Fundraising and Innovation Advisor

Background

This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial individual with significant experience of fundraising and a flair for social enterprise to play a key role in the delivery of Blackburn Diocese’s Vision 2026 - "Healthy Churches Transforming Communities" and its successor.

This new post of ‘Funding and Innovation Advisor’ will play a critical role in the long term success of the programme through innovation and creativity in relation to how posts can be sustained financially locally as the national funding tapers over time. We are looking for somebody who is full of ideas as to how this sustainability might be delivered, with the sensitivity to understand that what works in one context is likely to be different to what works in another. The role will be essential in helping to avoid situations where parishes feel they can’t apply for a post because they can’t see a way to sustain it financially over time. 

The Funding and Innovation Advisor will be responsible for working with parishes as they prepare their applications for the new posts and, if successful in their application, subsequently supporting the parish in the delivery of their financial sustainability plans. We are looking for someone who is excited about the vision of seeing Healthy Churches Transforming Communities across Lancashire. They will need excellent written and verbal communication skills as the role will involve regular communication and interaction with ordained and lay colleagues across the diocese. Proven success in charity (or church) development and sustainability is essential with experience in social enterprise an advantage. 

Some Key Responsibilities 

Supporting Parishes in preparing Applications for Posts
 

• Meet with parishes considering applying for one of the posts, supporting them in creating a robust and realistic plan for long term local financial sustainability of the new role. These plans will require innovative and creative thinking which is grounded in and tailored to the local context of the parish in question.

Supporting Parishes in the delivery of Financial Sustainability Plans for Posts
 

• Meet regularly with parishes in receipt of one of the nationally funded roles (with the 
  frequency of contact and meeting to be agreed with the parish and also the individual Project Manager of the funded Project).
• Provide ongoing advice in relation to implementation of the sustainability plans which is likely to include providing advice on making applications for grant funding, developing social enterprise, developing any twinning ideas and pursuing innovative / creative ways forward discerned in the planning phase.

Knowledge, Networking and Training
 

• Review what is working well across the diocese and nationally in relation to generating funding eg grant funding, use of buildings, social enterprise, twinning etc – always keeping in mind the core mission of the church.

Linking in with the Project Leads
 

• Whilst all part of one overarching programme, the different nationally funded posts fall within different projects. The Funding and Innovation Advisor will link in with each project lead in order to coordinate the funding support with the broader project work.

Some Key Skills Required
 

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
• An entrepreneurial flair, ideally with experience of leading social enterprise or local business initiatives.
• Strong track record of charity fundraising and successful grant applications.
• Demonstrable experience of communicating both in writing and in person in such a way as to enthuse and engage others.
• Actively support the Christian ethos of the church and project.
• A creative thinker who enjoys the challenge of thinking of and proposing innovative ideas to solve complex problems.

For full details about the role, please see the job description: Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd (anglican.org)

For an informal chat about the role please contact Ruth McGaughey, Deputy Diocesan Secretary/Head of Finance at ruth.mcgaughey@blackburn.anglican.org 

Closing Date: Friday 18th October 2024
Interview Date: TBC
Contract type: Fixed-term until 30th June 2031
 

Diversity - The Diocese of Blackburn believes that diversity enables us to thrive and develop and is committed to race equality, welcoming applications from UK Minority Ethnic/ Global Majority Heritage backgrounds

The Diocese of Blackburn is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.