Head of Fundraising

Are you an experienced and successful fundraiser with a proven track record in search of a new challenge? The River & Rowing Museum is a dynamic independent museum celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. We need your fundraising skills to help deliver our new Forward Plan and vision to bring the river to life.

About you

You will be a well-established and successful fundraiser with at least five years’ experience in a range of development roles. You will have a strong track record of raising core and project funding from a broad range of sources including trusts and foundations, major donors, and corporate sponsors, across several fundraising activities. You will bring flair and imagination to the role, underpinned by a commitment to professional best practice. The ability to prioritise the Museum’s opportunities, and balance various demands on your time is vital. You will also contribute to the strategic development of the organisation as a key member of the leadership team. You have a keen interest in museums, arts and heritage and will be an enthusiastic advocate for our work.

Purpose of role

The Head of Fundraising’s role is to develop a sustainable philanthropic income stream for the Museum. This means building strong relationships with our community of visitors, donors, patrons and members and developing the role they can play. It involves identifying and cultivating new prospective donors, local companies, grant-giving bodies, and trusts and foundations that share our goals, providing focus to the successful delivery of our fundraising ambitions.

The postholder will work closely with the Director, who plays an active role in fundraising. The Chair of Trustees also supports, and the new Head of Fundraising will be instrumental in setting up a new Fundraising Board (including a Trustee/s as well as external members) to champion and assist with the successful achievement of the Museum’s fundraising ambitions. A small development team of two part-time roles (on currently vacant) report directly into the Head of Fundraising. The role is expected to lead fundraising at the Museum, providing strategic direction and championing a fundraising culture across the organisation.

Background

The River & Rowing Museum is an award-winning museum and gallery, idyllically located on the banks of the River Thames in Henley on Thames, South Oxfordshire, close to the M4, M40 and within easy reach of both Oxford and Reading by both road and rail. Our vision is to bring the river to life - creating a powerful sense of place, enhancing the wellbeing of our communities and supporting a more sustainable natural environment. An effective Head of Fundraising is key to delivering our ambitions for the future.

Opened in 1998 by H.M. The Queen, the Museum has established itself as one of the leading independent museums in the country. It was selected by The Times (May 2013) as one of the ‘50 best Museums in the world’, and in 2016 has been identified as one of the top 10 Family Friendly Museums in the U.K.  The Museum is recognised as crucial to the local tourist economy and attracts over 118,000 visitors a year.

The Museum’s award-winning building was the first major UK commission by Sir David Chipperfield and continues to be acclaimed for its minimalist design. It currently houses five permanent galleries including The Wind in the Willows, a gallery devoted to the work of artist John Piper and the International Rowing gallery. The temporary exhibition programme in 2019 includes a stunning exhibition of the work of artist and textile designer William Morris, - ‘An Earthly Paradise: William Morris and the Thames’ and a family friendly interactive exhibition in the summer ‘Bears!’ from Seven Stories, Newcastle.

Education is central to the Museum’s charitable objectives and its success in both formal school workshops and informal learning is a source of pride. Each year over 20,000 young people visit our purpose-built education centre that was doubled in size in 2006 with the support of a major Heritage Lottery Fund grant. In 2013 and again in 2018 the Museum was awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education.

The Museum is currently open 7 days a week, throughout the year and sits in Mill Meadows by the side of the River Thames. It has a high quality and popular café, lively shop, plus a number of event spaces suitable for parties, weddings, lectures or conferences.   

Completed applications should be sent to: recruitment@rrm.co.uk by 9am on Monday 24 June or be received by post on the same date: Recruitment, River & Rowing Museum, Mill Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxon, RG9 1BF. Initial interviews will be held in London on Tuesday 2 July.