improve fundraising activities.
- Develop and monitor the fundraising budget, ensuring all activities are cost-effective and income targets are on track. Prepare regular reports for the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees and take mitigating actions where needed.
- With support from the wider team, lead the creative development, delivery and evaluation of new fundraising products, campaigns and supporter journeys.
- Build and maintain relationships with high-value supporters, corporate partners, ambassadors and other key prospects.
- Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to build campaigns, develop materials and promote fundraising across the charity.
- Represent The Lily Foundation externally at relevant community events and networking opportunities, raising awareness and building relationships that open new doors.
Person specification
We’re ideally looking for someone who blends strategic thinking with a genuine willingness to get stuck in – someone equally happy shaping plans as they are rolling up their sleeves to deliver them. You’ll work well with others, enjoy building relationships and bring creativity to your work. You’ll also be able to juggle different priorities and make insight-led decisions that keep us focused on what will have the greatest impact. Above all, you’ll be genuinely motivated by improving the lives of families affected by mitochondrial disease.
Below is a summary of the skills and experience that will help you thrive in the role:
- Senior-level experience across at least two fundraising disciplines, including one or both of the following:
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- a) Individual Giving & Legacies
b) Corporate (New Business)
- a) Individual Giving & Legacies
- Track record of delivering income growth in at least one fundraising area.
- Experience of creating and launching fundraising products, campaigns and supporter journeys.
- Experience leading and developing teams, with a supportive and empowering approach.
- Experience of developing, managing and evaluating fundraising budgets, strategies and operational plans.
- Experience of building effective relationships with a wide range of supporters and partners to support fundraising goals.
- Competence with using fundraising CRM systems – e.g. data management, reporting and performance analysis, and using insight to drive decisions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills – from crafting engaging donor communications to delivering inspiring funding pitches.
- Sound knowledge of fundraising best practice, charity regulation and the Fundraising Code of Practice, with the confidence to support the team in its application.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.