Head of Development
We are seeing a dynamic and highly motivated fundraising professional who has wide ranging experience in fundraising for educational and/or cultural institutions. You will have strong networking and influencing skills and you will be responsible for the generation of fundraising income in order to sustain key School initiatives.
You will develop and manage the major gifts regular giving programmes – including identifying, developing and managing a portfolio of prospects, including individuals, trusts and foundations and other statutory funding bodies with the aim of raising philanthropic income including legacy pledges.
The BSA has recently reviewed the role of Development in the institution, and we are set to embark on a new fundraising campaign with the New Fitch Laboratory Building Project at its heart. The Development Executive will play a fundamental role in leading the BSA’s new campaign which includes a range of philanthropic opportunities including the endowment of the role of the archivist, environmental overhaul of the BSA buildings, studentship funding and funding for digital humanities, as well as generating additional income streams to sustain core activities.
You will work closely with colleagues from across the BSA including the leadership and the Council to ensure that all fundraising projects are fully developed and meet all relevant standards of due diligence. A key part of the role will be to support the Director and Chair of Council in approaches to donors and to secure the terms of pledges and donation agreements.
The British School at Athens (BSA) is a dynamic hub for academic research into all aspects of Greece and the Hellenic world. We provide a ‘home from home’ in Athens for postgraduate students and post-doctoral researchers from the UK and all over the world. Our work encompasses the study of arts, humanities and social science disciplines relating to Greece, covering all periods from the palaeolithic to the present.
Set in a green oasis with historic buildings in the heart of Athens, our facilities include one of the largest libraries in the world for Hellenic Studies and an archive with holdings dating back two centuries. Our renowned Fitch Laboratory is the world’s first archaeological science laboratory to be established outside a university setting. The Hostel provides residential facilities for our members and we provide a service to UK-based scholars applying for permits from the Greek government for archaeological fieldwork, as required by Greek law. In Crete we run a research centre at the world-famous archaeological site of Knossos, where excavations and research have been conducted since 1900.
Your characteristics and skills
The new Head of Development will have the following characteristics:
- An experienced, self-starting fundraiser, used to using their own initiative and entrepreneurial spirit, well qualified in engaging with donors (at all levels) with a track record of successful outcomes.
- Experienced in stewardship and donor management.
- Experienced in the strategy, tactics and practical implementation of fundraising.
- Able to demonstrate a keen interest in the work and the values of the BSA.
- Willing to become an active, enthusiastic and collaborative member of the BSA’s senior management team.
- An inspiring and tenacious advocate of the BSA’s activities and plans.
- A confident networker and people manager
The new Head of Development will have the following skills and experience
- Extensive experience of trust and foundation giving.
- Evidence of securing 6- and 7- figure gifts.
- Experience in prospect research, fundraising, relationship management.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to translate complex. briefs/projects into persuasive fundraising cases for support.
- High level of expertise in MS Word, Excel and other packages.
- Experience in E-Tapestry or other membership/relational databases.
- Agile networking skills, able to influence and build rapport quickly with donors/supporters and senior stakeholders in the UK and internationally.
- Education to degree level or equivalent.
The post holder must be passionate about the role philanthropy plays in supporting research, public engagement, and Greek-British relationships.