The Role 

Bucks Museum has an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser with an understanding of fundraising in heritage settings to join our dedicated team at a key time to help create transformational change. Using the current situation as a catalyst for change you will be researching funding opportunities, assisting with the creation of a new fundraising strategy and implementing a new Action Plan to support the transformation of the services being offered by the Museum over the next few months. You will play a vital role in helping to ensure a sustainable future of the Museum.  

You will be joining Bucks Museum at an exciting time during the development of our capital project to create 5 new permanent galleries telling the story of Bucks from 200 million years ago to today.  We have raised £975,000 to date with a funding gap of £150,000 and some outstanding applications awaiting decisions. Work has continued on the project during the closure of the museum caused by Corona Virus and we anticipate the completion of the project and launch of the galleries in summer 2021. Your role would include assisting with the recent individual giving campaigns, communications and systems to manage individual donors for the capital project.  

You will have significant fundraising experience either in a heritage or charity setting with a track record of significant successes with large funding bids/campaigns either in major funders such as NLHF or Arts Council, trusts and foundations, corporate, individual and major donor giving or community fundraising.  

 
This position is being made possible by a recent grant success from the Heritage Emergency Fund from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which offers short term funding to help organisations adapt to the current situation.  A further application to the Art Fund due for a decision after 21 September will also offer another 624 hours guaranteed hours to be agreed from late February 2021 onwards, if successful.  

Our HEF grant is based around reviewing our current position and purpose for the Museum, our funding model and fundraising strategy with fundraising post as new resource, creation of new business model and forward planning, governance and staffing review and new branding and web site over the next few months. The Art Fund project if successful will fund creation of new programmes in collaboration with our audiences over the next 12 months.  

The main purpose of this new role currently is to help support key operational costs including delivery of new formal and informal learning programmes, exhibitions and community engagement to help develop a new funding model and financial sustainability in the future, as well as ensure the continuation of funding for this very important role. There will be a need in a couple of years for large funding bids to support multi-million pound capital planned developments to deliver phase 2 of the museum development plans.

Job Description

• Research grant funding and community funding opportunities for revenue funding from local and national sources
• Lead creation of fundraising strategy to support new museum programmes and services  
• Lead grant funding bids to major funders and local community sources to support developing museum programmes, new learning delivery and community engagement.  
• Source funding to support this post after funding ends
• Work closely with museum staff in project and funding development planning and delivery  
• Develop existing individual giving and Gallery Sponsorship programme and crowd funding for capital project, creating suitable systems for record keeping and undertaking regular donor communications /events 

Person Specification 

• Significant experience of fundraising and development in a heritage or charity context, including bid writing to major funders such as NLHF and Arts Council and community fundraising
• Excellent written communication and advocacy skills/bid writing
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills
• Track record of success in raising significant funds for both capital and revenue costs
• Track record of successful bid writing to local, regional and national funders
• Experience of philanthropic and corporate giving campaigns and donor management
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues from different backgrounds /disciplines on multiple projects and manage competing deadlines
• Experience of building stakeholder and funder relationships and fulfilling reporting conditions
• Good numeracy skills and an understanding of finance process • Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and a methodical approach to tasks
• Excellent IT skills and confidence in using digital channels to communicate and meet objectives
• Excellent team player with the ability to work alone as needed
• Share a passion about the role that museums can play in changing people’s lives
• “Can Do” Attitude / Good sense of humour 

Deadline for receipt of applications will be 5 October 2020 at 9 am. Interviews on 8 or 9 October by zoom.