Fundraiser

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a fast-growing and established health and social care charity. As a Grant and Community Fundraiser, you will play a pivotal role in our Fundraising team, helping us secure the funding necessary to sustain and enhance our vital services, primarily in the Bedfordshire area. You’ll be at the forefront of our Business Development strategies, identifying and capitalising on new funding opportunities to support our capacity-building initiatives and strategic ambitions. 

The role offers flexible working arrangements, including the option to work from home, coupled with in-community engagements. There will be endless opportunities to work closely with a diverse network of funders, our dedicated frontline staff, participants, residents, and community members. This role is pivotal in cultivating relationships and elevating the visibility of our charity’s mission, to generate new and sustainable income streams.

This role offers variety and challenges for an experienced fundraiser who can hit the ground running. 

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9 - 5/5.30, hybrid working with travel across our services, which are based around London, Brighton, Kent, Essex, Luton, Bedford, Liverpool, and Nottingham. For this position, most of the travel will be within Bedfordshire. This role will be based from our Penrose Synergy office in Luton.  

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for someone with a flair for income generation and a commitment to making a difference. You will enjoy engaging with people and be willing to embed yourself within the communities in which Social Interest Group delivers its services. You will be able to hit the ground running, with skills in sales and fundraising and the ability to write articulately and persuasively about the great work that the charity does. 

We are a passionate organisation that truly cares about the people, residents, and participants we support. Therefore, you will need to have a keen interest in and understanding of the complexities some of our residents and participants face and be able to showcase the services that support them in a compelling way to funders and the community. 

ABOUT OUR TEAM

The Fundraising Team is currently the size of 3 (Yourself, the Grant Manager & Writer, and the Head of Fundraising, Marketing, and Communications). You will report to the Grant Manager & Writer. 

We are part of the larger Business Development Team, which includes professionals specialising in Bids and Tenders, Sales, Marketing, and Communications. This diverse group of people brings together a wide range of strengths, unique qualities, and interests. The team is driven by collaboration and shared respect for each person’s expertise and contributions.  

What do we offer?

• 25 days annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Medicash includes discount gym memberships, routine optometry care, dental treatments, and physiotherapy treatments
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• Monthly all staff webinars with direct access for Q&A's with the leadership team, including the CEO
• Opportunity to grow your network, contribute to SIG's growth, and be part of the wider teams within the organisation 

What we are looking for:

• Previous experience in a similar role with similar responsibilities, this can include in a fundraising and/or sales capacity which has direct transferrable skills.  
• IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, advanced knowledge in Microsoft, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability and willingness to travel to various services and locations for visits and events
• Ability to carry out research and lead on outreach and partnership building initiatives in various locations which can include locations of rural communities
• Proven ability to juggle multiple tasks and competing priorities within a fast-paced environment
• Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people who experience multiple complex disadvantages

OVERVIEW OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FUNDRAISING

• Be a point of contact for fundraising, ensuring a positive experience for funders and managing financial transactions to agreed fundraising policies and processes.
• Develop a regional Grant Programme, focusing on unrestricted income and feeding into fundraising management reporting. 
• Identify, research, and communicate income and partnership opportunities, working proactively with colleagues across the Group to scope fundable initiatives that provide added value. 
• Work alongside the team to develop high-quality grant funding applications, cases for support, and budgets. Complete the end-to-end process, ensuring all applications are thorough and competitive.
• Oversee grant reporting and invoicing, ensuring prompt fulfilment in line with all grant agreements and reporting requirements, liaising with relevant teams across the Group. 
• Plan, implement and manage various campaigns and activities, which may include but are not limited to local events, national events, outreach, and fundraising opportunities.

PARTNERSHIP BUILDING

• Attend networking events to build engagement and partnerships with local and national organisations.
• Build a rolling calendar of charity of the year application deadlines. Provide excellent stewardship, using innovative ways to keep all parties engaged and informed of relevant news and updates by SIG.
• Support partners in fundraising endeavours and signposting to new and existing opportunities.

A full list of responsibilities can be viewed in the Job Description and Person Specification.

What we would like, but not essential:

• Previous experience in writing successful grant applications to Charitable Trusts and Foundations
• Previous experience working in a customer-facing role
• Professional Qualification in a relevant discipline which can include Marketing, English, Business Management
• Experience in a similar size organisation and/or charity sector organisation
• Confidence in presenting to varying audiences
• Proficiency in navigating online and offline fundraising tools and systems
• Knowledge of Health and Social Care, Best Practice, and the support needs of vulnerable people within society

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

WORKING FOR US

ABOUT US

Social Interest Group (SIG) believes good care and support improve lives. Our values of ambition, empowerment, transparency, and inclusivity drive everything we do. Our mission is to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings (including people's own homes), probation settings, and hospitals awaiting discharge. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, and Kent. We believe in the power of well-planned, well-managed services to make a difference. We work with high standards and external and internal regulatory frameworks.

Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change

Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Our Values

Ambition – Eager to succeed and to accomplish as much as possible for our people

Empowerment – Giving staff and the people we support the tools, training, and information they need to achieve their potential

Transparency – Upfront and visible about our actions and open to scrutiny from stakeholders, service users, and staff

Inclusivity – Listening to, understanding, and including all our stakeholders to ensure we make a difference and get things right

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.