Fundraising Assistant
Based: Farringdon, London
Full Time – 35 hours per week
BACKGROUND INFORMATION – BAAF
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) is the UK’s leading adoption and fostering charity, promoting the highest standards of practice in adoption, fostering and social work on behalf of children separated from their birth families. We aim to increase public understanding of the issues and to act as an independent voice for children, informing and influencing policy-makers, all those responsible for children and young people and public opinion at large. BAAF works within a children- orientated, multi-disciplinary and anti-discriminatory framework.
BAAF's purpose is to -
· Promote and develop high standards in adoption, fostering and childcare services in social work, health, legal and other professional bodies.
· Promote public and professional understanding of adoption and fostering and of the life-long implications for children separated from their birth families.
· Act as an independent voice for children’s and young people’s welfare and rights - to inform and influence policymakers and legislators.
· Be an umbrella body, providing co-ordination and a concerted voice for member agencies and all those working with children and young people.
BAAF’s main activities are the development, promotion and advocacy of best policy and practice through:
· Provision of advice and information to members and the general public
· Training, consultancy and seminars
· An extensive range of publications and a quarterly professional journal Adoption & Fostering
· Child placement services including:- Our monthly newspaper, Be My Parent and web-based family finding service Be My Parent on line; the Adoption Registers; Adoption Consortia and Adoption Resource Information Service.
The main users of our services are our members comprising local authorities and health boards / trusts in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, voluntary adoption agencies, independent fostering agencies and also individual social work, legal and medical professionals and carers.
BAAF operates the Adoption Register for England and Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government and the Department for Education (DfE); the Adoption Register for Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. In addition, the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) for adoption and fostering on behalf of the DoE in England and a separate IRM in Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government.
We facilitate five UK - wide Advisory Groups (Legal, Health, Research, Social Work and Black, Minority EthnicPerspectives) which assist BAAF in its policy and practice development work. The Specialist Groups in Northern England link to these Advisory Groups. We also co-ordinate Special Interest Groups for private fostering specialists in both England and Wales.
We have approximately 150 members of staff in the UK, about half of which work in country and regional offices. Our head office is in London where our central services including membership, development, publications and Be My Parent are based. There are national offices in Scotland (Edinburgh), Northern Ireland (Belfast) and Wales (Cardiff and Rhyl) and regional offices for England in Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol and London.
Ultimate responsibility for the governance of BAAF rests with our Board of Trustees whose members are nominated by ADCS and equivalent bodies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and by our UK Advisory Groups. BAAF’s current chair is Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of CAFCASS.
Our income is derived from central government grants, membership fees and the sale of services, in particular training, consultancy and publications. Fundraising is also an important income-generating activity. BAAF has made significant progress in recent years leading to a relatively robust financial position, which has allowed growth and some exciting developments such as the development of Be My Parent online and the establishment of a range of innovative fostering projects. Our Consultant Trainers are renowned for their expertise in the field of adoption, fostering and other statutory child care work.
Job Context
This is an excellent opportunity for the ideal candidate to gain significant fundraising experience through working on a variety of fundraising areas. As Fundraising Assistant your role will be to support two experienced Fundraisers working across Trusts, companies, events, individuals and major donors.
The successful candidate will be the main point of contact for fundraising volunteers, ensuring they are engaged and supported through excellent communication and relationship management.
The ideal candidate will be educated to A-level standard and will demonstrate an ability to be organised with good prioritisation skills, and the ability to manage and deliver multiple projects with a high degree of attention to details and a positive professional attitude. The ideal candidate will have experience of working in fundraising or sales and comfortable with working to targets.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title / Fundraising Assistant / Department: / Fundraising & External CommunicationsResponsible to: / Fundraising & External Communications / Responsible for: / None
Based at: / Saffron House, Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS
Organisational Relationships / · Reports to the Fundraising & External Communications Director
· Supports two fundraising officers (Trusts and Corporate & Individual Giving) and the fundraising function overall.
· Works closely with media, digital, membership and country and regional staff at all levels.
Main Purpose of Job: / · To provide administrative and practical support to the fundraising team.
MAIN DUTIES/TASKS
General / · Day-to-day responsibility for timely and accurate administration for trusts, corporates and individual donors, including data entry of donations received, email responses, thanks to donors & trusts, updating and maintaining donor, corporate and trust records and filing.
· Create monthly fundraised income vs target reports for the department, monitoring and reviewing income and suggesting action where appropriate in conjunction with fundraising officers.
· Process quarterly Gift Aid claims to HMRC
· Manage income from Virgin Money Giving website, liaising with the Finance team as required
· Produce data reports as required to support fundraising and lead the liaison with CRM project group for data migration from IMIS to Civi CRM
· Maintain an up to date calendar of fundraising events and activities.
· Update fundraising information on the website as required working closely with the digital team.
· Attend and contribute to meetings with donors, trusts and committees as required, take and circulate minutes.
