Community jobs in norwood, greater london

Special Events Coordinator (Fundraising)

Salary £31,000 - £33,000 per annum - subject to skills and experience 

Hours of work 37.5 hours a week over five days (due to the nature of this role,

                                    some anti-social hours working will be required)

Base Hybrid working for the foreseeable future, with attendance in the office two days a week, including                                          one day being a Thursday at our central office:

                                     · Pears Building, Pond Street, London, NW3 2PP

                                     Other office days may be worked from our other sites at:

                                    · Barnet Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, EN5 3DJ

                                    · Chase Farm Hospital, 127 The Ridgeway, Enfield, EN2 8JL

The role

The special events coordinator will report to the special events manager.

We have a great opportunity for an experienced and proactive special events coordinator to join our dynamic philanthropy & campaign team at the Royal Free Charity. This is a role for someone with proven experience of delivering high-quality events end to end - someone who thrives on the detail, keeps things running like clockwork and brings creativity and poise under pressure.

You will be instrumental in delivering bespoke, high-value experiences such as private dinners, small group tours, donor visits and our flagship annual event, The Marsden Lecture. These are carefully curated opportunities to inspire generosity and deepen relationships with key supporters. You will work closely with internal teams and senior stakeholders, so diplomacy, adaptability and strong interpersonal skills are essential. If you're looking to deliver purposeful work in a fast-paced, mission-led environment, we would love to hear from you.

Principal responsibilities

Event planning and coordination

· Develop event concepts and themes, create detailed event plans and coordinate all logistical aspects of events of events falling within the remit of this role.

· Work closely with the philanthropy and campaign team to design and implement special events that maximise fundraising potential.

Stewardship events

· Plan and manage events to acknowledge and appreciate donors, facilitating their continued support and engagement with the charity.

Engagement activities

· Organise and execute events that foster engagement and increase awareness of the charity's mission and goals.  

Supporting the new cancer campaign

· Prepare for campaign events in support of a £50m campaign for a ground-breaking cancer centre on the Royal Free Hospital site.

Vendor management

· Whether on-site at one of our hospitals or at an external venue, take responsibility for sourcing, negotiating and managing relationships with vendors, including caterers, suppliers and on-site partners.

Budget management

· Create and manage event budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions while maintaining high-quality standards.  

Communications and promotion

· Collaborate with the communications team to develop promotional materials and strategies to maximise event attendance and engagement.  

RSVP management

· Managing the RSVP mailbox, ensuring timely and accurate responses to event invitations and queries.

Database management

· Maintain and update event-related databases, ensuring accurate records of participants, donors and sponsors.  

Relationship management

· Act as the main point of contact for colleagues, donors and contractors, ensuring their needs and expectations are met throughout the event planning and delivery process.

Portfolio manager support

· Assist portfolio managers in engaging with prospects and donors effectively, providing event-related insights and facilitating meaningful connections.  

On-site coordination

· Oversee event setup, execution, and breakdown, ensuring all elements are in place and events run smoothly.  

Post-event evaluation

· Conduct post-event evaluations to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement.  

Oversight and responsibility

· Manage risk assessment, risk management and first aid training to ensure the safety and well-being of all event participants. 

This job description is not exhaustive; the role will include other tasks and responsibilities commensurate with the post and subject to change to meet legislative requirements. 

This position would suit a candidate who:

- is highly organised, creative and possesses effective communication skills

- has proven experience in event planning and coordination, ideally including fundraising events

- develops excellent client relations with a wide variety of stakeholders

- has the ability to oversee events from setup to breakdown

- can manage RSVPs and maintain event-related activity on a CRM.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

· No specific qualifications are required, but a good level of numeracy and literacy is essential.

Experience

Essential 

· Significant events delivery experience, ideally within the not-for-profit sector.

· Proven track record in developing and managing events on time and ensuring they are in line with budget (managed             by the special events manager), achieving key performance indicators and receiving positive feedback from                 guests.

· Evidence of outstanding planning skills to deliver complex projects.

Desirable 

· Experience of leading on the creation and implementation of innovative events that are tailored towards a specific        audience’s interests.

