Challenge Events Manager

About us

3.5 million people in the UK live with chronic kidney disease. One million of these people more don’t know that they do.

For nearly 50 years, Kidney Care UK has been at the forefront of supporting people with kidney disease.  From our early days when we campaigned to introduce donor cards in the UK, we have worked hard to support and represent the interests of everyone affected by kidney disease.

We continue to provide practical, emotional and financial support for individuals, whilst also working with health professionals to improve care services and campaign for change.

We are here for the young and the old, for those struggling to make ends meet, for families and loved ones and we fight tirelessly, giving our total support, to improve the lives of kidney patients and their families. It is an exciting time to join Kidney Care UK. You will be a key part of our ambitious plans to ensure no one faces kidney disease alone.

From establishing a fundraising team just 8 years ago, we have achieved significant growth as we seek to establish a sustainable, balanced and mature fundraising portfolio. We’ve grown significantly over the past5 years and non-legacy income is now doubling year on year. But this is just the start – we want to triple our fundraising income in the next 3 years as we receive no statutory funding. We have to – there are so many people who need us, which is underlined by the increasing demand for our services. In 2024, we will support more people living with chronic kidney disease than ever before and we need to generate more than £3.2m in 2024 that allows us to do it.

Over the next 5 years, we will need to generate more than £5m per year to sustain our growth to ensure that we can support the number of kidney patients who need our help. You will play an integral role in making this happen.

About the role

We are looking for a driven and dynamic fundraiser to manage our Challenge Event fundraising strategy in a maternity cover position for a minimum of 12 months. 

This is an exciting and varied role responsible for the delivery of our challenge event strategy. The current programme, which includes events such as the London Marathon and Great North Run, as well as third-party and bespoke challenges, has seen huge success over the last 2 years, raising over £450k in 2023 with 2024 aiming to match this.  

Plans are already set for the year, however your input and experience to further income potential will be fully supported. 

You will directly report into the Head of Fundraising and will have line management responsibility for a Community and Events Officer. We don’t believe in hierarchies based on job titles. You will have the opportunity to work with and influence everyone in the team, regardless of their seniority.

A new database is to be implemented during 2024 and you will play a key role within the fundraising team to make sure the biggest and most positive impact is felt for our events fundraisers.

As a key part of a small fundraising team, you will also lend your experience and skills to supporting the wider fundraising plans, from sharing best practice to supporting the design and delivery of products or activity.

About you

We are looking for someone with a passion for challenge fundraising to ensure our current programme of events continues its success through 2024. 

With proven leadership skills, you will be enthusiastic, driven, supportive and creative. Ideally having led a challenge event portfolio before within a charity setting, you will be able to hit the ground running but put your own spin on things.

Able to juggle a range of events and challenge campaigns through the year, you will also be willing to support across events extending into community and special events too. 

Most importantly, you will be a great manager of people who leads by example and can demonstrate the ability to encourage high-performance.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy, Planning and Budgeting

• Deliver the existing challenge event programme in line with agreed plans and budgets.

• Lead on reforecasting (mid year) of the Challenge Events programme based on performance and data.

• Strategic plans for the 2025 Challenge Events programme with support from the Head of Fundraising.

• Produce the budget for the 2025 Challenge Events programme to achieve agreed ROI.

Fundraising and Marketing

• Manage the charity’s Challenge Events programme to meet strategic and financial targets.

• Lead on the design and implementation of all marketing and recruitment plans for all events, with support from the Community and Events Officer.

• Actively develop and deliver a sector-leading supporter experience to maximise income, encourage repeat participation and develop life-long supporters.

• Maintain the recording and reporting processes to ensure every event meets the supporter number and income targets against agreed budgets.

• Oversee challenge event administration with the support of the Community and Event Officer and Fundraising Assistant. Including database management, event console administration, sending of fundraising materials and supporter stewardship.

• Keep website, social media pages and groups up-to-date and engaging with supporters wherever possible.

• Maintaining strong relationships with third-party suppliers ensuring that all event agreements, purchasing of event packages and invoices are processed on time.

• Manage event day delivery for all Challenge Events including event plans, risk assessments and the recruitment of volunteers for events that are attended by the fundraising team.

• Keep abreast of challenge event fundraising opportunities and trends.

Line Management

• Line manage the Community and Events Officer, with support from the Community Fundraising Manager. Including annual performance reviews, supporting development and regular 1-2-1s.