Director of Fundraising

The deadline for applications is Sunday 15^th December 2024

Location: London, UK
Location type: Hybrid
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Manages: 3
Annual salary: £90K GBP
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Full-time
Candidate level: Director

Background
The Lumos Foundation works to realise every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world. Our vision is a world in which all children grow-up in safe and loving families within supported communities.

Founded in 2005 by author J.K. Rowling, Lumos partners with governments, civil society and young people with lived experience to transform care systems globally and advocate for family-based solutions that help children thrive. We ensure that families receive the support they need to stay together or reunite, and that children grow-up in family-based settings such as foster or kinship care, not institutions.

Despite clear evidence of the harms of institutionalisation, an estimated 5.4 million children worldwide continue to live in institutions. And a much larger number of children are at risk of institutionalisation – those living in poverty, experiencing domestic violence and abuse, and living in countries affected by conflict.

Informed by our impact and lessons learned since we were founded, and by the current global situation facing children, Lumos is evolving its approach to deliver an ambitious new strategy under the leadership of a new CEO.

Lumos’ success will continue to be based not just on what we do, but on how we do it – our values. We embrace collaboration. We strive for excellence. We show respect. We always care. And we are passionate. We are Lumos.

Find out more about our work at www.wearelumos.org

Purpose of role
The Director of Fundraising will play a pivotal role in developing, leading and delivering fundraising and communications strategies to support the mission and objectives of Lumos. Building and working with a small team of professional staff, the post-holder will create an environment where fundraising and communication flourish. They will lead the development and cultivation of a diverse, global pipeline of new donors. They will have a proven track record of success in fundraising, strong leadership and communication skills, and a passion for social impact.

Key objectives
Lumos is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of children and adults at risk and the wider communities in which we work.

All staff and associates must:

Lead the Fundraising team to achieve annual income targets and diversify the funding base.
Oversee the Communications and Marketing to maximise the advocacy, campaigning and fundraising activities by integrating marketing, media and communications efforts to amplify all aspects of Lumos’ work.
Be an active participant on the Executive Leadership Team and work with the new CEO and fellow Directors to shape and deliver annual business plans and organisational priorities.
Manage the Fundraising and Communications teams so that they shape sector best practice in all aspects of their work.
Design and deliver a robust fundraising programme, maximising all income opportunities available to Lumos and ensure agreed income and activity goals are achieved.
Maintain a portfolio of donors, including high-net-worth-individuals, and take responsibility for achieving an agreed annual income target.
Maintain relationships with Trustees and other senior influencers, deepening their understanding of the fundraising strategy and supporting them to open their networks to help Lumos achieve organisational objectives.
Ensure that every individual or organisation who donates, campaigns or volunteers for Lumos feels valued and recognised and that, through their engagement with our work, they become more likely to support us in the future.
Provide regular information reporting on fundraising and communications performance based on agreed KPIs, activity and income objectives.
Ensure effective systems and processes are in place, ensuring high quality safeguarding, data compliance, risk management and due diligence processes are in place.
Serve as a key spokesperson for the organisation, effectively communicating our mission, impact and funding needs to external audiences.
Stay informed about trends and best practices in fundraising in the UK and globally and incorporate innovative approaches into fundraising strategies.
Where appropriate, develop and implement the meaningful participation of children, young people and other groups with lived experience.

Profile
The following offers an aspirational view of our ideal candidate profile; however, we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.

Knowledge and skills

Extensive experience managing fundraising activities, with a personal specialism in major donor and/or trust and foundations fundraising.
An experienced people leader with a track record of successfully building high performing teams and a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Experience delivering multi-faceted stewardship and cultivation programmes, where existing and prospective supporters feel genuinely involved in the organisation’s work and build long-term relationships.
Proven ability to work effectively at a senior level with colleagues with varied work styles and cultures, be process-oriented but results-focused, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving.
Experience providing complex data and activity reporting to internal audiences, as well as to Trustee boards.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting at a senior level to internal and external audiences.
Excellent writing skills. Strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking capacity and skills.
Ability to work calmly and creatively and to respond to a dynamic and changing environment.
Understanding of children’s rights or child protection. (desirable)
Working knowledge of delivering communications and marketing objectives. (desirable)

Experience

Extensive relevant experience of fundraising within comparable charities.
Personally securing 6 and 7-figure donations from individuals, trusts and foundations and/or institutions.
Experience working with programme and service delivery colleagues to shape propositions and cases for support in line with organisational objectives and which also meet donors’ and prospects’ requirements, particularly around reporting.
Experience working in an international NGO environment, ideally in the fields of children’s rights or child protection. (desirable)

Personal/characteristics

A confident senior leader.
Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to interact and communicate effectively with all levels.
Work independently and organise, prioritise, and follow through on multiple tasks in a fast-paced deadline-oriented environment.
High level of integrity.
Proactive, resourceful and results orientated.

Terms and conditions
Safeguarding statement
Lumos has a zero-tolerance approach towards all forms of bullying, harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse or any other form of maltreatment, whether towards children, adults at risk, colleagues or anyone else.

Lumos recognises that the rights of safety and security are aligned with its core mission of ending institutionalisation. Effective and robust safeguarding sit at the heart of our mission and values, and accordingly, Lumos is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of children and adults at risk in all of its work. We expect all staff, associates and volunteers to share this commitment.

Lumos is a member of the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will carefully screen all applicants and any offers of employment are subject to checks and suitable references. Lumos has a comprehensive safeguarding and PSEA policy, including expectations for behaviour and conduct that must be followed at all times, as well as an expectation that staff and associates act in accordance with the Rules for Sexual Conduct for Humanitarian Workers.

Additionally, Lumos also invests in ensuring accessible reporting, feedback and complaints mechanisms for children, adults at risk and partners to monitor the appropriateness and effectiveness of Lumos work. Lone working with children and adults at risk is not permitted without prior approval and risk assessment. Staff and associates will be required to sign the safeguarding policy, complete a self-declaration and will be provided with a comprehensive safeguarding induction to understand Lumos’ policies and how to implement them in our work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion
Lumos is wholly committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and against all forms of discrimination. We are committed to creating and sustaining a positive working environment that encourages, supports and gives a voice to all so that we can best support the children we serve.  

We must ensure that all staff are equally valued, included, empowered and respected across the organisation and in everything we do. Lumos is fundamentally built on diverse, multi-national and multi-cultural teams.  

This is something we cherish as a key strength and an integral part of our identity. Our organisation values and celebrates the diversity, culture and experience of each member of staff, and provides equality of care, and support to everyone.   

We pledge to listen carefully, to educate ourselves continually, to promote open dialogue, and to seek out and deal with discrimination and prejudice wherever it occurs in Lumos.

To apply for the post
To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement by clicking on the following link:

If you have any questions about the role and would like an informal chat ahead of submitting a formal application, or to request an applicant’s pack, please reach out to Ruth Gardner at ruth@darylupsall.com

The deadline for application is Sunday 15^th December 2024

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Daryl Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required; irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.