Trust & Corporate PartnershipsOfficer
About the Job
This is a chance to fundraise for a highly innovative organisation which brings together best practice from the commercial and non-profit sectors, and is having an extraordinary impact on the world’s two greatest challenges: poverty and climate change.
We are looking for a responsible, driven individual who is passionate about SolarAid’s core issues, with the ability to work across revenue streams. You will be a persuasive writer and effective communicator, with a natural affinity for networking and relationship-building, able to manage multiple deadlines and tasks whilst remaining calm under pressure.
About SolarAid
SolarAid is a London-based international development charity tackling poverty and climate change by catalysing the market for off-grid lighting. Currently operating in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya, our goal is to eradicate the kerosene lamp from Africa by 2020.
Our social enterprise, SunnyMoney, is the leading distributor of solar lights in Africa. Its award winning community distribution model is providing economic opportunity for businesses and local entrepreneurs whilst making clean, safe light accessible in remote rural areas.
At a policy level, SolarAid seeks to share best practice, build an alliance around the right to clean light and promote policies and investments that help to build the market for these exciting new small-scale technologies.
We believe in a ‘bottom up’ approach to energy access, which starts with helping people meet their immediate energy needs (lighting, phone charging and cooking) at lower cost, enabling them to save money and affordably invest their way up the ‘energy escalator’ over time.
Main Responsibilities
Your main responsibility will be to directly raise income from trusts and foundations in the UK, as part of our overall fundraising strategy. Your main areas of responsibility will be:
- Securing investment in SunnyMoney’s on-the-ground market-building model and SolarAid’s policy work.
- Donor Relationship Management. Building relationships and delivering an exceptional supporter experience for current and prospective donors
- Strategy development and implementation with direct support and guidance from the Partnerships Manager.
Fundraisingfrom Trusts and Foundations (Time: 50%)
- Network amongst peers and conduct desk research to identify and build a strong pipeline of key prospects, as well as keeping on top of current trends.
- Conceptualize, develop and write letters, concept notes, proposals, presentations and appeals for submission to potential trust and foundation donors, with support from the Partnership Manager and the wider Fundraising and Marketing team.
- Manage a portfolio of trusts and foundations securing funds in line with agreed income targets.
- Build and manage key relationships with trusts and foundations.
- Provide relevant information to colleagues based in Africa regarding trust and foundation opportunities.
- Develop and deliver an annual programme of donor cultivation and engagement events.
Trust and Foundation DonorRelationship Management (Time: 20%)
- Develop high quality cultivation, engagement and stewardship plans for priority trust and foundation prospects and existing donors.
- Coordinate, manage and lead face-to-face meetings with a diverse portfolio of trusts and foundations.
- Ensure all written and financial reports required by trusts and foundations are submitted on time and are of excellent quality.
- Maintain and update contact and communication records in the database.
- Maintain and update pipeline, key performance indicators and reporting information.
Corporate Fundraising and Relationship Management(Time: 20%)
- Identify and pro-actively cultivatelower-value corporate partners who want to use staff engagement as a fundraising tool, with support from the Corporate Partnership Manager and the wider Fundraising and Marketing team.
- Manage a portfolio of corporate partners securing funds in line with agreed income targets
- Build and manage key relationships with corporate partners.
- Support contacts with internal awareness-raising tailored to each individual account.
Strategy (Time:5%)
- Coordinate and eventually manage SolarAid’s Trusts and Foundations Strategy.
- Work with the Partnerships Manager to set realistic but ambitious fundraising targets.
- As part of the Fundraising and Marketing Team, contribute to and actively participate in team discussions and the overall Fundraising strategy.
- Monitor and report progress against strategy and financial targets to the Partnerships Manager.
- Attend appropriate external networking forums and maintain up-to-date knowledge on key trends within the UK trust and foundation sector.
Other (Time: 5%)
- Undertake any other duties as requested, supporting fundraising and relationship building across the agency.
Qualifications
Essential
Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field of study and/or the equivalent
Preferable
Master’s Degree in relevant field of study and/or the equivalent
Experience & Skills
Essential
- Demonstrated strong written/oral communication, negotiation and networking skills
- Excellent inter-personal skills and an affinity for networking, building and managing relationships
- Experience in writing proposals and reports
- Proven ability to meet multiple deadlines
- Experience in fundraising
- Knowledge of international development
Preferable
- Good working knowledge of database software, including Microsoft Office
- Strong presentation skills
- Successful track record in securing funds - especially from trusts and foundations, or smaller companies
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
- Experience in the international development sector and/or working overseas
- Knowledge of the energy or climate change sectors
Values
- Commitment to our mission and the development of the off-grid solar market
- Participatory and collaborative working approach
- Self-starting, passionate, trustworthy, dependable and decisive leader who communicates effectively and consistently works efficiently to high standards
Location: Angel Islington, London
Salary:£21,000 - £25,000 per annum
Benefits: 25 days annual leave and flexi working hours
Contract:Permanent contract
Reports to: Partnerships Manager
Direct Reports:Volunteers / Interns as appropriate.
Expected Travel:Occasional travel may be required
Please email your CV together with a covering letter addressed to the Partnerships Manager, Charlie Miller, which explains how you meet the criteria, to:
Please give your email a subject line which contains your name and the position title. Attach your CV and covering letter as two separate attachments – do not put your cover letter in the body of the email.
Closing Date: 31st January