Alban, Britain’s First Saint: Telling the Whole Story
FUNDRAISING CONSULTANCY SERVICES - INVITATION TO TENDER

Heritage Lottery Fund – Heritage Grants Programme (Development Stage)

March 2014

A) SUMMARY

St Albans Cathedral wishes to appoint a FundraisingConsultant/Consultancy to provide strategic fundraising support. Working in conjunction with the Cathedral’s Development Office, the objective is to secure £3 million in donations and pledges to make a successful round 2 Development Stage application to the Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) under the Heritage Grants Programme.

St Albans Cathedral submitted a round 1 application in December 2013 and is intending to submit a round 2 application in April 2016 following a two year development phase.

B) BACKGROUND

‘Alban, Britain’s First Saint: Telling the Whole Story’ is a major project which will reveal the unique importance of Alban and St Albans Cathedral to large new audiences. Combining focused conservation work, new interpretation, an inspiring programme of activity, and capital works to create new welcome and learning spaces and improved physical access, it will deliver eight key outcomes:

  • A national profile for Saint Alban and St Albans Cathedral;
  • A richer visitor experience and increased levels of engagement through new interpretation and activities supported by better facilities;
  • An increase in the number and diversity of visitors to the Cathedral from 160,000 per year to 220,000 in five years and to 300,000 in the five years beyond, delivering the St Albans Visitor Economy Strategy;
  • The complete conservation and restoration of the shrine of Amphibalus helping visitors understand the origins of the Alban story;
  • New opportunities for individuals to volunteer and learn new skills;
  • New high quality learning opportunities for children, adults, informal learners and scholars through improved learning spaces and activities;
  • A stronger relationship between the Cathedral and the local community by making the Cathedral attractive and open to all; and
  • Increased sustainability, both financial and environmental.

C) AREA AND SCOPE OF WORK

The Fundraising Consultant(s) are required to research, develop and deliver the Cathedral’s fundraising strategy in conjunction with the Cathedral’s Development Office which comprises two part-time Development Managers (equivalent to one full time member of staff) and a part time Development Administrator.

The consultant will be expected to provide strategic advice and support to enable the Cathedral to raise £3 million in two years. This will include:

  • successfully launching the fundraising campaign, launching different stages of the campaign and maintaining campaign momentum;
  • training and mentoring members of the Alban Appeal Council (the key fundraising board), the Cathedral Chapter and other volunteers to secure major gifts;
  • identifying and supporting delivery of other fund raising /sponsorship opportunities;
  • identifying previously untapped sources of income;
  • designing and delivering a fundraising communications plan to keep all donors and sponsors in touch with the project and to attract new donors;
  • Provide reports and information on fundraising to the Campaign Council, the Project Board, Cathedral Chapter and the HLF as required.

D) RESPONSIBILITIES

The Fundraising Consultant will be responsible for the areas outlined within this brief. They will be expected to work in close liaison with the Project Board, the ProjectTeam, Chapter, staff and volunteers, the Friends of St Albans Abbey, Cathedral Trusts, the HLF and other external stakeholders and potential partners in addition to the Development Office.

E) TIMESCALES

The consultant will support the development phase of the project which will commence in April 2014 and end in April 2016, when a round 2 HLF application will be submitted. The final stages of the campaign will continue until August 2016 when a round 2 pass may be awarded.

There will be break clauses in the contract for this work as follows:

-When the project reaches RIBA stage C and HLF review the viability of the project

-April 2016 on submission of the round 2 HLF bid

The contract will end in August 2016, although there may be an option for an extension of 6 months to 1 year should the Round 2 bid be successful.

F) TENDER INFORMATION

1. Summary of Essential Consultant Skills/Experience Required

As part of the tender process applicants are expected to have the following experience:

-A thorough understanding of capital fundraising in a heritage context;

-Experience of working with the Heritage Lottery Fund on multi million pound projects;

-A proven track record of working with an existing in-house fundraising function;

-A proven track record of raising funds on this scale;

-Experience of working as part of a team on complex heritage development projects;

-Excellentinterpersonal and communication skills;

-Excellentorganisational, time-management and project-management skills;

-Enthusiasm for the project and flexibility in approach;

-A proven track record of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

2. What to include in your tender response

-Details of relevant experience drawing on the expected skills above;

-A recommendation as to how the Cathedral’s Development Office can most effectively work with the Fundraising Consultant;

-An overview of your fundraising strategy and methodology;

-An indication of any potential challenges you feel the Cathedral could face in achieving its £3m fundraising target;

-Details of the individual consultant/s who would support this project including relevant experience;

-Details of two referees;

-A fixed fee proposal (including a breakdown by team member and time).

2. Tender Instructions

Tender Proposals must be submitted in a plain envelope labelled only with the address below and clearly marked ‘Tender Proposal; Campaign Fundraising Services’. No other marks or wording which might indicate the identity of the sender shall appear on the envelope containing the tender. The tender is to be addressed to:

Development Manager
Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Sumpter Yard

St Albans

AL1 1BY
Tel: 01727 890229

During the tender period, should the tenderer wish to present questions or seek clarification on any information contained within the tender enquiry pack, requests will be considered by email via the Development Office at .

Your submission should reach St Albans Cathedral no later than end ofMonday 7th April.

Please note that if you are selected we will be holding interviews between 9th and 16th April.

3. Contract Award Criteria

The Contract Award criteria will be based on:

  1. Quality of experience of team/lead person, through assessment of the individual experiences of the nominated team, their understanding of fundraising in a heritage environment and previous project /HLF/ ecclesiastical experience;
  1. Methodology for undertaking role andsecuring fundraising target;
  1. Price.

The Cathedral does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.

4. Supporting Documents:

Summary case for support

Proposed fundraising strategy and timetable

Fundraising Consultancy Services -Invitation to TenderPage 1 of 3

Alban, Britain’s First Saint: Telling the Whole Story St Albans Cathedral March 2014