Foundation Director
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Location: Uppingham School, Uppingham
About Uppingham School
Founded in 1584, Uppingham School is a leading co-educational independent boarding school with a distinguished academic reputation and a commitment to outstanding pastoral care. Operating 24/7 during term time, the School accommodates 830 pupils aged 11–18 across 16 boarding houses, supported by over 20 academic departments and a rich programme of extra-curricular activities including sport, music, and drama.
Uppingham boasts state-of-the-art facilities in science, sport, and music, and is recognised internationally for its educational excellence. The School's operations are underpinned by a range of professional business units, including Marketing, Estates, Finance, HR, IT, Operations (Catering, Cleaning, Procurement), Health & Safety, and a trading subsidiary. The School employs approximately 600 staff.
Uppingham School is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, and welcomes applications from individuals who feel they can contribute positively to the role and the wider School community.
About the Role
To manage the Foundation team and in combination with them, to secure maximum funding from donors in support of the School's strategic objectives and to build a sustainable voluntary revenue stream going forward and to achieve the following outcomes:
• Team Leadership: well-motivated, productive and engaged development team, which continues to develop income streams from OUs and parents.
• Income Generation: i) a strong, sustainable and diverse income stream (direct mail, telephone campaigns, legacies and individual gifts) from OUs and parents to support projects agreed by the Headmaster and Foundation Board. In particular, an increased volume of larger individual donations should be anticipated. ii) past major donors and stakeholders are happy with the level of engagement they have with the School. iii) campaign targets agreed at appropriate times with the Headmaster, Bursar and Foundation Chairman and outcomes benchmarked with fund raising at comparable schools.
• Effective Reporting: the leadership team and trustees of Uppingham are satisfied with the level of reporting provided on development activities.
• Strategic Leadership: the Foundation team has a clear strategy and the support of the ULT and the Foundation Board. The Headmaster and Bursar are briefed on all development activities and feel that the School's objectives are being supported.
• Standards and Ethics: the department and individual team members work to high standards and maintain a strong reputation within the sector and within the Uppingham School community.
About You
Qualifications:
• Educated to degree level
• Qualifications in Fundraising (IoF) (desirable)
Experience, Skills and Knowledge:
• Experience of senior fundraising leadership in an educational environment.
• A proven track record of fundraising success, in particular with regard to major gifts.
• Outstanding team leadership
• Strong IT skills and a knowledge of databases, research tools and applications which support the fundraising function.
Benefits
The annual holiday entitlement is 30 working days, of which up to 5 days must be taken over the Christmas period. Public holidays in term time are normal working days; a day off in lieu is given at another time.
• Defined contribution scheme: employee contribution matched by School by factor of two, up to 10% maximum.
• 50% contribution to premiums for School's private health scheme
• Free membership of dual-use Sports Centre (£25 annual joining fee)
• Free staff lunches in term-time
• School fee discount for children of staff
• Retail, gym, supermarket, cinema and restaurant discounts (via Westfield Benefits)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides a range of support including counselling and legal advice.
• Occupational Health Services
• Free annual 'flu jabs’
• Recognised as a “Disability Confident” employer
• Recognised as a “Mindful” employer
Additional Information:
Uppingham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
All positions at the school are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, therefore ALL convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered 'spent' under the Act) MUST be declared, subject to the DBS filtering rules. All information given will be treated as confidential and each case will be taken on its merits. Failure to disclose this information may result in the withdrawal of an offer of employment or immediate termination of employment.
Uppingham School is an equal opportunities employer.
You may have experience in the following: Development Director, Head of Fundraising, Philanthropy Director, Director of Development, Advancement Director, Head of Development, Major Gifts Director, Alumni Relations Director, Charitable Giving Director, Donor Relations Manager, etc.
REF-(Apply online only)