Fundraising Manager

About the role   

Smart Works Reading is an ambitious, rapidly expanding charity, empowering women to regain their confidence and secure employment across the Thames Valley. We are seeking an experienced and driven Fundraising Manager to spearhead our fundraising efforts and cultivate sustainable revenue streams.  Join our small, passionate team to empower women back into employment.

We are seeking an experienced permanent Fundraising Manager for an experienced major donor fundraiser to make a significant difference and work in close partnership with both our Board of Trustees and the head office in London.  

The successful post holder will be forging relationships with local businesses, as well as researching and building a strong pipeline of grant funders and five and six-figure gifts from Trusts & Foundations, including core funding and restricted funding.

If you're passionate about transforming women's lives by helping them regain their confidence and self-worth, whilst playing your part in bettering our community, we want to hear from you. 

What you'll be doing  

• Build excellent relationships with corporate and community partners, generating awareness and income for the centre, from a range of revenue streams, including grants, events and corporate fundraising
• Maintain an up-to-date database with relevant income tracking and pipeline data to facilitate regular KPI and financial reporting to the Board
• Develop and manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals, cultivating relationships to secure substantial philanthropic gifts
• Project lead our flagship Cycle for Smart Works challenge, recruiting teams to achieve £50K+ revenue
• Research and identify prospective grantfunders, writing and submitting high-quality applications and proposals
• Delivering excellent grant management and stewardship updates
• Represent Smart Works Reading at high-profile events and meetings, engaging with influential individuals and key stakeholders

What you'll have 

• Experience in securing five and six-figure income from a variety of philanthropic sources, including corporate partnerships
• Entrepreneurial mindset towards our fundraising strategy
• Proven success in identifying, cultivating, and inspiring donors to support the cause
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities, tailored to various audiences and platforms
• Experience working with grant applications and/or funding proposals and utilising a range of tools to identify new funding opportunities
• Excellent written communication skills and strong attention to detail
• Ability to prepare high-quality funding proposals and reports, adapting the communication style for different audiences and stakeholders to maximise impact
• Passion for empowering women and improving lives in the local community

What we offer

• Flexible/Hybrid working role, office based 2 days a week
• Circa £40,000 FTE depending on experience
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Pension
• Positive, supportive working environment with opportunities for practical training and progression
• VIP access at Smart Works sales, events, and pop-up shops

How to apply    

Please submit a CV by 30th June. 

Reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed for interviews. 

At Smart Works we will apply suitable measures to keep your information secure in accordance with our Privacy Policy (a current version of which is available on our website).

Smart Works promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, disabled candidates, and candidates with lived experience of unemployment as we would like to increase the representation of these groups at Smart Works.