1. shopping
2. gifts

Head of Major Gifts
& Special Events
Appointment Brief | March 2015
Introduction
From the Executive Director
Marketing, Fundraising and Public Affairs
Dear Candidate,
This is an exciting time at Marie Curie. We have been
providing hands on nursing care and support to people
with a terminal illness for over 60 years. Last year,
we cared for over 40,000 people and provided support
to them and their families. But we are facing a big
challenge. Our ageing population means more people
will be living with a terminal illness, whether that’s
cancer or any terminal illness. Over the next 20 years
the number of people dying is expected to rise by 17%.
And even now 7 out of 10 people are not getting the
care they need. We don’t think that’s good enough.
So we need to do more.
Our new strategy sets out how we will reach more
people and provides an inspiring vision for how we can
support more people with end of life care needs who
could benefit from our expertise. We are launching an
information and advice service to support everyone
affected by a terminal illness and will grow that service
over the next 5 years. We want to expand our helper
service so it is available nationwide. We want to increase
our support for bereaved people. And we will increase
the number of people we care for at home and in our
9 hospices. In addition we will double our investment
in research.
Our Major Gifts Team at Marie Curie will play a major
part in helping us achieve our ambitious strategic goals,
both in funding our core service, but importantly in
supporting the expansion of our services.
The major gifts team has been established for seven
years and is well developed and successful at generating
major gifts at the highest level. The Head of Major Gifts
and Special Events manages a team of 22, which includes
our special events and patron activity.
Marie Curie | March 2015
We have a fantastic portfolio of very high profile events
to help cultivate our supporters. This is a close team
who work shoulder to shoulder to support each other
to achieve success. We have a wide network of very
engaged and influential senior volunteers who actively
support our efforts in all our regions and Development
Boards who support our hospice fundraising. Each
month we receive five and six figure gifts, and in the
last four years we have secured a number of gifts in
excess of £1m to fund the charity’s work.
I recently joined Marie Curie as Executive Director,
Marketing, Fundraising and Public Affairs. I was inspired
by the ambition of the new strategy and the vision of
what we can achieve. I believe the strategy provides the
platform to make a further step change in our major gifts
and special events fundraising. There is a great deal to
work with already, but there are also many opportunities
that arise from developing this area in such a wellestablished and well-networked charity, where the need
to do more for terminally ill people and their families is
so strong.
Our cause really is the ultimate inspiration. Knowing that
your hard work is caring for people at life’s most difficult
time or, as one family member described it to us, “when
the nurses arrived I was broken and exhausted and it felt
like someone was finally putting their arms around me.”
I hope you will join us.
Jude Bridge
Executive Director
Marketing, Fundraising and Public Affairs
2
About Marie Curie Cancer Care
Providing care for people living with a terminal illness
Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity
dedicated to the care of people with
terminal illnesses. Given the choice,
most of us would want to die at home,
surrounded by the people we cherish.
Marie Curie Cancer Care makes this
possible.
Marie Curie Nurses
Marie Curie Cancer Care’s nine hospices provide free
specialist care for those with serious illnesses, and
emotional support for their families, giving them the best
possible quality of life. There are Marie Curie Hospices
in Belfast, Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hampstead
(London), Liverpool, Newcastle, Cardiff and the Vale
(Penarth) and the West Midlands (Solihull).
Marie Curie | March 2015
Research
Marie Curie Cancer Care is a leader in research into the
best ways of caring for people with terminal illnesses,
and how care could be improved in future. We have
our own research teams and we fund external research
programmes.
Campaigning for patients
Marie Curie Cancer Care campaigns on behalf of people
with a terminal illness and their families across the UK.
We work with parliamentarians, policymakers, the NHS
and other charities to improve the quality of services for
patients, families and carers.
Our funding
All our services are free to patients and their families,
thanks to the generous support of the public. We fund our
nursing services and hospices in 50/50 partnership with
the NHS.
3
About Marie Curie Cancer Care
Providing care for people living with a terminal illness
Putting patients and families first
Our vision is that everyone with a terminal illness,
whether that’s cancer or any other illness will have the
high quality care and support they need at the end of
their life in the place of their choice.
We will increase our bereavement support and increase
our nursing care in the home. Supporting these services,
further investment into research will allow us to provide
the best possible end of life care and improve care in
the home.
