Job Description

The successful candidate will have strong skills and experience in (trusts/foundations and government) fundraising, proposal and report writing and grants management, as almost all of the organisation’s income comes from these sources. The Charity Development Lead will be expected to contribute to developing the organisation’s fundraising strategy in consultation with the CEO, Senior Management team and board members; help to secure increased funding from existing and new foundation and government funders; work collaboratively to improve fundraising systems (e.g. research and tracking of prospective funders, grants, contacts and reporting); and play a key role in establishing a strategy for sustainable growth. 

Continuous Improvement:

• Demonstrate a proactive commitment to continuing professional and team development.
• Contribute to the upkeep of best practice resources, materials and tools.
• Take responsibility for a thematic lead area producing/sharing regular updates which reflect organisational/wider sector developments.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Attend and contribute to charity development meetings.
• Work flexibly across the organisation to support the CEO and wider team.

Person Specification Essential Requirements:

• Developing an exciting new corporate fundraising programme.
• Actively managing a network to ensure long-lasting relationships with funders, maintaining effective communication using various channels.
• Identifying a pipeline of opportunities across multiple channels.
• Creating well-researched, skilfully-written funding proposals.
• Maintaining and developing existing donors, ensuring that they are kept informed of the impact of their support and identifying opportunities to further develop relationships and ensure high levels of retention.
• Representing MDVS externally and identifying sector specific corporate opportunities.
• Experience of writing successful tenders, proposals or grant submissions, or other technical/professional writing experience e.g. marketing, research or journalism.
• Experience of writing successful tenders, proposals or grant submissions.
• Professional writing experience, e.g. marketing, research or journalism.
• Excellent writing ability.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills and IT Literacy.
• Excellent proof-reading and editing skills with an exceptional eye for accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines while maintaining a high standard of quality.
• Flexible approach to the requirements of the post, including capacity to travel when necessary to the role.
• Confident and effective communicator, both verbally and in writing and ability to foster positive collaborative relationships, including with senior stakeholders.
• Team player who is willing to adapt to the changing priorities of the organisation.

And the ability to:

• Give and receive constructive and challenging feedback in a positive way that supports continuous improvement.
• Communicate complex issues in writing in an accessible and engaging manner.
• Remain resilient in a high-pressured environment and respond proactively and positively to challenges (e.g. tight deadlines).
• Review and analyse large amounts of information, extract relevant content and rewrite to ensure accurate and up-to-date bid content.
• Creatively solve complex problems.
• Seek out relevant information proactively from a variety of sources.
• Conduct research which can be used for campaigning in media, advocacy or public mobilisation work.
• Work independently and keep calm under time deadlines/pressure.
• Understand and have a commitment to the principles and practice of equal opportunity and diversity.
• Understand and have a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
• Understand and deliver on MDVS’ values, mission and aims.