Fundraising Officer

Pilgrims Hospices are looking for a Community Fundraising Officer who is hoping to develop a career within fundraising in a compassionate and collaborative environment as part of the Thanet Fundraising Team. A prerequisite and working knowledge of community fundraising is advantageous. However, most importantly we are looking for an individual that is a keen team player, who is highly organised and with a can do attitude.

**The Role**

The role of the Community Fundraising Officer is to help support and develop Community Fundraising within the Thanet catchment area. Community Fundraising is integral to Pilgrims organisational engagement in east Kent and is a key objective to increase reach, deliver excellent supporter care, raise awareness at a local level; to nurture and drive income generation and to help support Pilgrims ambitions of community focussed giving.

The postholder will be responsible for helping to support local Community and Event Fundraising. The role will engage with local donors, community groups, schools, venues and ‘on-behalf of’ fundraising groups. As well as supporting those wishing to deliver their own ‘in aid of’ (third-party) activity and helping to support local community event activity.

**Duties/Key Responsibilities**

Supporting local Community and Events Fundraising
- The postholder will help to support community fundraising within the Thanet area. This role will engage with supporters; with a particular focus on community events, schools, clubs, groups, store/venue pot collections and on-going volunteer engagement.
- The Community Fundraising Officer will build positive relationships with community stakeholders and ensure the delivery of an excellent donor experience, helping supporters reach and exceed their fundraising targets, ensuring their continued support.
- To ensure that supporters have the right toolkits, collateral and materials to successfully reach their own fundraising goals and ambitions.
- Help to support the Community Fundraising Manager to deliver local community fundraising activities to the highest standard; to support all events and community activities and ensure that they are well organised; working with external suppliers and other Pilgrims representatives to ensure events are safely controlled.
- To help support the management of the community pipeline and ensure all stakeholders are well supported, motivated and informed.
- To organise and develop supermarket, street and mass event collections. Overseeing volunteer resource, health & safety/logistics and ensure the smooth running of events.
- To assist with community activities and coordinate local hospice events, assisting with logistics, recruitment and management or marshals/volunteers, producing briefing materials and coordinating day management plans.
- To engage local retail venues to place static collection pots within their sites.
- To oversee the return and distribution of collecting pots and ensure that all staff and volunteers adhere to cash handling processes and procedures; following Pilgrims auditing and administration requirements. Utilise Volunteer Pot Coordinators to carry out collections where possible.
- To coordinate schools and youth groups fundraising in aid of Pilgrims. Help to engage, motivate and inspire local schools and groups to learn and understand the work of the hospice for the benefit of the community. Lead on income generation activities relating to school/youth projects and products; such as attending school assemblies, supporting school/youth groups fundraising activities and helping to support local recruitment to community events.
- To source and oversee tombola/raffle prizes for the hospice and local supporters to aid fundraising endeavours.
- To coordinate the storage and distribution of stock, materials and equipment for fundraising locally.
- To put together targeted copy, draft press releases and prepare briefs. Ensure that all written content/product/event design and promotion is in line with the needs and motivations of the target audience and are effectively planned.
- To help support the development of the local online fundraising groups. Produce engaging and community focussed content to be scheduled and published into groups.
- Produce thank you letters and charity authorisation letters for third-party fundraisers, ensuring they are thanked in a timely manner. Ensure the letters are informative, compelling and work within the Pilgrims brand and outgoing communications ‘voice’.
- To attend local events and activities as the hospice’s ambassador, including events, cheque presentations, talks and relevant community opportunities.
- To oversee gifts-in-kind donated to the hospice for fundraising activities. Utilise donated goods to enhance fundraising value and potential income opportunities.
- To help support branded goods for sale in hospice receptions and at community fundraising activities; coordinate the appropriate stocktakes and ensure procedures ar