event planner Guildford, England
Job description
Job Title: Senior Fundraising Events Executive
Reports to: Head of Fundraising
Salary: £28,500 pa
Hours: 35 hours per week working from home and office based in Shalford, Surrey
The Role:
This is a key role within a small but ambitious fundraising team, with the goal to deliver DSWF’s ambitious growth strategy. It is an excellent opportunity for a self-motivated, creative and detailed individual with previous experience in event management to take on an exciting portfolio of income generating events, as well as supporting the fundraising team across other activities.
DSWF has a reputation for exceptional and original events within our space, including the internationally renowned Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and exhibition, the annual Wildlife Ball held at The Dorchester and new for this year, Christmas at Arundel Castle. These headline events run alongside many other smaller donor activities including wine tasting, comedy nights, conservation lectures and art masterclasses.
The successful candidate will be keen to take principal ownership for the delivery of the existing events calendar, as well as come up with new ideas. They will have a motivation to support DSWF’s work to protect some of the world’s most iconic endangered species and will find creative and engaging ways to weave this messaging and the nature of our work into our events in order to keep these fresh for existing supporters, while also attracting new attendees in order to maximise income and ROI from all opportunities.
The role will report to the Head of Fundraising, who will support this post to deliver DSWF’s portfolio of fundraising events and grow our supporter-base and income, as well as steward these important relationships for the future. The post holder will work closely with the Marketing and Art teams, as well as the Conservation Programme Manager, to bring these events to life and leave supporters with a memorable experience and value for money.
Key duties and responsibilities
Events
· Develop and deliver DSWF’s existing annual event portfolio
· Plan, manage and deliver each fundraising event to agreed income and cost budgets to maximise the ROI on each activity.
· Research and evaluate potential new opportunities and ideas and make recommendations in order to diversify the events calendar to reach new potential audiences and support sustainable growth.
· Work closely with the Marketing team to contribute to promotional and marketing plans for each event which target existing and new audiences, utilizing a variety of marketing channels.
· Work with the Marketing & PR Manager to develop celebrity and influencer involvement (including DSWF ambassadors) at fundraising events to create marketable opportunities and to tap into new audiences.
· Manage guest lists, invitations, ticketing and follow up process for all events to ensure clear communication at all times and repeat attendance.
· Identify and manage relationships with key suppliers for venues, AV, catering, hosting, auctions, music, printing etc.
· Work with the Head of Fundraising, Trusts & Foundations Manager and Art Manager to identify and onboard corporate sponsors for events, and for other donations, for example silent auction prizes.
· Current events include but are not limited to the following:
o Wildlife Artist of the Year competition and exhibition: A globally renowned annual art competition and exhibition held in London. The next exhibition is set for September 2023 at The Mall Galleries, with the 2024 competition opening for entries in January 2024.
o Christmas at The Castle: An evening of carols, art and conservation within the Baron’s Hall at Arundel Castle. This is scheduled for November 2023.
o The Wildlife Ball: An annual gala dinner for up to 400 people at The Dorchester, with guest speakers, entertainment, silent auction and other fundraising activities. The next event is scheduled for Nov 2024.
o Smaller Events: Include a wine tasting at Greyfriars Vineyard in August 2023 and a Comedy Night in Leicester Square in March 2024.
o Ongoing Supporter Engagement Events: e.g. panel discussions, film screenings, conservation webinars, art masterclasses
General Fundraising
To support the Head of Fundraising to develop and deliver other key fundraising activities that include (but are not limited to) the following:
· Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: Including stewarding existing event partnerships and developing and growing our new pipeline for corporate partners and sponsors for the event programme and wider support.
· Individual Giving: Contributing to the development of our Individual Giving programme by ensuring excellent stewardship and engagement with event attendees to retain existing donors. Also contributing to our donor acquisition strategy via the events programme to increase income from individual donors.
· Data Management: To ensure excellent data management relating to your fundraising areas, adhering to relevant fundraising regulations, GDPR and codes of practice, and working with the Supporter Care and Database Executive to ensure that all supporter and event information is recorded accurately on our Raiser’s Edge database. Utilising targeted segmentation techniques where possible and analysing the success of activities.
· Budget Management:To produce detailed budgets for activities and events in conjunction with the Head of Fundraising and CFO, ensuring timelines are met and budgets are adhered to. To ensure that all avenues for income generation are optimised.
· Marketing, Communications and Promotion: To work closely with the Marketing team to contribute to plans for promotion of fundraising activities and events, including direct supporter communications, press, e-news, DSWF magazine content, social media etc.
Personal Specification
The successful post holder will have several years of demonstrable experience in event planning, organisation and budget management. Charity fundraising experience would be a benefit. The individual will be highly organised with great attention to detail. They will understand the pressures associated with large events and busy schedules and feel comfortable working to strict deadlines and under pressure. Excellent verbal and written communication with colleagues, suppliers and, of course, supporters is essential to be able to succeed in the role. Target driven, ROI focused with a professional fundraising or commercial mindset.
Holiday: 25 days per annum. Bank Holidays also provided, and an additional holiday entitlement will be given at DSWF’s discretion around Christmas and New Year.
Location: Hybrid working between the DSWF Shalford Office, Home and occasionally London.
How to apply: Please submit your CV and a Covering Letter (Covering Letter to be no more than 2x A4 pages explaining why you wish to work for DSWF and why you are appropriate for the role).
Deadline: 11th August
We will begin interviewing immediately, so this position may be filled before the deadline closes. Please don’t wait before applying!
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £28,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Work from home
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Guildford, GU4 8JU
Application deadline: 11/08/2023
