Funding Relationship Manager

We’re hiring! Funding Relationship Manager

Hours: 35 hours per week – Monday to Friday
Salary: £30,000
Location: Home working with a minimum of two monthly visits to our offices at
Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. This may increase during busier periods.
Deadline: Sunday 16th June 2024

About Innovation for Agriculture

Innovation for Agriculture is a charitable organisation working with UK farmers to develop the
knowledge that will make modern farming more environmentally and economically sustainable,
resilient, and productive.

IfA specialises in knowledge exchange through the process of peer-to-peer learning and
facilitation. To achieve this, we run multi-stakeholder workshops, farm demonstrations and
group study tours to inspire and support change in UK farming. Utilising our consortium of 16
key national agricultural societies, we specifically focus on engaging more ‘hard to reach’
farmers and design our programmes of support to ensure we trigger change on the ground.

Our independence coupled with our strong team, many of whom are active farmers themselves,
means that we are a trusted source of information for farmers up and down the country.

Ensuring healthier ecosystems in our rural environment via the uptake of sustainable farming is
core to what we do.

Our focus areas are:

• Soil & Water Management
• Regenerative Agriculture
• Farm animal Health & Welfare

About the role

This interesting and varied role will include research, administration, planning and creative
thinking. You will support fundraising activities, events, initiatives, and campaigns and help
ensure all our supporters and donors receive regular updates, maintaining relationships and
engagement. You will also play an important role in developing and coordinating our
corporate fundraising programme.

The role requires someone who is confident, organised and articulate, who has ideas, energy,
and enthusiasm to promote the work, need, relevance and impact of Innovation for Agriculture.
With such a varied role the candidate will need to be comfortable talking about the importance
of a sustainable British agricultural industry, and the subsequent change that the sector is
facing. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is keen to learn, has a “can do”
attitude, and who will be a passionate ambassador for the charity.

A critical element of the role will be working alongside our Head of Stakeholder Engagement to
research new funding opportunities, as well as focusing on how we market ourselves to potential
new donors.

Part of the role will also include raising funds and sponsorship for IfA’s sister charity, The
Royal Agricultural Society of England.

Key Responsibilities

• Working alongside and directly reporting to our Head of Stakeholder engagement to manage
  and maintain relationships with existing funders, providing them with progress reports and
  ensuring correct and proper communications.
• With the support of our Head of Stakeholder engagement, embarking upon a research campaign
  to identify and approach new funders, taking responsibility for the establishment of a
  corporate fundraising programme.
• Maintaining and updating our funder CRM system.
• Working with our communications team to develop and create fundraising engagement
  strategies.
• When necessary, attending and networking at industry events, acting as a representative of
  Innovation for Agriculture.
• Working as part of the wider team and when needed, supporting them in the delivery of
  events and workshops.

Person Specification: 

Essential

• A hard working and self-motivating individual with persuasive communication skills and
  excellent written communications.
• Relevant experience and understanding of charitable fundraising and sponsorship.
• A basic understanding of the agricultural industry and ideally sustainable farming
  practices and trends.
• The ability to present confidently to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise workload and plan-ahead.
• Good IT skills (MS Office including Excel and Word) with proficiency in using Microsoft
  Office.
• Understanding of Data Protection and fundraising regulations, compliance and best practice.
• The ability to create and tailor engaging and emotive copy for a range of different
  channels.
• Empathy with the goals and objectives of Innovation for Agriculture.
• A positive and creative approach to work, with the ability to multitask.
• Ability to record accurate data and work with a CRM system.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including good telephone manner and empathy towards donors.
• A full UK driving license.

Desirable

• Experience planning, delivering and managing fundraising programmes.
• Experience delivering donor recruitment and retention projects from initiation to
  completion.
• A proven track record of meeting or exceeding targets from donations.
• Experience building relationships and maximising engagement with donors and supporters.
• Voluntary sector experience.
• Experience of database use.
• Experience of fundraising platforms such as Just Giving.

How to apply

To apply please email your CV and covering letter to our Head of Stakeholder
Engagement [email protected] by end of day on Sunday 16th June, 2024. Please note,
Innovation for Agriculture reserves the right to close applications sooner.