Job Description

Job Title:Fundraising and Campaign Officer

Salary:£19,000-£22,000 depending on experience

Contract:Initial 12 month fixed term contract with intention to renew; part time and flexible working considered

Base:42 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP

Reporting to:Fundraising and Communications Manager

1. Introduction to organisation

The Story Museum was founded in 2003 with the aim of ‘providing learning opportunities and promoting literacy and creativity amongst children, young people and families’. From 2005, we ran pioneering outreach programmes and public events reaching up to 20,000 people a year - including some of Oxfordshire’s most deprived schools and communities. Outcomes of this work included improvements in literacy, language development, overall educational attainment and increased wellbeing. In 2009, we acquired a 2,000 sqm derelict site in the centre of Oxford and began planning its transformation into a permanent home for a Museum of Story. From 2011-2013 we experimented with pop up exhibitions and events whilst raising funds and completing the first phase of redevelopment on our buildings. In April 2014 we opened to the public for a 6 day a week operation and since then we have welcomed around 50,000 visitors and delivered nearly 600 different events and activities across a wide-ranging creative programme.

Our vision is thatevery child grows up rich in stories. We believe that children who are lucky enough to experience and create a variety of stories develop vital knowledge and life skills such as language, reasoning, empathy and imagination; they discover how stories can help us connect with others, understand our past and shape our future. Yet many children are not this fortunate, resulting in low achievement and aspirations. UK statistics on pre-school spoken language, functional illiteracy, interview skills and work-force readiness point to a continuing need for services that engage with these children to develop and embed crucial life skills. The Story Museum uses stories to deliver high impact learning and literacy programmes in partnership with schools, families and communities.

Our Mission is to harness the power of stories to inspire learning and improve wellbeing. We are creating a permanent Story Museum in Oxford as a base for our creative and learning activity, as a home for our collection of stories and story objects, and as a place to showcase great ways of engaging with great stories.

2. Background to post

The Story Museum has a track record in successfully fundraising to support our project activity and the on-going transformation of our building in central Oxford, amounting to around £7m in the past 6 years. In Autumn 2015we formally began work on a campaign to raise £7m over the next 3 years to complete the next and largest phase of capital works to our building as well meet the costs of our wide ranging and ambitious creative, heritage and learning programmes. We have secured nearly £3m of this goal already and are now looking to assemble a talented, dedicated team of professional and volunteer fundraisers to deliver the campaign and meet our stated goals.

The post of Fundraising and Campaign Officer is new, reporting to the Fundraising and Communications Manager and working alongside the Marketing Officer. The successful candidatewill have excellent personal and organisational skills, honed by working in a busy fundraising or marketing team and with a broad knowledge of fundraising practice. They will have an ambition to grow their fundraising skills and knowledge and a willingness to work flexibly to achieve this goal. They joinus at an exciting and challenging time as we work towards the completion of our new Museum, build on the success of our public programmes and accelerate organisational growth.

3. Purpose of job & Main Responsibilities

To contribute towards the Campaign goal by working across funding steams to identify, secure, retain and renew gifts, grants and sponsorships; and to support campaign team colleagues and volunteers by co-ordinating campaign activity across all areas. In particular:

1. Prospect and donor management

  • run a portfolio of prospects, including research, solicitation and stewardship
  • assist with all campaign donor/funder stewardship through personal engagement, report writing and other appropriate and/or required activity.

2. Campaign co-ordination

  • supporting the campaign team by co-ordinating their activity including donor/prospect communications, cultivation, events, correspondence, diaries and administration
  • supporting the Campaign Committee with setting up, running and following up their 1-2-1 and group meetings
  • being the first contact for all campaign enquiries from within and outside the organisation
  • maintaining campaign resources including printed and digital materials

3. Prospect and donor information management

  • maintain system of capturing and prompting prospect moves
  • captureall relevant data on prospects, donors and stakeholders
  • maintain contact management and other records to support the smooth running of the campaign, on-going fundraising and the wider organisation.
  • research prospects and funding opportunities

4. Gift and financial recording

  • maintain accurate records of all gifts, grants and sponsorships including donor/funder preferences and required fulfilment activity
  • liaise with finance team to inform accurate financial reporting and planning
  • work within fundraising expenditure budget.

