Development Manager - Individual Giving

We are looking for a confident, organised and relationship-focused fundraiser. You will have strong hands-on experience of managing and growing Patrons, Friends, membership or similar supporter programmes, alongside the energy and creativity needed to shape the next phase of Individual Giving at the Foundling Museum.

The role will suit someone already taking significant responsibility for recruitment, renewals, stewardship and income growth, who is ready to broaden their skills in Individual Giving and wider fundraising. You will strengthen donor pipelines, identifying supporters with the potential to deepen their engagement.

KEY CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

After 6 months, the successful candidate will have:

• Established themselves as a trusted and valued colleague within the Museum team, working confidently with colleagues and contributing positively to the developing Development and Communications culture
• Taken confident responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the Patrons programme and Friends scheme, with clear renewal, stewardship and supporter communications processes in place
• Identified early opportunities to increase recruitment, improve retention and grow income from Patrons, Friends and other Individual Giving activities, as well as supporting other fundraising activities
• ·Strengthened the Museum’s Individual Giving foundations by improving Beacon records, donation processes, supporter journeys, communications and day-to-day ways of working.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

a)     Patrons and Friends

•   Take responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the Museum’s Patrons programme and Friends scheme, including renewals, administration, communications and coordination
•  Build warm, credible relationships with Patrons, Friends and prospective supporters, acting as a key point of contact and ambassador for these schemes
• Drive recruitment, retention and ambitious income growth across Patrons and Friends, with a clear focus on expanding reach, increasing income and strengthening engagement
• Ensure Patron and Friend benefits are delivered consistently and warmly
• Keep both schemes fresh, relevant and connected to the Museum’s wider case for support

b)     Wider Individual Giving

• Support and develop wider Individual Giving activity, including donations, lower-level appeals and top-up or repeat giving
• Use ideas, data and insight to grow unrestricted income and improve recruitment, retention, supporter journeys and giving opportunities
• Draft clear, engaging supporter communications, acknowledgement letters and fundraising messages that build affinity, loyalty and giving

c)      Stewardship, events and supporter experience

• Support and lead cultivation, stewardship and fundraising events for Patrons, Friends and wider donors, drawing on the Museum’s public programme and tailored opportunities
• Help ensure every supporter interaction is well prepared, reflects the Museum’s values and leaves donors feeling valued, informed and connected to the Museum’s work

d)     CRM (Beacon), administration and reporting

• Ensure Beacon supports effective fundraising by maintaining accurate, reliable and useful data
• Oversee the effective processing of donations, memberships, renewals and acknowledgements, ensuring a consistently high-quality supporter experience
• Use reports, lists and updates on income, renewals, activity and supporter engagement to strengthen planning, tracking and decision-making.

e)     Wider Development contribution

•  Contribute to wider fundraising activity where this supports team priorities, including trusts and foundations, events, corporate partnerships and other Development priorities as needed, offering useful personal development opportunities
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Finance, Programming, Communications and other teams to support joined-up fundraising and supporter engagement
•  Carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role and the needs of a small museum team

PERSON SPECIFICATION

a) Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working in fundraising, membership, development or a closely related supporter-facing role
• Experience of managing Patrons, Friends, membership or similar supporter programmes, including recruitment, renewals, stewardship and income growth
• Experience of supporter stewardship, renewals, donor communications and relationship management
• Experience of using a database or CRM system to manage supporter records, donations, memberships, renewals and acknowledgements accurately
• Experience of supporting or delivering events, mailings or supporter communications
• Experience of working collaboratively across teams and contributing beyond a core programme area where this supports shared priorities.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a museum, gallery, arts, heritage or charitable organisation
• Experience of helping to increase unrestricted income through Friends, Patrons, annual giving, general donations, lower-level appeals or membership schemes
• Experience of other income streams and a willingness to learn, develop and grow
• Experience of writing supporter-focused fundraising copy, appeals or stewardship communications
• Knowledge of Gift Aid, data protection and good fundraising practice

b) Skills, abilities and attitudes

• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to build warm, credible relationships with supporters, colleagues and stakeholders, and produce clear, persuasive supporter communications
• Creative and entrepreneurial, with the ability to spot opportunities for programmes to feel fresh, distinctive and attractive to supporters
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage several priorities at once
• A proactive, hands-on approach, with the confidence to take responsibility, work independently and support colleagues positively in a small team
• Confident working with data, reports and routine financial information, with care and accuracy
• A genuine interest in the cultural and heritage sector generally, the Museum’s story, mission and values, and in the role fundraising plays in advancing them
• A clear interest in developing and widening your fundraising skills, with enthusiasm for working in a small museum where you can help shape change and make a visible difference

BENEFITS

• 25 days’ annual leave per year (pro rata) + bank holidays (pro rata) + birthday leave + volunteering leave
• You will be eligible to join a group contributory pension scheme (3 months after your start date)
• Discount from the Foundling Museum Shop and local partner businesses
• Access to season ticket, rental deposit and cycle to work scheme loans (3 months from your start date)
• Free access to partner museums
• Free access to our fully funded Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing (WISDOM)
• Training support from our online learning platform

Closing date:                                         Monday 10 August, midday

First interview date:                            wc 17 August