Purpose of Role
This is a skilled role requiring specialist knowledge and experience of major donor fundraising. Reporting to the Head of Major Gifts the post holder will be responsible for securing a high return on investment in the form of major philanthropic gifts from individuals, thus providing significant funding for a spectrum of university projects including capital campaigns, research, and scholarships. The post holder should have exceptional communication and written skills, with strong influential and negotiating skills to develop high quality funding proposals and impact reports.
About the Team
The Advancement Office keeps graduates, friends and supporters connected and engaged Heriot-Watt, building, and strengthening our globally connected community and securing support to help the University achieve its strategic aims.
As an enabling professional service, we deliver against four key themes in support of the university strategic plan:
1. Building flourishing communities: With a focus on engaging our students and staff to be proud advocates of the university.
2. Pioneering in Education: Create opportunities to showcase our excellent teaching, student experience and engagement with industry.
3. Excellence in research and enterprise: Ensure recognition for our work and maximising opportunities for collaboration with strategically aligned external stakeholders.
4. Global, connected university: Creating enabling frameworks and tools to ensure effective collaboration and knowledge exchange across the university community of staff, students and partners.
We are a Scottish University with truly global reach and ambition. In our communications, social, print and image media we celebrate our diversity and our strengths.
The Advancement Office has responsibility for connecting and engaging with graduates, friends and supporters in a multitude of ways, ensuring that our 130,000 strong alumni community are supported throughout their lives by the University and each other, generating income through philanthropic gifts and other support, supporting the work of schools and departments to add value, collaborating internally to seek out capitalise on opportunities, raising money to support access to education through scholarships, bursaries and other activity, and more. In addition to development activity supporting access to education, we also raise philanthropic funds to support the University’s extensive world class research.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
5. Work closely with the Head of Major Gifts, and academics to plan, co-ordinate and support the University’s fundraising approaches to Major Donor prospects. This will include overview of your own prospect portfolio, managing a pool of high-net-worth individuals, scheduling approaches, liaising with colleagues on project information, meeting with high-net-worth individuals arranging visits to the University and writing effective proposals/pitches to secure gifts upward of £10,000. Establish good working relationships with major donor prospects ensuring where necessary other senior colleagues are involved.
6. Work closely with colleagues to attend events, seminars, and meetings that strengthen stakeholder and supporter relationships and promote the University’s work. Liaise with Supporter Engagement to implement appropriate stewardship programmes that thank and maintain long term relationships with donors, including correspondence, visits, events, and personal meetings.
7. Work with the Head of Major Gifts to prepare and update materials that effectively communicate complex academic and scientific projects to both internal and external audiences to support fundraising and to maximise visibility of campaigns and philanthropic projects.
8. To lead and negotiate major gifts upward of £10k in support of the University’s strategy and key priorities and activities and meet overall fundraising targets
9. Develop relationships with and work closely with academic schools.
10. Assist in the wider work of the department at the request of the Head of Major Gifts.
11. Keep abreast of professional and regulatory developments in charity legislation and higher education fundraising.
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential
12. Educated to degree standard
13. Track record of fundraising across either of the following income streams (Trusts, Companies, Regular Giving, or Major Donors)
14. Fundraising experience essential covering a range of sources including face to face and proven knowledge in fundraising regulations
15. Experience of managing a prospect pool and progressing relationships from ‘cold’ to cultivation to ‘ask’ and stewardship
16. First rate communicator (written and verbal)
17. Track record of building external relationships and stakeholder management
18. Creative thinker – someone who has a track record in initiating and implementing new ideas
19. Ability to prioritise and manage a diverse workload including having the ability to work in complex organisations.
20. Self-starter and team player
Desirable
21. Experience of involvement in fundraising campaigns
22. Higher education fundraising experience
23. Knowledge and experience of donor stewardship
24. Knowledge of databases particularly Raisers Edge
Special Factors
25. Willingness to travel occasionally across the UK (worldwide on occasions)