Home based jobs

Ex Cathedra is a world-class ensemble that leads the choral sector in the fields of performance, learning and wellbeing. Thanks to a recent donation, we are excited to create this new role for a skilled fundraiser to join our team to help us identify, recruit and manage a pipeline of individual donors capable of giving upwards of £5,000 to support Ex Cathedra’s agreed strategic priorities. You will join a supportive, dedicated staff team, which includes an Individual Giving Officer and freelance trusts fundraiser plus access to an external mentor if desirable.

We believe that the benefits of singing are for everyone, and seek to reach and engage as many people as possible through outstanding vocal experiences. We do this by exploring, commissioning and performing the finest choral music, nurturing young singers, and delivering an extensive, inspirational learning and wellbeing offer for participants of all ages – engaging 80,000+ people every year in a range of venues, schools, hospitals and communities, including through our acclaimed Singing Schools and Singing Medicine projects.

It is an exciting time to join us and shape this new role. Over the next 5 years we will celebrate the legacy of founder Jeffrey Skidmore OBE and welcome a new artistic director. We are enjoying audience growth, our projects are being recognised at Award ceremonies, and we already have an established individual giving scheme which we hope you will help us grow.

Find the full application pack on our website. The following is extracted:

Key responsibilities

The Individual Giving Manager will contribute towards Ex Cathedra’s ongoing sustainability and success by maximising philanthropic income:

Strategy and research

• build, maintain and continually seek to expand a pipeline of prospects capable of making gifts at a high 4-, 5- and 6-figure level, making sure that all progress is tracked, monitored and reviewed on a routine basis

• explore our existing data to identify major gift prospects, working in line with data protection law and fundraising regulations

Individual giving

• work closely with the General Manager and Individual Giving Officer to further develop and implement strategies that will increase major gifts and legacy donations to Ex Cathedra, dovetailing with the Trusts and Foundations consultant where appropriate

• arrange and conduct face-to-face meetings with prospects and donors to help build and progress meaningful relationships through regular dialogue

• use their judgement to involve the artistic director, trustees and colleagues where most beneficial/advantageous

• align prospective donors with high-value funding opportunities for the performance programme, education and participation work, or area of greatest need according to the interests of the donor

• promote and encourage giving towards the establishment of an Endowment Fund that will provide long-term financial sustainability for the organisation

• meet agreed targets for activity (i.e. number of prospect meetings and solicitations) and income generation (i.e. funds raised)

• personally manage the portfolio of higher level donors and prospective donors.

Communications

• manage the delivery of specific appeals to prospects and donors

• work with the General Manager and freelance designer to devise and produce materials in support of Ex Cathedra’s fundraising aims

• create and refresh inspiring copy for inclusion in print, on our website and other relevant materials

Other

• record and maintain progress, ensuring that income can be projected as accurately as possible, liaising with the Finance Manager as appropriate

• carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, as requested by the General Manager

About you

You will be a skilled fundraiser, able to help us identify, recruit and manage a pipeline of individual donors, capable of giving upwards of £5,000 to support Ex Cathedra’s agreed strategic priorities.

You will join a supportive, dedicated staff team, which includes an Individual Giving Officer and freelance trusts fundraiser plus access to an external mentor if desirable.

The ideal candidate will have:

Experience

• demonstrable experience in a similar role

• direct experience of securing gifts and donations at 4- and 5-figure level from individuals by initiating, building and stewarding relationships

• experience of developing engaging and attractive gift opportunities; and scoping, developing and articulating fundraising projects

• experience of working in a target-driven environment

Knowledge

• knowledge of the principles of major gift fundraising and Donor Relations (including stewardship)

• knowledge of the Arts and/or Charity funding landscape and UK philanthropic trends

• knowledge and understanding of donor motivations, and how to align philanthropic interests with organisational priorities

• a sound working knowledge of data protection legislation and national fundraising best practice

Skills and abilities

• good organisation and planning skills, with an ability to prioritise the things that matter most

• excellent communication skills with an ability to persuade and influence with tact and diplomacy

• an ability to work effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders

• an ability to adapt communication styles to different audiences

• an ability to think both creatively and tactically about the relations between potential donors and fundraising goals

• good listening skills

Attributes and attitudes

• a strong team player, who enjoys building and maintaining productive relationships with others

• pro-active, results-oriented and ambitious, with a determination to succeed and improve

• resilient, focused, tenacious and confident

• a creative thinker, with a keen interest in trying new approaches to bring about enduring, positive change

• a willingness to work outside normal hours and travel when required

• a genuine affinity and passion for music and the Arts, and their transformational power

How to apply

Full details on how to apply can be found in the Application Pack, which is available from our website. We welcome informal, pre-application conversations, and details on how to arrange this with Peter Trethewey, General Manager, are also set out in the pack.

