Fundraising Manager

VACANCY:

FUNDRAISING MANAGER: 12 MONTH FIXED-TERM CONTRACT

Background:

Founded in 2011, Kaleidoscope Trust works to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people in countries around the world where they are discriminated against or marginalised due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. We work with British and international institutions and partners to support the work of LGBT+ activists to bring about positive legislative, policy and social change for LGBT+ people everywhere.

Kaleidoscope Trust is a founding member and host to the Secretariat of The Commonwealth Equality Network (TCEN), the first civil society network to sustainably advocate on behalf of LGBT+ people in the Commonwealth. Since its foundation in 2013, TCEN has actively participated in Commonwealth spaces to raise the profile and mainstream the discussion of LGBT+ people and their rights and concerns, and to engage with national-level decision-makers and policymakers on these topics. A significant result of this work was our contribution to influencing former Prime Minister Theresa May to express her deep regret for the legacy of discrimination and violence that colonial-era legislation continues to inflict on people across the Commonwealth at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Most recently, Kaleidoscope Trust worked with the network’s members to produce a report on the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBT+ people in the Commonwealth.

The network currently comprises over 60 member organisations representing 47 Commonwealth countries drawn from all regions. It was accredited to the Commonwealth in 2017, the first LGBT+-focused group to ever receive this status which recognises commitment to the values and principles of the Commonwealth as laid out in its Charter.

Kaleidoscope Trust is still in its infancy, which allows us to be agile and for all colleagues to have ownership over their work. We are an open organisation that challenges power and hierarchy both externally and within our organisation and are committed to having great working practices that centre wellbeing.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we especially encourage applications from women, the vast and varied members of the LGBT+ communities, the multiply-marginalised, and Black and minority ethnic people.

Our work with LGBT+ communities across the Commonwealth has informed our approach to inclusion and equality, in the workplace and beyond. We are committed to employing and nurturing a diverse range of people of different ethnicities and races, abilities, faiths, genders and sexualities; and we abide faithfully and in action to the Equality Act 2010.

We are a charity working to uphold the human rights of LGBT+ people and so a commitment to the freedom, safety and equality of marginalised communities is essential for this role.

The Role:

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate skilled fundraising professional to join a small, creative, and influential NGO, as we deliver our activities championing the equality and human rights of LGBT+ persons and other disadvantaged groups across the Commonwealth using an intersectional lens.

We have recently developed and signed off on our 3-year organisational fundraising strategy, which comes with it our main objective: to diversify KT’s funding beyond Government grants, bringing our restricted and unrestricted funding into better balance.

This will in turn:

• Increase the financial stability and sustainability of KT by building our core income and connecting with new donors
• Allow for long-term planning and long-term commitment to our work in specific localities (which a reliance on Government funding, typically one- or two-year funding cycles, does not).
• Allow us to be autonomous, expansive and imaginative in our programmatic work without being restricted by the parameters of project funding.
• Allow us to make flexible decisions around funding, responding quickly to immediate needs within our own, and partners organisations.
• Allow us to work in regions beyond the Commonwealth, as we choose.

This is a newly developed role within the organisation and so there’s a real opportunity for you to make this role your own. We are looking for someone who will spearhead and implement Kaleidoscope Trust’s fundraising strategy that will set the foundations for sustainable and diversified income through a variety of ways: from regular giving, corporate partnerships and trust funding.

