Respect Trustee Job Description and Person Specification - Fundraiser Trustee
About the charity
Respect, a pioneering domestic violence organisation, is looking for a Trustee to advise and support the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive on fundraising.Respect supports frontline organisations across the UK, so that together we can end domestic abuse.
Respect’s mission focusses on changing the behaviour of, or disrupting, the perpetrators of domestic abuse; and on young people who are using violence in close relationships. Respect also works with male victims of domestic abuse.
Respect’s work is wide ranging: we offer accreditation of specialist Domestic Violence Prevention Programmes; we provide training for individuals and organisations working in the sector; we provide two helplines to enable service users to get the help and advice they need; we lobby influencers to improve policy and practice; we support up-to-date research undertaken by specialists in the field; and we fundraise to ensure important work continues to happen. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to support this work, and ultimately, help us reach our goal of stopping domestic violence.
Unusually in the domestic violence sector, Respect has a mixed gender staff team and Board of Trustees. This is your chance to work with a diverse team that is passionate about men and women working together to end domestic violence.
As a Trustee you will have the opportunity to shape the future of a unique charity and work with other trustees and the staff team.
We welcome suitably qualified applications from first-time Trustees. Full support,inductionand reasonable expenses will be provided.
Key duties
S/he will:
•Provide advice and guidance to the CEO and board on fundraising strategy and practice;
•Oversee the development of Respect’s fundraising strategy to grow and diversify its funding sources;
•Where appropriate, provide support for fundraising activities with a particular focus on increasing unrestricted funding through public and corporate avenues;
•Advise on income generation from Respect’s services and expertise;
•Advise on performance monitoring and targets for fundraising;
•Act as an ambassador for Respect, representing the charity and facilitating networking opportunities with potential donors, trusts, corporations or other potential funding streams;
•Sit on the Sustainability subgroup as the Trustee Fundraiser representative and feedback on this area to the Trustee Board.
The statutory duties of a trustee are to:
•Ensure that Respect complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
•Ensure that Respect pursues its objects as defined in its governing document;
•Ensure Respect uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are;
•Contribute actively to the Board in giving firm strategic direction to Respect, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets;
•Safeguard the good name and values of Respect;
•Ensure the effective and efficient administration of Respect;
•Ensure the financial stability of Respect;
•Protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity's funds;
•Appoint the CEO and monitor her/his performance.
Other duties
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve:
•Scrutinising Board papers
•Leading discussions
•Focusing on key issues
•Providing guidance on new initiatives
•Supporting or mentoring staff
•Other issues in which the trustee has special expertise
Trustee Person Specification
•Demonstrable expertise in Fundraising and income generating activities, ideally with a track record of having grown and diversified an organisation’s sources of funding;
•Willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort to meet the duties and responsibilities of the post;
•Strategic vision;
•Good, independent judgement;
•Ability to think creatively;
•Good communication and interpersonal skills;
•Ability to speak your mind with tact and diplomacy;
•Ability to work effectively as a member of a team;
•Commitment to, and willingness to work in accordance with, Respect’s principles, values and standards and the Nolan's seven principles of public life as outlined in the Trustee Code of Conduct: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership;
•Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
Time Commitment
Trustees are expected to prepare for and attend 4 Board meetings a year, (usually a weekday 2-6pm) and 4 subgroup meetings (by teleconference lasting 1.5 hours each) which are planned well in advance. The Fundraising trustee will also need to be available to meet with and give advice to the CEO (though this could be done by phone) and to meet with other key stakeholders to support Respect’s fundraising efforts. They will also need to have the time to liaise with the Chair and other trustees, as needed. Attendance at one or two Respect Events per year is also encouraged.
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