United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Principal Gifts Executive

Location: London, UK

Salary:£31,500 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time (37.5 hours)

BACKGROUND

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through 22 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC-UK

Our European headquarters, IRC-UK, were established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC-UK has grown rapidly and is now acknowledged for its high quality project management, technical expertise in governance and rights and economic recovery, and innovative thinking on early recovery and gender based violence. The IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels and Geneva.

IRC-UK comprises approximately 100 staff across five departments.

UK Private Fundraising Team

The IRC has invested significantly in the UK fundraising team which has increased its capacity considerably over the past 3 years. There are ambitious plans to increase this even further as part of an exciting global revenue generation strategy in development. This is therefore an exciting time to join a fast paced, dynamic team with ambitious but achievable targets.

This role sits in the Major Gifts team within the UK Private Fundraising Team. The Major Gifts team works alongside a team of three Corporate Fundraisers, three Digital Fundraisers and is supported by a team of four in Strategic Operations, including a researcher.

The Purpose of the Role

Reporting to the Principal Gifts Lead, the Principal Gifts Executive will support the implementation of the new Signature Partner Strategy designed to deliver relationships with individuals and foundations with the capacity to support IRC at the £1m+ level.

The position is newly created in recognition of the team’s growing portfolio of supporters and our ambitious goals to raise more funds and reach even more people whose lives have been affected by conflict across the world by 2020.

As part of this, the Principal Gifts Executive will:

• Support the Principal Gifts Lead and Head of Major Gifts in delivering high-class cultivation, stewardship and supporter care to the IRC’s most high value donors and prospects.
• Work closely with the Principal Gifts Lead and the researcher to support in the identification of Signature Partner Prospects and appropriate engagement opportunities.
• Support the Principal Gifts Lead in the coordination of internal and external meetings and briefings, contributing to content and strategic direction.
• Manage proposal development and reporting for Signature Partner level contacts, alongside the internal grant management processes for Signature Partner level funded programmes.
• Support with administrative tasks and ensure to the smooth day to day running of the Principal Gift function.

SCOPE AND AUTHORITY

Authority:

This position is responsible for supporting the delivery of the Signature Partner Strategy and contributing to the overall team target. The Major Gifts and Corporate team is expected to raise over £6m in FY2018 and has ambitious plans to grow this significantly by FY2020 to over £9m pa. This will contribute to the overall UK fundraising team’s target to be raising £15m per year by 2020 (currently £7m)

Responsibility for Resources:

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reporting into the Principal Gifts Lead
• Engagement with senior IRC staff including the Director of Fundraising and SMT, and the UK Board of Trustees, and the US Board of Overseers.
• Works closely with members of the UK Fundraising team including the Philanthropy Manager, Trusts and Foundations Manager and Corporate Partnerships Manager
• Fundraising team colleagues in Digital and Strategic Operations

Key contacts across IRC in the Europe and internationally:

• Communications team
• Policy and Advocacy team
• UK Finance team
• Global Partnerships and Philanthropy Team and Leadership Gifts Team (primarily based in the US)
• President’s office
• Europe Strategic Partnerships Team
• Country and regional team globally

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

a)Partnership Identification, Cultivation and Stewardship (50%)

• Support the Principal Gifts Lead and the Head of Major Gifts in managing relationships with Principal Gifts prospects and donors.
• Work with the Principal Gifts Lead, team researcher, and Presidents Office to identify Principal Gift prospects.
• Undertake prospect research that will help tailor approaches and make recommendations for cultivation plans.
• Coordinate internal and external meetings to drive Principal Gift relationships forward, preparing meeting briefings and supporting materials.
• Manage relationships with high level donors’ support teams, such as PA’s and Foundation staff.
• Identify and develop unique stewardship and cultivation opportunities for the IRC’s highest level donors, both internal and external.
• Support partners and country offices in the delivery of successful field visits as required, potentially attending the field trips personally.
• Support the Principal Gifts Lead, and the wider team in the development of a seamless, global approach to donor cultivation, working collaboratively with colleagues in Europe and the US.
• Support with the organisation and management of stewardship and cultivation events as required.

b) Grant and database management (30%)

• Liaise with Award Management Unit and Field staff (globally) to ensure timely and accurate project proposals and reports are matched to the requirements of donors.
• Oversee the reporting calendar for the Principal Gifts function and ensure that reports are produced and submitted in a timely manner.
• Use IRC’s grant management system, OTIS to create, progress and monitor in-country funding opportunities.
• Use Raisers Edge (Salesforce from October 2018) to keep clear and accurate records of donor communications and interactions.
• Compile accurate queries, reports and summaries on the Signature Partner programme as needed

c) Team Collaboration (20%)

• Contribute to monthly, quarterly and annual strategic and financial planning as required
• Participate in, and on rotation lead, various team meetings and activities, taking a role as a senior team member.
• Carry out administrative activities and other duties, as required, to maximise IRC UK’s fundraising
• Lead by example in championing team behaviours and shared objectives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of the principles and methods of philanthropy and partnerships fundraising.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and enthuse, through the delivery of strong internal and external communications
• Ability to identify potential donor targets, produce donor development plans and be able to implement and execute them.
• Ability to establish and build relationships with colleagues and senior stakeholders at all levels and from a variety of backgrounds, both externally and within IRC.
• Excellent Microsoft Office software skills including Excel
• Demonstrable ability to prioritise and organise own workload and meet conflicting deadlines
• Ability to understand and demonstrate commitment to IRC’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure all activities are consistent with Equal Opportunities
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of a fundraising team and across departments, whilst managing conflicting priorities and deadlines in a busy working environment

Experience

• Demonstrable experience of working with high net-worth individuals and senior stakeholders in a fundraising or corporate context.
• Experience of supporting the implementation of events with wealthy individuals, trusts, corporates and / or influential contacts.
• Experience of managing information on a fundraising database e.g. Raiser's Edge.
• Experience of writing persuasive and creative proposals and correspondence in a range of relevant styles.
• Experience of compiling information from various global stakeholders in order to create compelling tailored proposals and reports
• Experience of supporting a team, managing diaries and implementing new administrative systems and processes.

Special Conditions

• Must be flexible and able to work occasional weekends and evenings
• Knowledge of Raisers Edge and/or Salesforce desirable

Deadline for applications is 7^th May 2018. Interviews will take place on 15^th May 2018.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

IRC-UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. IRC-UK welcomes applications from all candidates, including refugees who have the right to work in the UK.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the online recruitment process, please contact the UK HR team at applications@rescue-uk.org