Fundraising Manager

We are looking for a passionate, committed fundraiser to join our team and help take our charity to the next level. If you are passionate about music and about supporting young people to make their way in life, and you have experience with trusts and/or corporate fundraising, you could be the person we're looking for!

School Ground Sounds (SGS) uses the power of music to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people. We have been operating since December 2014, based in Brixton, and have benefitted nearly 800 young people since that time. 

We believe the opportunities that music presents for personal expression, creativity, collaborative experiences and positive achievement should be available to all young people regardless of background. Our programmes don’t just develop musical talent, they build young people’s confidence and life skills, supporting their transition into adulthood.

Our existing programmes, offered free, are aimed at two distinct age groups. 

For 11-16 year-olds, we work with youth centres and secondary schools, targeting pupils who are most in need, for example, those from lower income backgrounds or considered at risk of exclusion from school/with behavioural issues. We offer a programme of after school songwriting workshops and recording studio experience through delivery in schools and youth clubs. 

For the 16-24 age group we target those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), including those who are potentially interested in making a career in music. We enable participants to build music industry insights, skills and contacts and to develop transferable skills. With the help of our network of more than 70 music industry professionals, we are an intermediary for young people who may otherwise lack opportunities in the industry. We offer recording studio experience, one-to-one mentoring with industry professionals, our seven-week industry programme ‘The Grit School’ and paid live performance opportunities..

In the coming three years, in response to the increasing need and demand we are looking to expand the scale of programmes which we run, to enable this expansion we are recruiting a dedicated Fundraising Manager at 2 days a week.

Fundraising Strategy

Our aim is to hold reserves equivalent to 4 – 6 months forward expenditure at any one time and to maintain a healthy mix of funding sources, i.e.

• Public sector grants (e.g. Arts Council, National Lottery)

• Trusts & Foundations (including Youth Music, Children in Need and many others)

• Corporate sponsorship 

• Major donors

• Fundraising events/challenges

• Earned income - from our SGS House Band performances, school contributions and other

To meet our ambitions we will need to grow funding from all sources. Our income in 2021 was £159k, in 2022 we aim to raise £190k, and still more in 2023.

The role will involve:

• The development and delivery of our fundraising strategy across all sources

• Management of key funder relationships

• Reporting on funding alongside Chief Executive

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Working with Chief Executive to agree the fundraising strategy and priorities

• Maintaining a fundraising plan and reporting progress to the Chief Executive and the trustees

• Researching and identifying targets (trusts and foundations or public sector funders) for grant funding

• Writing and submitting high quality grant applications

• Maintaining and nurturing relationships with grant funders

• Researching and identifying target corporate sponsors

• Devising suitable approaches and materials for use in attracting major private donors, including potentially the use of music celebrities as ‘ambassadors’ for the charity

• Agreeing a programme of fundraising events/challenges (typically not more than one or two a year) and managing them

• Working with other team members to understand the programmes we offer and occasionally when requested, provide additional on the ground support

We recognise this is a long list and we can prioritise together to ensure the role is achievable within the time.

Skills and Experience Required

Essential skills

• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken

• Strong relationship skills, able to build and maintain effective funding relationships

• Well organised and able to deliver on agreed commitments

• Excellent attention to detail

• A self-starter, able to set own priorities and manage own time

• A team player, supportive and collaborative

• Ability to work with spreadsheets, e.g. of budgets numbers or outcomes analysis

Essential experience    

• At least 3-5 years experience of fundraising for charities

• Strong experience in researching potential funders and in writing and submitting grant applications to Trusts & Foundations

Desirable skills/experience (we do not expect candidates to have all of these)

• Knowledge of the music industry

• Contacts in the music industry

• Experience in attracting corporate sponsors

• Experience in attracting major donors

• Experience in managing external communications

Timetable and process for recruitment

Candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter explaining their interest in and suitability for the role.

• First interviews: w/c 6th June 

• Second interviews, informal meeting with team: w/c 6th June

• Final interview for canditate to demonstrate how they would present SGS to a potential funder - 13th June

• Make offer, subject to references

• Start, subject to availability / notice period, any time from 20th June onwards