Key Responsibilities:

Income generation and donor liaison

• Working closely with our communications team to develop our digital fundraising approach and test and implement effective individual giving campaigns.
• Design and issue innovative ways to engage with donors at all levels, from first gifts, monthly direct debit donors to our high value donors.
• Effective record keeping and reporting on our donors through use of our CRM system, Beacon.
• Research, identify and act on opportunities for Trusts and Foundations income streams.
• Identify key corporate prospects and develop sustainable, profitable partnerships by preparing and delivering pitches and proposals as required.
• Create and manage fundraising events to engage new and existing supporters and stakeholders by harnessing key opportunities to engage supporters through the year, e.g. Annual Gala Dinner, LGBT+ History Month, Pride Month and other key dates in the calendar relating to human rights.
• Identify and maximise opportunities for data capture and ensure all data is managed in a way compliant with current best practice.
• Identifying key opportunities to engage individual and corporate supporters through the year, e.g. LGBT+ History Month, Pride Month and other notable dates.
• As appropriate across income streams, make timely and compelling applications for funding in line within the strategic plan, including but not limited to: proposals to trusts and foundations and major donors; pitches and presentations to local companies for corporate sponsorship options.
• Use digital media to connect, communicate and reach supporters and develop fundraising initiatives.
• Working with the programmes and communications team, maintain an up-to-date bank of stories and case studies from Kaleidoscope Trust for use in fundraising applications and supporter updates.

Strategic and financial planning

• Activating our fundraising strategy and creating opportunities to diversify and maximise diverse funding streams; delivering sufficient unrestricted

income to boost our reserves and contribute to non-programmatic costs.

• Implement the strategy following a clear work plan and building a robust,

multi-year pipeline.

• Working collaboratively with the wider teams (Executive Leadership, Programmes and Communications), putting in place and operating a system of impact measurement.
• Identify and package fundraising opportunities with a preference towards multi- year gifts / support and unrestricted income.

Managing systems and reporting

• Develop and maintain a fundraising database via our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, Beacon.
• Maintain up-to-date records and information of all supporters and volunteers on the database.
• Compile quarterly reports on fundraising activities and monitor against agreed targets and budget. Report on these to the Board and our Fundraising and Communications subcommittee at regular intervals.
• Liaise with the wider team to keep track of restricted donations and regularly inform donors of Kaleidoscope Trust’s progress and achievements.
• Develop Gift Aid systems in line with best practice.
• Monitor, maintain and develop digital giving pathways (currently NowDonate).

Person Specification:

We recognise that historically marginalised groups may not apply for a role they could be brilliant for because they don’t see themselves in every single bullet on the person spec. If you are interested in applying but aren’t sure that you have all of the skills and experience, please do still apply.

We are looking for a candidate who is:

• Skilled at identifying new funding opportunities from corporates, trusts, individuals etc.
• A natural relationship manager, who can build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to secure funds, buy in, and gather key information.
• Someone with great written communication skills – able to translate complicated policy into accessible content, to write compelling funding proposals, write engaging communications for newsletter as well as writing reports for the board.
• Someone with great verbal communication skills, including presenting and engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the fundraising landscape, particularly corporate and digital.
• Database management skills, including data insight led fundraising, knowledge of GDPR and charity law as applied to fundraising.
• Commitment to Kaleidoscope Trust’s mission to advance the human rights of LGBT+ people.
• Administration skills, time management and problem-solving skills.
• An understanding of how a human rights organisation operates in an international context, or a willingness to learn.
• A collaborative, adaptable and detail-oriented approach.
• Good Confident working as part of a team and with managing the on-time delivery of tasks from various colleagues.
• Willingness to “pitch in” and support colleagues outside the parameters of the job description where necessary.

Terms and Conditions:

• This role is full-time for a fixed term of 12 months (with possibility of extension, dependant on funding).
• The salary is £41,000 p.a. plus pension contributions.
• The post-holder is entitled to standard annual leave plus bank holidays.
• The post-holder will be managed by Kaleidoscope Trust’s Executive Director.
• The post-holder may work from home but in a reasonably commutable distance to KT’s office, as there will be the requirement to travel to the office for appraisals and key meetings or events. Office equipment will be provided.
• Standard core hours of work are 9:00am – 5:30pm with possible requirement to work very occasionally at evenings and weekends (which will accrue Time Off In Lieu).
• The post-holder must possess the right to live and work in the United Kingdom for the period of the contract.
• Start date: As soon as possible.