Medical Detection Dogs

Freelance Trustand Major Grants Fundraiser

Role Description

Department:Fundraising

Reports to:COO

None Location:Home based with visits to HQ as required.

Salary :To be agreed in line with skills, qualifications and experience.

Purpose of the Role:

To support Medical Detection Dogs (MDD) in maximising revenue to fund its work throughout the UK. The role is pivotal to the growth and success of the charity. The purpose is to provide bid writing support to the Fundraising Manager to help maximise income from working small, medium, and major (six figures) grants from Trust, Foundations and institutional/government funders in the UK. Working on a freelance basis the successful applicant will bring a wealth of relevant experience in creating cases for support to provide revenue for all aspects of the work undertaken by MDD, including research projects, capital, core-cost funding bids, and a major capital project.

Main areas of focus:

  • Sourcing new funding for MDD’s programmes and core-cost needs.
  • Sourcing funding for the capital building project.
  • Maximising returns from existing grants-makers.
  • Contributing to the overall increase in MDD income.
  • Working with the COO and CEO to identify funding needs and preparing updates/reports for funders.

Strategy and Planning

  • Assisting the Fundraising Manager to develop a strategy to achieve the annual target working with relevant MDD staff.
  • Assisting the Fundraising Manager and COO to develop a comprehensive communication plan to promote the charity to its donors and maximise public awareness of the fundraising activities of the organisation.
  • Assist in setting and preparing an annual target to inform the annual budget. In-put into the budget process by submitting a realistic target for grants.

Research

  • Undertake detailed, accurate, timely research to identify potential funders and match funders with suitable projects/funding needs.
  • Analyse Trust and Foundation accounts in a variety of formats.
  • Prepare a Case for Support for each aspect of MDD’s work to ensure funding bids can be prepared quickly and accurately.
  • Ensure applications match the criteria of potential funders.
  • Work with Trustees and senior staff to identify possible connections with Trustees from Trusts and Foundations etc. to ensure applications are as robust as possible and maximise on any potential connections.
  • Develop and maintain an excellent knowledge of all aspects of MDD’s work throughout the UK in order to ensure the charity is represented accurately and professionally to funders.
  • Ensure knowledge and expertise in institutional and trust fundraising is maintained and up to date through networking, research and if necessary suitable training.
  • Ensure knowledge of charity law is always up to date and adhered to in all aspects of work with potential and current funders, especially in connection with data protection.

Donor Liaison/Proposals

  • Work with appropriate members of staff to obtain the information required to prepare an accurate Case for Support for all aspects of MDD work.
  • Prepare a time-line for applications to ensure no deadlines for applications are missed.
  • Prepare a time-line for reports to funders to ensure no reporting deadlines are missed and reporting is accurate and truthful.
  • Develop key relationships with current and potential funders to maintain funding streams; maintain existing relationships to high level.
  • Where appropriate hold meetings with, existing, new and potential funders to discuss projects. Work with MDD staff to arrange demonstrations of MDD work or attend funders premises. Where appropriate work alongside MDDstaff to present the charity in the most professional and attractive manner.
  • Ensure all information used at presentations/meetings is up to date and accurate.

Monitoring and recording

  • Ensure grant making relationships are maintained with appropriate acknowledgement, reporting, visits and discussions; ensure that all required accounting for use of funds, including annual accounts, are sent at the correct time.
  • Be aware of the on-going financial needs of the charity and ensure suitable funders are identified well in advance to meet those needs.
  • Keep up to date with all MDD’s project activities to ensure reports back to funders are accurate and fully reflect the charity’s work.
  • Ensure that meticulous donor records are maintained using MDD’s CRM system, plus paper files.
  • Prepare monthly reports on secured income and actual income against budget, report on applications submitted and planned.
  • Ensure reports to funders are made in a timely manner, ensuring that MDD complies with and exceeds our donor and supporter requirements, our legal and ethical obligations as a charity and places excellence at the core of our procedures.

Travel

  • Be prepared to travel independently, when required, to meet the needs of the role, for example meeting potential funders.

Person Specification

Freelance Trust and Major Grants Fundraiser

Selection Criteria

Education, qualifications and training / Essential / Desirable
Possess a qualification in fundraising and/or marketing eg. Member of the Institute of Fundraising or Chartered Institute of Marketing / yes
Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant field with some experience or a minimum of five years’ experience in a similar role / yes
Knowledge and professional experience
Experience of writing high quality funding applications to grant giving organisations / yes
Experience of meeting/exceeding trust and foundation income targets / yes
Experience of researching appropriate grant giving organisations / yes
Experience and evidence of building and maintaining strong relationships with key individuals of trusts and foundations / yes
Experience of understanding and operating accounts and presenting financial information in written proposals / yes
Experience of collating information about charity services in order to source funding from trusts and foundations / yes
A proven track record of raising substantial funds through trusts and foundations / yes
Aptitude and skills / Essential / Desirable
Ability to research and identify suitable potential funders using on-line and other resources / yes
Ability to work independently and be responsible for own administration / Yes
Excellent interpersonal skills / Essential / Desirable
Ability to build professional relationships with key people from grant making organisations and all MDD staff / yes
A high standard of computer literacy / Yes
Attitude and behaviours
Self-starter, self-motivated with the ability to work on own initiative / Yes
A genuine passion to see MDD succeed in its objectives / Yes
Professional in appearance and attitude / yes
The confidence to ask questions when more understanding is required / yes
Disposition and Motivation / Essential / Desirable
Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities / yes
Understanding of and commitment to MDD values / Yes
Demonstrate a positive and proactive approach to work / Yes
Demonstrate flexibility and be responsive to change / Yes
Commitment to continuous professional development of self to maximise skills /experience relevant to role / Yes
Job Circumstances / Essential / Desirable
Willing and able to work flexibly across the area as directed by line manager and to meet the needs of the charity / yes