Our strategic plan
The Major Gift and Special Event Team
Building on Marie Curie Cancer Care’s strategic plan for
2011-14, ‘We Put Patients and Families First’, we recently
released our fresh strategy. This strategy responds to the
challenge of people living longer and developing multiple
conditions. The focus of this strategy is on providing
more care for more people living with a terminal illness,
whether that’s cancer or any other illness, and on
supporting families and carers.
In order to achieve our objectives we are providing new
services. Information and advice will be available by
phone and via the internet, connecting expert practical
and medical advice to those who desperately need it
seven days a week.
Marie Curie | March 2015
The Major Gift and Special Events team is a high
performing, supportive team. Working closely with
colleagues across the charity, the team have access to
the charity’s networks and work across all aspects of
our services, connecting our work with potential funders.
We also have a programme of fantastic events that the
team cultivate for their portfolios of donors. The team
is well supported by an excellent Prospect Research
team and a Development Manager who works to help
gather information and build a strong case for support.
Our Senior Major Gift Managers lead on various strategic
projects as well as managing a portfolio of 80 - 100
donors and prospects.
4
Prospect
Research
Manager
Major
Gifts
Manager
Major
Gifts
Executive
Patron
Development
Manager
Senior Major
Gifts Manager
(Hospices)
Marie Curie | March 2015
Major
Gifts
Executive
Major
Gifts
Executive
Senior Major
Gifts Manager
(Nursing)
Prospect
Research
Executive
Major
Gifts
Manager
Major
Gifts
Administrator
Regional
Major Gifts
Manager
(North)
Major Gifts
Development
Manager
Regional
Major Gifts
Manager
(Scotland)
Senior Major
Gifts Manager
(Regional)
Head of Major
Gifts &
Special Events
Special
Events
Fundraiser
Special Events
& Celebrity
Manager
Special
Events
Fundraiser
Special
Events
Assistant
Special
Events
Fundraiser
Special
Events
Assistant
Project
Manager
Organogram
5
Job Description
Job Title:
Head of Major Gifts & Special Events
Direct Reporting Line: Executive Director Marketing, Fundraising & Public Affairs
Responsible For:
The Major Gifts and Special Events team (22 staff)
Location: Vauxhall, London
Key contacts
Internal
Executive Board, Heads of Fundraising and
Communications Depts. (Corporate, Regional, Individual
Giving, Innovation, Operations, PR, Design, Digital) all
Heads of Community FR, Caring Services Management
Team, members of the Council of Trustees.
External
HNW and influential individuals, leading UK Trusts &
Foundations, MC Patrons, MC Development Boards,
SE Committees.
Job Summary
This exceptional opportunity oversees Marie Curie’s
Major Gift, Special & Corporate Events, and our
Leadership Network activity. Our Leadership Network
is an umbrella term used to describe the support we
receive from a network of over 300 senior volunteers
who contribute to the charity’s fundraising activity.
The post holder will develop and drive our strategy which
currently delivers £8m and is expected to significantly
grow that to at least £10m by 2019 through developing
a new income stream of transformational gifts, which will
enable Marie Curie to achieve it’s strategic ambitions.
It will also be achieved through the development of our
special events programme and through the exceptional
line management and leadership of a team of 22.
The Head of Major Gifts and Special Events will
contribute to our fundraising and organisational strategy
as a member of the Senior Management team at one of
the most important growth periods in our history.
Marie Curie | March 2015
6
Key Responsibilities
1. Leading and Managing the Team
• Maintain a clear strategic direction for the MG&SE
fundraising team with guidance and support to deliver
the team strategy and annual plans.
• Oversee the development of key aspects of the
MG&SE team strategy. This will include advising on
best practise, encouraging creative solutions to donor
prospecting and new idea generation, developing
the fundraising case for support, overseeing the
prospect research strategy, recruiting and managing
volunteer relationships, and leading by example in
the generation of major gifts at the highest level.
• Oversee the major gift portfolios of 9 Major Gift
Managers and Executives to build relationships and
make asks to major donor and trust funders.
• Build a best-in-class portfolio of high profile ticketed
special events reaching existing and new audiences.
• Develop our prospect research strategy to ensure
a strong pipeline of prospects for all facets of the
charity’s work is being delivered to support growth
in major gifts.
• Grow and strengthen the involvement and
contribution of the Leadership Network through the
delivery of a strategy in this area.
