Fundraising Manager

An exciting full time, permanent opportunity with an option for some working from home. 

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role – Fundraising Manager

We now have an exciting new role for an outstanding Fundraising Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Marketing, you’ll play a key role in the planning and successful delivery of individual and corporate fundraising objectives for Chester Zoo.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Develop and deliver the fundraising strategy
• Coach and develop the fundraising team
• Develop relationships across industries and build the reputation of the zoo as a charity delivering significant conservation outcomes
• Protect and grow current supporter based and corporate partnerships, deliver and manage the new partner pipeline in order to meet growth targets
• Work across high value donor and mass fundraising audiences to grow individual giving in line with income targets
• Develop and deliver plans to protect and grow grant, trust and foundation opportunities for the organisation.
• Act as the charity expert on areas of best practice and legislation and adapting processes where required
• Manage and develop the data held across fundraising, producing regular reporting on activity and ROI, adapting plans as required

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.  

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Permanent contract, 40 hours per week
• Option for some home working
• A salary of £47,359.75 pa (this includes our 2022 pay award & is effective from 1 Jan'22)
• 33 days annual leave
• Access to healthcare plan
• Employer contributory pension scheme
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus a number of complimentary tickets for your family and friends

Our Requirements – Fundraising Manager

• Previous experience working in a similar role at senior management level
• Able to balance a sophisticated communications style with an energetic, strategic and innovative approach to fundraising, drawing on previous fundraising knowledge and experience
• High level of numeracy, able to report against KPIs and financial targets 

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Specialist knowledge of charity law and awareness of tax, gift aid, VAT and other legislation relating to fundraising
• Experience of developing and managing an Appeals Board, working at Trustee level
• Proven major gifts fundraising experience, also a strong natural drive towards getting out into the field

How to apply

To apply for this position,  please click ‘Apply on Website’ to upload your CV and complete the application form highlighting your skills and experience including why you believe this role and our organisation are a good fit for you.

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Charity People is heading up the search for one of the North West's biggest, most recognisable charities with a lifesaving mission. We're looking for a talented Individual Giving Officer with expertise in Income Generation; someone who can contribute to the development of creative campaigns and write effective copy.

Working towards specific income targets, the Individual Giving Officer will be responsible for acquisition campaigns including direct mail appeals, face-to-face recruitment and regular giving; retention campaigns including ongoing stewardship communications. Working with the Legacy Manager to maximise In Memory giving and the Digital Marketing Manager to test new online fundraising products and supporter journeys.

Creating and developing regular giving and donor retention campaigns, you'll work closely with the data team to analyse and profile donors to inform future activity. Understanding and intelligence of what motivates donors to give will enable you to react, create and influence in response.

You'll have previous experience of fundraising, ideally in a campaign-led environment. We'd be over the moon to hear from candidates with specialist knowledge and experience of individual giving, although we're also open to direct marketing and communications experts with transferable skills looking to make the break into fundraising.

The charity has spent time and energy creating a flexible, agile working culture with life and family-friendly working policies. This role can be a mix of home and office (Knowsley) based - we are really happy to discuss a working pattern that works for you!

For lots more detail on this exciting role, please get in touch with Ellen Drummond or Amelia Lee at Charity People.

Final deadline is 26th November but we'd love to share the details with you ASAP if you're interested.

Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. We match charity needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities we work with.

We are seeking a values driven, enthusiastic individual to support our Capacity Building Team, which offers a suite of support to the voluntary, community and faith sector, working with charitable organisations to improve their sustainability and good governance.

Main Purpose of Post:

1. Providing training, mentoring and / or direct service delivery to build the competence and capability of non-profit organisations to provide services / activities for the ‘common good’.
2. Support good governance and sustainability in non-profits and support their capacity to operate strategically and respond to evidence based need.
3. To provide developmental support to respond to non-profit sector demand.

Main Responsibilities:

Organisational support and development

1. Assist non-profit organisations to review their organisational competencies in governance, operations, compliance and planning and then to prioritise areas for development support and devise realistic action plans.
2. Provide technical and legal information relating to company and charity law in support of trustees/directors and the senior staff of non-profit organisations.
3. Advise non-profits on models of formal cooperation with other legal entities in order to develop and participate in joint working or partnership initiatives.
4. Help individuals and emerging groups develop ideas for voluntary and community action including giving organisational support to potential partners.
5. Support non-profit organisations to plan their activities, through the provision of business planning, feasibility analysis and business model development support.
6. Support non-profit organisations to assess the impact of their work by supporting the development of project evaluation systems.
7. Support the development of consultation and service user involvement mechanisms.
8. Support organisations to prepare for and submit funding applications, with particular focus on small grants.

Training and Information

1. Taking a leading role in the design and delivery of accredited and non-accredited training for non-profit organisations.
2. Developing information, advice and guidance materials to support self-service channels of service delivery (email, web, social media, print)

Technical Advice and Support

1. Providing a policy development role in two or more of the following a specialist interest areas:

• Business Planning
• Human resources
• Contracting / Procurement
• Outcome management
• Legal forms / Governing documents
• Quality assurance
• Health & Safety
• Trusteeship / Governance

2.  To provide guidance and advice on specialist areas to other LCVS teams

General

• To work as part of the team with other staff at LCVS.
• To implement and follow LCVS policies and procedures.
• To maintain accurate records specified for your areas of responsibility.
• To undertake any training necessary and participate in the organisation’s supervision and appraisal system, and identify further training and personal development needs.
• To represent LCVS and undertake other tasks in support of the organisation as required by your line manager.

The post holder is expected to be flexible in the performance of duties and to undertake any other duties identified as appropriate to the post.

Equal Opportunities

LCVS is committed to equal opportunities, anti-discrimination and anti-oppressive policy and practice. No one we have contact with may be discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of gender, race, nationality, religion, cultural group, marital status, sexual orientation, age, or impairment. The policies apply to job applicants, employees, volunteers and users of our services.

Job Description

This job description is a guide to the work you will be required to undertake and represents a range of responsibilities commensurate with the grade for the post.  All jobs are subject to change from time to time and this job description will be reviewed regularly.