Head of Development/Fundraising

Bluecoat is seeking a senior fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing significant income to join the dynamic team shaping Bluecoat’s future and to help to deliver our ambitions for growth.

Closing date: Monday 20 November 12 noon

thebluecoat.org.uk

Head of Development/Fundraisingc£40k commensurate with experience Chief Executive Fundraising OfficerBased at Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX(the role will involve some travel both in the UK and abroad)Full Time, 37.5 hours per week33 days including bank holidays

Job Title:Salary:Responsible to: Direct report: Location:

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Head of Development/Fundraising

Bluecoat

Bluecoat is Liverpool’s centre for the contemporary arts, the oldest in the UK. Our landmark building, located in the heart of the city centre, is home to a year-round programme of exhibitions, music, dance, literature, live art and heritage events. Bluecoat also provides a base for around thirty artists, collectives, small arts organisations and craftspeople.

Bluecoat receives around 700,000 visits annually from a diverse range of visitors. We seek to create exceptional arts experiences, engaging the broadest possible audience with exciting contemporary work and the creators behind it in ways that allow the public’s enjoyment of the building to blend seamlessly with the arts, heritage, retail and hospitality on offer.

2017 is the 300th anniversary of our distinctive Grade One listed building, the oldest in Liverpool city centre. The tercentenary celebrations have provided us with a unique opportunity to share our rich heritage, to engage with new artists, audiences and stakeholders, and in dialogue, to create an inspirational vision for the Bluecoat’s future.

Bluecoat: a brief history

In 1908 a group of artists moved into the former Blue Coat School building in Liverpool city centre and the space has been synonymous with art and artists ever since, playing a major part in Liverpool’s cultural life. Bluecoat expanded and flourished from the 1960s onwards with a regular public programme of exhibitions, music, live art and dance. A working community of artists has always been present with creative businesses and small arts organisations added to the mix over the years. In 2008, Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, Bluecoat reopened after a 3-year capital redevelopment which resulted in significant improvements to physical access as well as the creation of a brand new arts wing.

Bluecoat’s purpose is to:

Our work is shaped and developed by creating a sense of place, and through dialogue and collaboration with artists, partners, participants and audiences within and beyond our building. We are committed to values of equality, diversity and sustainability, and drive our work through being creative, inclusive and supportive.

• Support diverse artists to develop their practice at all stages of their careers, to engage with audiences and to communicate the power and value of art to as broad a spectrum of people as possible

• Preserve, reveal and interpret the multi-faceted story of our historic building, making it accessible to a range of audiences through activities, exhibitions, events and digital content in appropriate formats

• Help people find a meaningful place for the arts in their lives, creating safe and inclusive spaces for everyone to engage as audiences and participants

• Develop increasingly sustainable facilities that will generate income and support from a range of sources to support local and international artists and arts participants

Beyond 300

Our tercentenary celebrations have been a catalyst for renewal and as our 300th year comes to a close we are now entering an exciting period of development as a centre for artists at the heart of the city, with ambitions plans to extend the impact and reach of our work and to enhance the presentation and sustainability of our building. Building on the success of Bluecoat 300, the next five years will see the introduction of a new arts heritage programme, a reinvention of Bluecoat’s long-standing commitment to artist development and the implementation of a major growth strategy for our award-winning participation strand. A programme of works to update the building is planned alongside an ambitious art commissioning programme.

Development/Fundraising at Bluecoat

There is now an exciting opportunity at Bluecoat for a senior fundraising professional with a proven track record of securing significant income to join the dynamic team shaping Bluecoat’s future and help to deliver our ambitions for growth.

The Head of Development/Fundraising will lead Bluecoat’s fundraising through proactive management of a small development team and through mobilising the enthusiasm and dedication of staff, board members and supporters.

Bluecoat’s Development/Fundraising office was established in 2016. The right candidate can now develop this role to achieve its full potential. Funding has been secured from Arts Council England’s Catalyst Evolve programme and since the office was established, a whole-organisation approach to achieving fundraising targets has evolved, with staff and Board members playing an active role.

The Head of Development/Fundraising will report to the Chief Executive and will be responsible for building and managing a small dedicated team. A development officer is currently in post and the future size and structure of the Development/Fundraising team will be reviewed once the incoming post-holder has reassessed what income levels are achievable and the capacity that will be needed to achieve considerably increased targets.

A comprehensive fundraising strategy was prepared in 2016, along with a draft case for support and actions plans, which can be reshaped and updated by the incoming Head of Development/Fundraising.

