Philanthropy Executive

Job Title: Philanthropy Executive

Hours: 37 hours a week (Monday to Friday)

Advertised Salary: £33,677 + benefits.

Base Location: Home-working role. Hub location will be discussed at interview stage. 

The Canal & River Trust is a charity entrusted with the care of over 2000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs in England and Wales. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the nation’s strategic and local blue-green infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats. Our waterways contribute to the health and well-being of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. They also play an important role in mitigating the impact of climate change and provide valuable habitats and much-needed biodiverse corridors for wildlife.

This is a pivotal moment in the Canal and River Trust history as a charity. With cuts to our statutory funding there is increased ambition and investment to grow income from other charitable sources. The Canal and River Trust is committed to growing its fundraised income and has developed ambitious targets for fundraising over the coming years.

We are currently recruiting for a Philanthropy Executive to join our Philanthropy & Partnerships team in the Fundraising Directorate. The Philanthropy Executive will develop relationships with Major Donors and Family Foundations through research, events, proposals, and excellent stewardship. Securing philanthropic income against target to further the work of the Canal & River Trust.

This role will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces for team working and collaborative meetings. Hubs we can assign to you include Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Newark, Birmingham, Hatton, Milton Keynes, Gloucester & London.

Applicants will need to be able to attend face-to-face team meetings in Birmingham (once or twice a month). The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage.

• See our network here: canal-and-river-network (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network%C2%A0).
• Find our how we make a difference here: how-we-make-a-difference (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/how-we-make-a-difference).

Key Accountabilities:

• Identify, cultivate, and develop a personal a portfolio of family foundations and individuals.
• Meet or exceed fundraising target each year.
• Undertake and support prospect research and data analysis to gain a better understanding of prospective major donors and family foundations
• Develop high quality funding proposals, applications and reports for submission to prospects and donors.
• Take a proactive approach to networking and cultivating new prospects.
• Deliver a quality service for donors by working with the Senior Philanthropy Manager to ensure that philanthropy systems are in place and followed correctly by the team.
• Work with the Head of P&P and Senior Philanthropy Manager to deliver the Stewardship and Events programme.
• Provide administrative support to the Philanthropy team
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times.
• Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.

 Experience & Knowledge

• Proven experience of working within a fundraising team in a large and complex organisation.
• Experience of researching prospects and developing cultivation plans.
• Experience of developing high quality proposals and/or stewardship reports for prospects and donors.
• Experience of delivering donor events.
• Experience of effectively using a CRM system for fundraising.
• Experience of fundraising in the Heritage or Environment sector is desirable.

Skills & Personal qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to build relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities and strong attention to detail.
• Motivated by the cause of the Canal & River Trust.
• Ability to manage own workload and prioritise multiple tasks, work under pressure and within tight deadlines.
• Positive team player with a professional, solution focused attitude.
• IT literate and numerate.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

In addition to your annual base salary of £33,677, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, and numerous other employee benefits, including several salary sacrifice benefits we are also open to flexible working arrangements. These include:

• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• 25 days paid holiday (plus paid Bank Holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Home working status with ‘hub’ facilities available should you need the flexibility to work outside of home.
• Annual £200 personal learning & growth award to spend on any learning related activity.
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues, e.g. health, financial, well-being and domestic matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
• 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum, allowing you to volunteer for a local community project etc.
• Free fishing facilities across our canal network.

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

When you join the Canal & River Trust you become a member of an engaged team working to preserve our heritage for future generations. Come and share your passion and knowledge with a team that makes a difference to millions of people every day.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us