Skills and knowledge

Essential 

· A keen interest in the fundraising sector, with a desire to learn and grow in the role.

· An excellent eye for detail.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including diplomacy and the ability to negotiate.

· Committed to achieving objectives and delivering a high-quality service to agreed timescales.

· Excellent IT skills in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and experience of using a CRM.

Desirable 

· Understanding of the events sector and appropriate techniques and approaches for a major donor audience.

· Ability to develop and monitor budgets.

· Understanding of major donor fundraising and the role events can play in successful cultivation of relationships     (ideally learned through direct experience).

· Ability to contribute to a collaborative and agile team, enabling others to learn and deliver and celebrating  successes.

· Ability to:   

 - support colleagues and stakeholders positively

 - build supportive and trusting relationships .

  - Knowledge of fundraising regulations and best practice including Gift Aid and GDPR. 

The team

Our dynamic fundraising department generated £4.5m through donations in 2023/24, and we are now preparing for an ambitious multi-million-pound campaign in support of a ground-breaking cancer centre on the site of the Royal Free Hospital.

We pride ourselves on being a supporter focused and agile function, working at the heart of the charity to deliver impact for patients and staff across our hospitals.

Responsible for attracting and retaining donors, and delivering an outstanding supporter experience, the fundraising department comprises two teams which work closely together to achieve our shared objectives:

·Our philanthropy & campaigns team builds relationships with individual philanthropists, trusts, foundations, corporate organisations and intermediaries, giving or facilitating donations of £10,000 or more to the charity each year. They lead major appeal activity for the charity, currently focused on our forthcoming cancer campaign, the charity’s first patron programme, and special events to support these activities.

·Our public fundraising team harnesses the support and energy of individuals and groups, helping them to give back in the way that works for them. This includes committed giving, in memory support, gifts in wills, and fundraising events and challenges.

·Our database and supporter care colleagues underpin and support the entire department.

Organisation

The Royal Free Charity stands at the threshold of its most important period of development.

Our vision is for everyone served by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce, and driven by medical research that has a global impact. We support the 17,000 staff of the RFL and their two million patients across Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and Royal Free hospitals and more than 30 NHS services.

Through the services we provide, and the programmes and equipment we fund, we make a profound and immediate difference to patients’ experiences of care.

The recruitment process

To apply for this post, send your:

• CV (please include your last employer and dates of employment)
• Cover letter: 1-2 page letter detailing your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification

Please note, that applications submitted without a cover letter may not be considered for this role.

Closing date for application: 27 July 2025, midnight.

Interview date: 5 August 2025

Please kindly note that we may close the job advert before the closing date if we receive a large volume of applications.

• You must be eligible to work in the UK

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may require during the recruitment process. 

As an equal opportunities’ employer, the Royal Free Charity is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Benefits:

Core benefits

· 25 days of paid holiday, plus three-day office closure rest period between Christmas and New Year, and UK bank holidays. This increases to 30 days leave after five completed years of continuous employment (all leave is pro rata for part time employees).

· A contributory pension scheme, where we match your 4% contribution towards your pension. If you choose to increase your payments into your pension scheme, we’ll match your contribution up to 9%.

· A sick pay package that offers one month’s full pay and one month’s half pay in any 12-month period if you’ve been with us for less than two years. This rises to two months’ full pay and two months’ half pay in any 12-month period after two years of continuous employment.

· Occupational maternity pay and paternity pay packages that provide more generous support than statutory pay alone.

· A flexible working policy to support our employees’ work/life balance.

Support for your financial wellbeing

As a member of the Royal Free family, you’ll be entitled to benefit from:

· Expert financial advice from our financial partner, the London Credit Union

· Savings on purchases with the Blue Light Card

· Our Death in Service benefit

Support for your health and wellbeing

· Subsidised gym, pool and classes at our Rec Club in Hampstead

· Secure bicycle parking and shower facilities at our Hampstead site

· Fortnightly guided meditation

· Free massage therapy from our complementary therapy team

· Menopause peer support group

· Employee Assistance Programme offering 24-hour access to free confidential advice and support on work and personal issues.