Current funding from public sources, chiefly the Arts Council and Liverpool City Council, amounts to £700,000, representing about 40% of the annual turnover. The remainder is generated by Bluecoat through cultural partners, sponsors, and income from trading activities. Bluecoat has secured funding for a four year period (2018-2022) from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, “reflecting the real quality and excellence of the arts in England”. Such organisations are charged with ensuring that “ambition, artistic exploration and pioneering spirit are kept alive, that great work can continue, that inspirational leadership is developed and supported”.

Bluecoat aims to increase funding from philanthropic and corporate sources by developing opportunities for individuals to give regularly at all levels, including legacies, and ensuring the brand is appealing to the corporate world. Income from trusts and foundations is reasonably well established, but could be significantly higher with a more strategic approach and concerted effort.

Main purpose of the job:

The Head of Development/Fundraising’s role is to shape and deliver Bluecoat’s fundraising strategy, to cultivate and broaden the base of supporters and to achieve revenue and capital fundraising targets with the Chief Executive, the staff of the department (one dedicated member initially) and with the voluntary assistance of the Board.

The Head of Development/Fundraising will have responsibility for the following in line with the strategy:

• Developing a major donor strategy to deliver a c£3m capital and commissions campaign.

• Continuing to embed fundraising across the whole organisation and maintaining team support.

• Coordinating and supporting donor stewardship, nurturing relationships to underpin the growth of fundraising.

• Improving fundraising systems policies and procedures, including the management and collection of data.

• Bringing together the support of the Board to assist with the development of income streams.

Key criteria for success

After 12 months in post, the successful candidate will have:

Updated the fundraising strategy and complete implementation of year one of the new timeline, ensured annual targets are robust and income is on track.

• Become an established and respected member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Become familiar with donors, prospective donors and influential friends of Bluecoat, developing and strengthening donor cultivation strategies.

• Analysed the most likely sources of funding and developed the existing case for support to appeal to those audiences.

• Established systems and processes to ensure a strong pipeline of prospects and the right approach to stewardship and relationship management at all levels.

• Developed excellent working relationships with Board members, colleagues and volunteers.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Together with the Chief Executive, and working to the strategy, to develop an ambitious and dynamic fundraising programme for Bluecoat based on the character and strengths of the organisation.

To establish/confirm and deliver the capital and revenue targets. To build ‘Cases for Support’ relevant to the different funding sources.

To seek resources for, create, manage and motivate the Development team.

To ensure the full integration of fundraising into Bluecoat’s spirit and activities through close collaboration with all departments.

To ensure effective systems and processes are in place which reflect best practice in the sector.

To take responsibility, with the Chief Executive, for securing high-level donors (both individuals and trusts) and corporate supporters (£10k plus).

To be the first point of call for these supporters and develop strong professional relationships with them in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

To manage and develop individual giving (including a legacy programme) and corporate supporter schemes, ensuring annual recruitment and renewal and delivering an excellent supporter care programme.

To manage and develop relationships with charitable trusts and foundations.

Together with the Chief Executive, to develop appropriate fundraising events and be responsible for their delivery.

To ensure proper recognition of supporters and develop new and innovative ideas for better ways of acknowledgment.

To service the Development Committee’s business and to maintain communication links between the work of this group, the staff and board, and, with the Chief Executive, to brief the board as required.

Ensure regular and appropriate communication with supporters.

Review and report activity regularly to the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team and Board.

Person specification

Relevant experience in strategic development and management of fundraising, ideally in an arts organisation but we would welcome applications from candidates with experience in other areas.

A deep understanding/experience of charity fundraising models and techniques.

Excellent organisation skills.

The social skills to work with donors and to make them feel welcome and comfortable at Bluecoat.

Excellent project management skills, including a good working knowledge of databases.

Self-motivation and determination.

Ability to motivate and work very closely and effectively with a wide range of supporters and potential supporters and with Bluecoat staff and Board members.

Good influencing skills to work with colleagues to achieve particular goals and to reconcile commercial targets with the educational and artistic core missions of Bluecoat.

Excellent presentation skills.

Strong personal interest in the arts and an appreciation of Bluecoat.

Degree-level education

Excellent written skills.

Applicants should complete an application form and submit it on or before 12 noon on Monday 20 November to recruitment@thebluecoat.org.uk

For more information and to download an application form see thebluecoat.org.uk

thebluecoat.org.uk