• Keep up to date and share current thinking on
developments in philanthropy/major gift and special
event fundraising to ensure that the team maintain a
leadership role within the sector.
• Develop compelling new project cases that express
the urgency and ambition of the vision of the charity.
• Lead and develop the skills of the MG&SE team
through regular training, work shadowing, mentoring
and coaching.
• Develop the annual MG&SE fundraising plans in line
with the overall fundraising and charity’s strategic
planning process.
2. Deliver the MG&SE Team Strategy
and Budget
• Set, monitor and deliver annual MG&SEs fundraising
budgets achieving or exceeding targets and providing
the appropriate level of reporting.
• Develop, deliver and monitor Marie Curie’s MG&SE’s
fundraising strategy by identifying opportunities to
grow income across the following key areas:
• Philanthropic donations from individuals (£10K+)
• Philanthropic donations from trusts and
foundations (£10k+)
• Income from statutory and lottery funding
sources
• Ticketed special events
• Beneficiary events
• Corporate events
• Management of senior volunteers
• Research, identify, plan and secure new long term
major donor supporters and significant gifts (£1m+)
for Marie Curie.
Marie Curie | March 2015
• Lead on development of effective systems for
relationship management within Marie Curie systems.
3. Developing and Managing Key
Relationships
• Work closely with the leadership (CEO’s and Trustees)
of the organisation and key volunteers within the
Leadership Network to maximise their involvement
and contribution to MG&SE activity.
• Ensure that detailed solicitation plans are in place
for each relationship with a £25k+ potential or actual
value.
• Ensure that MG&SE supporters receive outstanding
stewardship and feel on the ‘inside-track’ of the
charity’s developments.
• Develop excellent internal working relationships
including Heads of Regional Fundraising, the
Individual Giving team and Caring services to involve
and generate support for the MG&SE strategy;
be diplomatic, persuasive and credible at all times.
7
Key Responsibilities
4. Special & Corporate Events
• Develop a new exciting flagship event (£500k+) that
will build on our portfolio and attract new audiences.
• Continually develop and innovate existing events in
order to grow income, attendance and provide unique
experiences.
• Ensure exceptional event management and
experiences for our supporters attending events.
• Oversee a research initiative and drive approaches
to ensure that Marie Curie is considered for event
beneficiary opportunities.
• Work closely with other fundraising teams to ensure
event attendee supporter journey is maximised.
5. Statutory & Lottery
• Work with Head of Statutory & Lottery to grow income
in line with the team strategy.
• Support the Head of Statutory & Lottery to work with
Caring Services and Volunteering teams to identify
and shape transformational and pilot projects within
the charity that will be attractive to this audience.
• Work closely with the Policy teams to ensure that
we connect to appropriate government sources and
networks.
6. Promote Outstanding Team work
• Demonstrate exemplary teamwork: ‘one charity’,
sharing experience and knowledge with others and
offering support within and across teams to support
the solicitation of major gifts and the development
of new SE concepts, utilising the charity’s extensive
networks.
Marie Curie | March 2015
• Exploit all opportunities for MG&SE networks to add
value to all other areas of the charity’s fundraising
activity.
• Support the development of a culture within Marie
Curie that is increasingly engaged with MG&SE
fundraising by involving colleagues throughout the
organisation, senior volunteers and staff in aspects of
the teams work.
7. Other
• Capture, manage and share data appropriately and in
line with Marie Curie’s CARE database and other data
sources.
• Ensure all activities comply with the Marie Curie
ethical policy and Fundraising Standards Board and
are legal.
• Represent Marie Curie positively at all times, reflecting
our organisational values.
8. General
• The post will require extensive travel across the U.K
and the ability to drive a car is considered essential.
• Marie Curie Cancer Care operates a ‘No Smoking’
policy which must be adhered to at all times.
• All employees should be aware of their responsibilities
towards Health and Safety and to adhere to all fire
regulations.
• This job description is not exhaustive and merely acts
as a guide to the duties to be performed. This job
description may be amended at any time to meet the
changing requirements of the charity after discussions
with the post holder.