· Establish contact with new and existing funders where there is no existing relationship, as directed.
· Liaise internally with colleagues at all levels to ensure free flow of the information needed to complete tasks.
· Support the Trusts and Grants Manager as directed:
· Research & identify new trusts and foundations, including developing a quarterly Trust digest for internal circulation to staff.
· Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 small to medium sized trusts and foundations.
· Write and develop compelling and imaginative funding proposals in consultation with the T&F officer, together with accurate and inspiring update reports.
· Liaise with staff at all levels to obtain information to support applications..
· Work with the T&F officer to steward relationships through events, invitations to conferences etc.
· Create and maintain project portfolio ensuring it is kept up to
date.
· Support the Major Donors and Corporate Fundraising Manager as directed:
· Organise all aspects of events including email and social media marketing, liaison with participants, booking venues, obtaining sponsorship, attending events and managing events logistics
· Support the planning and organisation of fundraising and/or marketing committees as needed, taking and circulating minutes.
· Help cultivate relationships with community fundraisers, committees, key supporters and President’s Circle and identify future opportunities for growth.
· Contribute to the development of the corporate and individual fundraising strategies through researching emerging trends and successful initiatives.
· Administer payroll giving schemes (eg Pennies from Heaven)
· Monitor income/expenditure on community events and challenges, research and manage community fundraising schemes such as mobile phone recycling.
To represent BAAF positively at all times, observing good equal opportunities practice and undertaking other such duties as requested.
To ensure a courteous and responsive service to enquirers and the maintenance of the highest standards of customer care.
To adhere to all BAAF’s internal policies and procedures.
Any other task appropriate to the role at the request of the Director of Fundraising & External Communications
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Responsible to: / Fundraising & External Communications / Responsible for: / None
Based at: / Saffron House, Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS
Requirement: / Essential / Desirable
Educational/ attainment / · 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent) grades A-C, including English and maths.
· 2 A level or equivalent passes
Knowledge & Experience / · Good knowledge of word processing, database and spreadsheet packages.
· Relevant office experience to include setting up office systems, creating data reports and filing .
· Experience of juggling priorities and self-managing a busy workload to meet deadlines.
· Confident user of social & digital media channels.
· Experience of producing accurate minutes and reports.
· Experience of sales, marketing or fundraising / · Experience of organising events such as conferences and fundraising events.
· Experience in the not for profit sector
Skills & Aptitudes / · Methodical with strong attention to detail
· Excellent customer services skills
· Ability to process financial information
· Ability to compile and edit information and documentation to a high standard.
· Ability to handle incoming telephone calls sensitively and diplomatically.
· Good oral and written communication skills, able to draft correspondence, web and promotional copy on behalf of the team.
· Able to work without direct supervision, using initiative, taking decisions and referring matters on as required.
· Calm under pressure
Interests / · Adoption and
Fostering child care issues
· Fundraising /marketing
Personal Qualities / · The social confidence to engage new prospects from a wide variety of backgrounds.
· Able to work collaboratively as a member of a team.
· Able to demonstrate an appreciation of equal opportunities and a willingness to work within BAAF’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
Circumstances / · Able to work flexibly including occasional evenings and week-ends to support fundraising events across the UK.
· Commitment to the charity sector and interested in developing a career in fundraising.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
HOURS / Normal hours are 35 hours per week Monday to Friday.
There is an optional flexitime scheme.
PENSION / BAAF operates the CARE Defined Contribution Pension Scheme from the Pensions Trust.
TRAVEL / Season ticket loans are available, subject to negotiation in the probationary period.
HOLIDAYS / 25 days annual leave per year; 8 public holidays and 5 BAAF days. Leave if arriving part way through the year is pro rata.
UNION / BAAF recognises UNISON as the official union for negotiating purposes. Membership is voluntary.
CONFIRMATION / The appointment is subject to medical clearance and satisfactory references. The probationary period is six months.
Employment will also depend on proof being received of the requisite right to work such as a P45 with valid NI number, a UK or Republic of Ireland Birth Certificate, a passport or national identity card from an EC country, or a work permit or letter from the immigration and nationality department.
Important Note:
We shall be deciding whom to ask for interview by looking at whether candidates have the skills, experience, knowledge and qualities listed in the person specification. You will need to demonstrate/explain on the application form why you think you have those skills, etc. and it is strongly recommended that you use the selection criteria as sub-headings under which to list appropriate information and examples
APPLICATION
Please apply using the BAAF application which should be sent to:
or by post marked Confidential to:
HR Department, British Association for Adoption and Fostering, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TS.
BAAF is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all candidates whatever their age, race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, gender, marital status, sexuality or disability.
Closing Date and Time: Monday 15.12.2014 – 12 noon
Interviews/Assessments: London – Thursday 18.12.2014
Please apply using attached Application Form and sent to
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