Job Description

About The Role

------------------

W/C 10th November for First Stage Interviews.

About the Role:

The Philanthropy Officer will support Ark's fundraising strategy by managing a portfolio of small to medium-sized trusts and individual donors. This role is ideal for a proactive and ambitious fundraiser looking to deepen their experience in relationship management, proposal development, and donor stewardship.

Key Responsibilities:

+ Develop compelling cases for support tailored to trusts, foundations, and individual donors
+ Prepare and submit funding applications of 5,000+
+ Support the delivery of Ark's annual fundraising target of 3 million
+ Collaborate with internal teams and schools to gather insights and data for proposals and reports
+ Contribute to long-term strategies for donor engagement and retention
+ Support the Head of Fundraising with bespoke stewardship of our long-term supporters
+ Build and maintain strong relationships with donors through personalised communication and stewardship
+ Produce high-quality impact reports and updates to inspire continued support
+ Support donor events and visits, ensuring a positive experience aligned with Ark's values
+ Prospect Research; identify and qualify new funding prospects using research tools and networks
+ Maintain a robust pipeline of potential donors aligned with Ark's priorities
+ Conduct due diligence and assess funding opportunities for strategic fit
+ Maintain accurate records using Ark's CRM (Beacon). Support gift processing, acknowledgements, and donor communications
+ Assist with financial tracking and reporting for grants and donations
+ Support the planning and delivery of fundraising events
+ Represent Ark at sector events and networking opportunities

Specific Skills:

+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft persuasive proposals and reports
+ Strong interpersonal skills and confidence in engaging with donors and stakeholders
+ Highly organized, with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
+ Entrepreneurial mindset with curiosity about donor motivations and philanthropic trends
+ Proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Beacon)

Knowledge & Experience:

+ Min of two years' working in a fundraising role
+ Experience in trust fundraising and/or grant management
+ Familiarity with prospect research and donor stewardship practices
+ Desirable: Experience in education or youth development sectors

Other:

+ Right to work in the UK
+ Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all students
+ Willingness to undertake training
+ This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

Benefits

------------

+ Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in-person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state-of-the-art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days
+ In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
+ Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments
+ 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years' service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
+ Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
+ As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to
+ Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
+ Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

About Us

------------

Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Our network of 39 schools reaches traditionally underserved communities in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We educate 30,000 pupils and have nearly 3,000 teaching staff across our network. We also incubate and scale innovative ventures, which we roll out beyond our network of schools for the benefit of teachers, pupils and the education system as a whole. Current Ventures include Ark Curriculum Plus, which equips teachers with the subject expertise needed to ensure students succeed, and Ark Start, a growing chain of nurseries offering affordable, high-quality early years education.



Recently, Ark moved to new offices at EdCity - a unique not-for-profit development in West London, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council. EdCity is designed to bring mission-aligned organisations together to focus on improving the lives of children, especially through education. It offers leased offices, a range of venues for training and events, and an innovation hub for the education sector to connect, collaborate and learn together.

Diversity and inclusion:

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone - staff and students - can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark's diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding statement:

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.



Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please click this link.


Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.


For any questions, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org.