8
Person Specification
1. Skills and Abilities
Desirable
Essential
• Experience of managing large, high profile ticketed
fundraising events
• Extensive experience in major gift fundraising with
proven track record of securing six and seven figure
gifts
• Extensive experience of prospecting and developing
high value relationships
• Proven track record of developing new business
activity (funding partners, event concepts, and
sponsorship) and income growth within a fundraising
environment
• Experience of leading, developing and managing a
team, including performance appraisal and training
• Significant experience of managing and delivering an
annual budget of £5m+
• Excellent budgeting skills with the ability to forecast
accurately
• Significant experience of working as part of a senior
management team or senior leadership team, working
closely with senior individuals in a professional
capacity with Directors, CEO, Chairman, Patrons and
Trustees
• Strong, clear and succinct oral and written
communication skills with the capability to tailor
a message
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well
and inspire a team
• Experience of statutory and lottery fundraising and
bid writing
2. Knowledge
Essential
• Excellent knowledge of the UK philanthropic scene.
• Significant experience of devising, implementing
and delivering strategy in a fundraising/marketing
environment/team
• Knowledge of different forms of event activity;
sponsorship, auctions, pledges, raffles
• Knowledge of fundraising trends within the sector,
major donor motivations and trends in family and
institutional foundation fundraising
• Knowledge of statutory fundraising sources
Desirable
• Significant experience of devising, implementing
and delivering a strategy for major gift and/or
special event fundraising with the ability to establish
priorities and set objectives, demonstrated by
previous experience
• Knowledge of marketing from an integrated and
brand perspective
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to react and
manage short lead in times
3. Qualifications/ Education/ Training
• Excellent organisational and time management
skills with a professional and methodical approach
• 5 GCSE’s (C or above) or equivalent, including English
and Maths or Demonstrable literacy and numeracy
• Excellent IT skills and strong ability to manage
corporate databases, Word, Excel & PowerPoint
Desirable
• Diplomacy in difficult situations and ability to inspire
trust in others by treating all individuals in a fair and
consistent manner
• Highly motivated and target orientated
• Creative and enthusiastic, with the ability to inspire
and motivate others, both internally and externally
Essential
• Educated to A Level standard or equivalent
• Undergraduate degree
4. Other Requirements
Essential
• Solid fundraising experience with a track record of
successful new income development
• Willingness to travel and work occasional unsocial
hours
Marie Curie | March 2015
9
Benefits
1. Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
per year, plus bank holidays
2. Season Ticket Loan
3. Bike Loan
4. Season Ticket Loan Bike Loan
Marie Curie | March 2015
5. Group Personal Pension Plan
available to new employees.
To join you are required to
contribute a minimum of 5% from
your pensionable salary and Marie
Curie will contribute 7.5%
10
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please upload a comprehensive
CV and a supporting statement of no more than two
pages of A4 on our website. Please ensure that your
application fully addresses the appointment criteria in
the person specification.
Timetable
You should give the names, positions, organisations
and telephone contact numbers of two referees, one of
whom should be your current/most recent employer.
References will only be taken once your express
permission has been granted.
This dates may be subject to change and applicants
will be advised in advance should this happen.
We ask that you complete the equal opportunities
information online when you submit your application via
our website. The information collected will be treated as
confidential, used for statistical purposes only, and will
not be treated as part of your application.
We would also be grateful if you could let us know if
you will require any special provision as a result of any
disability should you be called for interview.
Finally please ensure that you have included mobile,
work and home telephone numbers.
Applications should be made via the Prospectus
website at: www.prospect-us.co.uk/executive/job/
Closing date: Friday 10th April
Initial interviews with Prospectus: 17th-24th April
Final Panel Interviews: w/c 4th May
Recruitment Process
Should you decide to make a formal application,
you will receive feedback within seven working days of
the closing date. Shortlisted candidates may be required
to undertake an additional assessment prior to the final
interview. The successful appointment is subject to a
satisfactory criminal records disclosure and written
references.
Queries
If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment
process, need additional information or wish to have
an informal discussion, please contact Linda Griffiths
or Christina Tzovaras on 020 7691 1920 or via email at
[email protected] or christina.tzovaras@
prospect-us.co.uk
HQ00155719
Applications can also be posted to: Sarah Hill,
Prospectus, 20-22 Stukeley Street, London WC2B 5LR
Marie Curie | March 2015
11
Prospectus, 20-22 Stukeley Street,
London, WC2B 5LR
Produced by the Prospectus
Advertising & design team
www.prospect-us.co.uk