5. Public Appeal

  • deliver public appeal according to strategy set down by campaign team.

6General

  • develop processes that improve campaign effectiveness and efficiency
  • undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required
  • travel within and without usual working hours may be required
  • ensure adherence to health and safety legislation and to the procedures, policies, values and legal obligations of The Story Museum.

4. Person specification
Essential
  • At least 3 years’ experience in a fundraising or marketing team
  • Working knowledge of the range of fundraising activities and funding sources
  • Strong computer skills includingWord, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and database applications
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • High level of numeracy and experience of delivering work on tight budgets
  • Ability to think creatively
  • Attention to detail and high level of accuracy
  • Experience of working on own initiative as well as in a team
  • Strong interpersonal skills, combined with enthusiasm and energy
  • Interest in stories
  • Excellent organisational skills and experience of working to tight deadlines
  • The ability to live or stay in the Oxford area.
/ Desirable
  • Previous roles within the cultural, education or heritage sectors
  • Previous roles within a charitable organisation
  • Experience of working with volunteers
  • Experience of working in a venue
  • Awareness of issues relating to fundraising in charitable, heritage and education sectors

5. Terms and conditions

Period of employment

This is a fixed term12 month postwith the intention to renew for a further 2 years subject to funding; a 1 month probationary period applies.

Hours of work

This is a full-time post based on a 37.5 hour working week and on occasion will require working weekends and evenings. In that event The Story Museum does not pay overtime but time off in lieu may be given by prior agreement. Office hours are 9am to 6pm and working hours are to be agreed with your Manager.

Annual leave

The Story Museum offers 25 days annual leave, plus the 8 UK national bank holidays. It has a positive approach to flexible working hours and will consider applications for such working on a case-by-case basis under the terms of its flexible working hours policy (supplied on request). Wherever possible, holiday must be taken during the financial year it is earned: a maximum of 5 days can be rolled over from one financial year to the next, unless exceptionally agreed.

Pension

The Story Museum’s auto enrolment pension scheme will be in place by the staging date of 1st March 2016.

Sickness pay and conditions

There is no contractual sickness/injury payments scheme in addition to SSP. This is under review at February 2016.

Capability and Disciplinary Procedures

The disciplinary rules that form part of your contract of employment and the procedures that would apply are detailed in the Employee Handbook. Should you be dissatisfied with any decision you should apply, either verbally or in writing, to the Directors within five working days of the decision you are complaining against. Further information can be found in the Employee Handbook.

Grievance procedure

Should you feel aggrieved at any matter relating to your employment, you should raise the grievance with your Manager either verbally or in writing. Further information can be found in the Employee Handbook.

Notice of termination to be given by the employee or employer

During the probationary period:1 week

After probationary period:1 month

Equal opportunities

The Story Museum is striving to be an equal opportunities employer. We aim to treat all job applicants and workers equally, irrespective of race, colour, gender orientation, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, gender, gender reassignment or marital status, sexual orientation or disability. All workers have a legal and moral obligation not to discriminate and to report incidents of discrimination against any individual or group of individuals. A copy of the Equal Opportunities Policy can be found in the Employee Handbook.

To apply

Please complete the relevant application form and send it to Sophie Hiscock, Fundraising & Communications Manager via email: via post: Sophie Hiscock, Fundraising & Communications Manager, The Story Museum, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP. Telephone: 01865 790050.

Deadlines

Completed applications forms to be received by: Monday 7 March, 10.00

First round interviews for shortlisted applicants:w/c 14 March

1