Application deadline: Thursday 1 May, 5pm

If you have any access needs relevant to your application, please contact Peter.

The School:

Merchant Taylors’ School is a large Independent Boys’ School, situated in 280 acres of parkland in Northwood, Middlesex.  The School was founded in 1561, is owned by the Merchant Taylors’ Educational Trust and moved to its present site in 1933. There are four distinct boys’ day schools on campus. The Nursery, the Pre-Prep & the Prep cater for 370 boys, while the Senior School has over 960 pupils. The Senior School employs over 110 teachers and 160 Support staff across Merchant Taylors’ School.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Fundraising

· Developing and innovating the school’s regular giving programme, the Merchant Taylors’ Fund, to ensure a consistent income stream and increased participation from alumni, parents and friends.

· In conjunction with external consultants, running our (currently) biennial telephone fundraising campaigns and Giving Days.

· Liaising with school departments, clubs and societies to identify exciting projects to motivate supporters.

· Segmenting and targeting recipients for appeals to ensure the greatest impact and returns.

· Devising the strategy for promoting legacy giving as a means of supporting Merchant Taylors’, and to implement this strategy to increase the number of known legacy pledges to the school.

 Stewardship

· Establishing and running a comprehensive benefactor stewardship programme that thanks and stewards donors at all levels, including legacy pledges, through regular communication and events.

Reporting

· Reporting on progress against all objectives to the Development and Alumni Relations Sub-Committee of Governors.

· Where appropriate, working with the Development Executive (Events and Communications), to produce benefactor report publications and contribute to other Development publications.

· Ensuring that all contact with OMTs and parents is recorded on the Development Office’s database, the Raiser’s Edge.

Safeguarding responsibilities:

It is the post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact and to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy Statement at all times.  If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School s/he must report any concerns to the Head Master.

Merchant Taylors’ School is an equal opportunities employer committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. As this role will bring you into contact with children you are expected to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Further information on how the School uses personal data is set out in the School’s Staff Transparency Notice, which can be found n the Vacancy page of the School Website.

Turn2us is a national charity tackling financial insecurity and its structural causes. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

Turn2us and its partners have secured £1.5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund to deliver an ambitious and innovative new programme that will support charities in England and Scotland to empower diverse and marginalised communities to respond to climate change and to get their voices heard in environmental policy and media debates.It will focus on Disabled people, those facing financial insecurity and people from ethnic minority communities. These voices are often the least heard from in national and local debates on our environment. This new work aims to change that.

As part of this programme, The National Lottery Community Fund have funded the creation of an Engagement Manager post at Turn2us to work with those facing financial insecurity. The Engagement Manager employed by Turn2us will deliver activity with smaller charities and grassroots organisations supporting those facing financial insecurity that:

• Increases awareness of the impact of environmental change and related policy on different communities 
• Listens to people in these communities to find out what actions they want charities and local government to take
• Develops shared local environmental policy priorities and empowers these organisations to advocate directly to local and national policy makers
• Identifies actions that these organisations can take to support communities to respond to climate change, and helps organisations to implement them
• Identifies people with lived experience to receive hands on training in order to act as diverse champions to media and policy makers

They will work closely with Community Engagement Managers employed by Disability Rights UK, and Race Equality Foundation, focussed on reaching organisations supporting Disabled people and people from ethnic minority communities. 

We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. Please note that all employees are required to work from the office a minimum of 4 days a month on a weekly basis.

Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than others and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.

Please note that all job offers are subject to 2 – 3 satisfactory references and a disclosure satisfactory to Turn2us from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity and the value people from different backgrounds bring to a team. If, like us, you believe everyone has the right to have enough to live on, and you are ambitious about eradicating financial insecurity, join us and build your career with a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.

Closing date: 06/05/2025, 23:59

Interview date: w/c 19/05/25