Canterbury Cathedral is seeking an exceptional fundraising leader, tuned in to the challenges and opportunities of the next decade, to steer a newly appointed fundraising team through its first year of working within the Cathedral staff structure, having moved over here in 2023 from Canterbury Cathedral Trust.
Canterbury Cathedral have been preparing for the Director of Fundraising to start in role for the past six months and are confident that, when the successful candidate pick up the reins, they will have a clear direction of travel, the right information to enable effective decision-making, and colleagues who will collaborate and support.
It is an exciting time to be joining Canterbury Cathedral. Their new strategic plan is under development, alongside a refreshed vision and brand identity. Canterbury Cathedral have a new Dean who is ambitious for the bright future. Talented and energetic leaders are taking the cathedral forward in music, fabric and visitor services. They are looking for someone of similar calibre and energy to do the same with fundraising.
Key responsibilities:
- Develop a richly textured fundraising strategy, incorporating local, national and international dimensions, and confidently embracing digital transformation.
- Take the lead to finalise the transition from fundraising led by the Canterbury Cathedral Charitable Trust to fundraising that sits within the Cathedral staffing structure and is directly accountable to Dean and Chapter.
- Establish, with the Dean, a major donor panel to boost individual giving, to help in the staging of fundraising gala dinners (hosting tables, auction prizes), to open doors to grant givers and to source major donors for operational and campaign needs.
- Take direct responsibility for devising and implementing major fundraising campaigns, including applications to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Build relationships with HNW individuals and grant-givers.
- Cultivate prospect corporate donors.
- Be prepared to make a fundraising ask, as appropriate.
- Develop methods for continuous tracking and evaluation of the performance of the fundraising team and of individual streams of activity, ensuring appropriate adjustments
to strategy and operations. - Manage and motivate, support and guide the Individual Giving Manager and the Trusts and Foundations Manager, who will also be new to their roles.
- Co-ordinate and oversee all aspects of the fundraising team’s work including individual donors, grant givers, corporates, events, visitor donations and digital.
- Identify and embed the reporting of key performance indicators.
- Ensure exemplary standards of work and care within the team.
- Build effective team working relationships within the department and wider organisation promoting strong links across the Cathedral Teams.
- Contribute positively to the wider management of the Cathedral.
- Contribute to the production and development of the Cathedral’s Strategic Plan and Annual Delivery Plan.
- Communicate goals and objectives for the Cathedral and Department, ensuring understanding of the aims of the Cathedral and each person’s role within it and their lines of communication.
- Attend and advise Chapter and others as and when required by the Receiver Dean, General or Chapter.
- Ensure the agenda and associated papers for relevant meetings are prepared in good time.
- Represent Canterbury Cathedral on any external or internal committee as required.
- Produce and manage a relevant and realistic budget for the Fundraising Department and ensure operation within that budget is constantly monitored, forecasting and reporting performance against budget in conjunction with the Director of Finance and Planning.
- Actively promote the Council’s Equality Statement and demonstrate the standard of conduct which prevents discrimination taking place.
- Ensure full compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Cathedral’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures and all locally agreed safe methods of work.
- Share the Cathedral’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk as outlined in the Cathedral’s safeguarding Policy.
- Ensure that all duties are carried out in compliance with both environmental legislation and a commitment to the Cathedral’s Environment Policy.
- Ensure full compliance with the Cathedral’s Information Technology Policy and Data Sharing Agreements.
- Commit to the Cathedral’s values and demonstrate them through professional behaviour.
- Always act in the best interest of the Cathedral.
- Present the best possible image of the Cathedral in general and, in particular, in all contact and communications with the general public, visitors, suppliers and all other external organisations.
- Adopt a listening, learning and a supportive team approach to work.
- Participate in the arrangements for your own performance review and appraisal.
- Support your own continuing professional development.
Key skills & experience:
- Educated to degree level with evidence of further professional development.
- Significant experience of fundraising at senior management level, with evidence of operating within challenging fundraising environments.
- Several examples of conceiving, developing and leading fundraising campaigns or appeals.
- Demonstrable evidence of hands-on experience/breadth of knowledge of the full range of fundraising specialisms including major donors, legacies, memberships, grant-givers, events, visitor donations, online platforms.
- Experience of managing and motivating a fundraising team.
- Demonstrable evidence of successes in seeking out potential donors/developing prospect target lists and in raising significant sums of money from high net worth individuals.
- Direct experience of how digital impacts are transforming fundraising, bringing with that a clear vision for how these can be channelled to benefit Canterbury Cathedral.
- Thorough knowledge of fundraising regulations, use of fundraising databases and GDPR.
- Experience of working in large complex organisations.
- Experience of working collaboratively with a range of people from different backgrounds.
- Outstanding networking, written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work in a complex organisation with multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to manage the complexity of demands posed by a religious, conservation and commercial environment.
- Ability to show initiative and share the vision with the team.
- Ability to lead a team based on collaboration and motivation.
- Ability to deliver difficult messages constructively.
- Ability to consider and see different perspectives on issues between people across departments or organisations.
- Ability to take into consideration the impact of actions and decisions on others and puts in place measures to minimise them.
- Excellent IT skills and an interest in modern technology.
Click here to find out more about this position.
How to apply: please submit CV (no more than 2 pages) and Supporting Letter (no more than 1½ pages) to [email protected].
About Canterbury Cathedral: Canterbury Cathedral’s tradition of visitor welcome reaches back to the days of medieval pilgrimage. Founded in 597 the UNESCO World Heritage site houses an impressive building that crowns Canterbury’s cityscape. A Romanesque Crypt, 12th Century Quire, stunning stained glass and the site of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom and shrine wait to be discovered inside, with guided tours and many group options available .
