Development Director

Create positive change in communities across the UK by developing major gifts and trusts, maximising opportunities for income generation.

About the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust feels like one of the charity sector’s best kept secrets, but there is a high chance you will know, or be connected to, someone who has been part of their Fellowship Programme.

The Trust was founded with the proceeds of a national fundraising campaign, launched following Sir Winston Churchill’s death in 1965, to recognise his contribution to the nation. £2.8m was raised from the general public – equivalent to £48m today.

These donations formed an endowment that funds Churchill Fellowships, a unique programme of practical research grants. These fund ordinary people to travel the world seeking innovative solutions for today’s most pressing problems.

The endowment is restricted to the advancement of education through the Fellowships and was set up to exist in perpetuity. The interest earned from the endowment currently provides funds for 100 Fellowships each year, but the Trust strives to do more. They are currently awarding 150 Fellowships, and the maintenance of this, along with some new areas of work, means voluntary income fills a gap the endowment cannot provide for, making the Development Director position a business-critical role.

Fundraising Opportunity

The Trust is committed to its investment in developing voluntary income streams, with a supportive Board who understand their role in fundraising and can be utilised for support. You will proactively seek new funding opportunities, leverage existing support and establish the systems, processes and policies required to create an efficient fundraising operation. The focus for the Development Director is on high value income sources (primarily trusts and major gifts).

There will be an element of working closely with ambassadors, increasing engagement and converting appropriate prospects into funders. The Trust has benefitted from the support of a consultant for the past nine months who has reviewed historical fundraising activity, and made recommendations based on this, to form an operationally detailed strategy. This will act as a framework for the post holder, with the opportunity to review and make changes as necessary to establish fundraising.

They have expanded their communications team to better support Fellows in terms of planning their own campaigns (policy, press, social media, webinars), maximising the impact of the programme by sharing their experiences more widely. With this comes incredibly rich content and stories, which can be utilised to inspire donor support. The 3,500 active Fellows also present an alumni opportunity.

A Flavour of the Trust

Fundraising to date

In 2015 the Trust launched a fundraising campaign in celebration of their 50th anniversary. To facilitate this they created an external appeal committee, many of whom are now ambassadors for the organisation.

The purpose was to increase the number of Fellowships they offer each year, encouraging individuals to fund Fellowships in specific areas rather than donating to the endowment. The campaign was successful and has established some significant long-term relationships for the Trust that need further development.

The role

In keeping with their commitment to diversify voluntary income, the Trust now seeks to appoint their first Development Director, increasing income from c. £250,000 p/a to £1 million p/a. This will allow them to maintain 150 Fellowships each year without compromising the endowment.

Reporting to the CEO, The Development Director will work very closely with senior leadership and trustees, who recognise their involvement in supporting fundraising. This position plays a significant role in the overall leadership and management of the organisation and will support the development and implementation of organisational strategic plans.

The Trust also has budget planned for a part-time development resource. The Development Director will have the opportunity to define and recruit this resource.

Key areas of responsibility

Develop and implement strategic fundraising plans – prioritising major gifts, Trusts and individual giving (including legacies)
Overall responsibility for fundraising – building and managing relationships with major donors and Trusts and managing these in a systematic manner to secure support
Work in partnership with the Communications Director to source, create and deliver fundraising and stewardship communications
Define the Trust’s use of Senior Volunteers by working closely with the Board and Partnerships & Communications Sub-Committee – ensuring they are inspired and motivated to help deliver income
To act as a public face of the Trust – communicating their mission, impact and fundraising requirements at public events/conferences
Create systems, processes and policies for an effective fundraising operation

Key requirements

Senior level fundraising experience, securing six-figure gifts and multi-year philanthropic gifts
Experience of major donor and Trust fundraising, especially partnership working
Knowledge of individual giving and legacy programmes e.g. supporter recruitment/alumni relations
Gravitas and charisma – able to command respect and action from a range of senior stakeholders while having the adaptability to communicate with a variety of audiences
Experience of working in a small team/being a sole fundraiser with the confidence to work in that manner

Extra details

Terms and conditions

Salary - Competitive and dependent on experience
Hours of work – 9.30-5pm, full time
Location - 29 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BL
Pension – Employer contribution of 10% irrespective of personal pension contributions.
Annual Leave – 25 days + 5 working days over Christmas and New Year period

Timings

Apply now

For more information, please contact Naomi Carruthers at 07538 576637 or naomi@quarterfive.co.uk

QuarterFive and our clients know fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. We encourage individuals with relevant skills and experience to apply for roles regardless of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief. If you think you meet some of the criteria for a role and would like to discuss how your other experience might transfer, please ask us for a chat. We’re here to support you. Appointments will be made on merit alone and we will gladly make reasonable adjustments to always ensure a fair process