Summary
We're looking for an experienced Proposal Writer, High-Value Audiences to join our fundraising team on a 24-month contract. You will play a critical role in the Fundraising Growth programme: an internal change programme that will strengthen and scale fundraising capabilities across the National Trust so that we can create a step-change in our fundraising income - essential to delivering the Trust's new 2035 strategy.
To achieve this goal, we need to change the way that we fundraise and the way that we think about fundraising at the National Trust. We know that there is an exciting opportunity for us to diversify our income by developing products and propositions for new audiences, deepening our relationships with existing audiences and ensuring our systems, processes and people capabilities are as good as they can for fundraising. By doing this we can better support our work to conserve nature, beauty and history. Ultimately, the more funds we can sustainably generate, the more positive impact we can have for people and for nature.
This is a particularly exciting time to join this part of the Fundraising family as the National Trust is preparing its organisational strategy for the next 10 years. This new strategy will require a refresh of existing propositions and provides a compelling platform to connect with new audiences by telling powerful stories about the exciting work and positive impact that can be achieved in next chapter in the National Trust.?
Internally you'll be known as Fundraising Development Manager.
What it's like to work here
The Fundraising team is dynamic, ambitious and focused on making things happen; playing a vital role in enabling the National Trust to deliver its purpose. Our team sits within the Support and Revenue Directorate, which brings together our supporter-facing income streams from Membership to Fundraising through to our Commercial teams.
Your contractual location will be our head office in Swindon, and you'll be expected to attend the office. However, there is flexibility on where you are based at other times. You will be required to work at a National Trust location for 40-60% of your working week. This will be discussed in more detail at interview.
Please aware that this role will involve some travel to work with National Trust colleagues and visit our projects & properties across the UK.
What you'll be doing
You'll be writing compelling and engaging text, which sets out a clear case for support for a broad range of projects for high-value audiences, made up of Corporations, Major Donors, Grant Makers and Trusts & Foundations. You'll produce creative and attractive proposals using photos, graphics and charts, refining large volumes of content into one persuasive document using judgement to decide the most powerful and tangible information for inclusion.
You'll have a broad range of stakeholders across National Trust with whom you'll have to prepare clear, concise and compelling written material in support of fundraising projects. You will build and maintain strong communication with project development teams and fundraisers. Requiring you to engage with, and ask critical questions of, technical experts and senior leaders to develop proposal content.
You'll be working in a proposition development team and will work closely with your team members on the development and authoring of propositions. You will be working in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment where priorities can change according to adjustments in fundraising strategies. You will need to plan time efficiently to manage multiple requests and large-scale proposals.
Who we're looking for
For this role, we're looking for someone who has:
- Excellent written communication skills and ability to convey information to a range of audiences in a clear, inspiring and confident way.
- Excellent grammatical and proofing skills.
- Experience of researching content for communications.
- Strong organisational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritise effectively and to successfully manage competing deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to analyse, translate and present complex research and ideas into written form, in line with audience requirements.
- Knowledge and understanding of fundraising and philanthropic motivations and of engaging with donors/prospects.
- Ability to use initiative to work independently but also to refer issues to others when appropriate.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever' at its heart. We're working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It's important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we're for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places
Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.