Development Officer

Development Officer

We are seeking a dynamic individual to help deliver an ambitious fundraising strategy aligned to the objectives of the charity.

Hay Festival Foundation Ltd. (HFF) is a nationally and internationally recognised charity. Based in the booktown of Hay-on-Wye, Wales, we bring together diverse voices to listen, talk, debate and create, tackling some of the biggest political, social and environmental challenges of our time.

Hay Festival runs events and projects all over the world, from the historic town of Cartagena in Colombia to the heart of cities in Peru, Mexico, Spain and the USA. The charity reaches a global audience of millions each year and continues to grow and innovate, earning multiple awards over the years, including Festival of Sanctuary status from refugee charity City of Sanctuary UK and, in 2020, Spain's Princess of Asturias Award in Communication and Humanities.

This is an exciting time to join Hay Festival and contribute to an innovative strategy and a world leading arts organisation.

How to Apply

Click on the 'Apply now' button below. Please upload your CV and a cover letter explaining how your experience fits the role. The closing date for applications is Friday 14th November.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role please contact by an email.

Summary

The Development Officer is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and securing funding for Hay Festival from trusts, foundations, and public sources. The role plays a vital part in managing relationships with funders, developing new income opportunities, and ensuring fundraising targets are achieved while upholding the highest standards of communication and engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cultivate, build and manage successful relationships with potential new funders, identifying potential trust and foundation and public funding sources.
• Develop, write and submit funding applications to trusts and foundations and public funding bodies to a high standard drawing Information and data from across the organisation
• Establish timelines for the successful development of specific funding proposals or other materials to present to specific funders.
• Monitor and report on funding awards, tracking compliance with funder requirements.
• Help create and devise new sponsorship opportunities for Hay Festival, Wales, working across the team
• Manage and develop sponsors and patrons and benefactors' engagement including invites, complimentary tickets, and reception spaces at Hay Festival, Wales
• Ensure sponsors requirements are met at all festivals, and manage complimentary ticket requests
• Contribute to evaluation methodology and implementation to ensure sponsor and funders criteria are met
• Carry out extensive research into potential new sources of funding and keep abreast of current fundraising policy and practice
• Help organise and deliver fundraising and sponsorship events (e.g., receptions, dinners).
• Act as an ambassador for Hay Festival at public, media, and sector events.
• Maintain accurate records, online sponsor profiles, and internal management systems.

Other Responsibilities:

• Responding to general enquiries by email or telephone, manage own workload and maintain an online diary, using the festivals agreed systems.
• Maintain accurate records and to input Hay Festival management systems.
• Creating and maintaining professional relationships with funders, sponsors, and partners ensuring that enquiries are dealt with promptly, accurately and willingly.
• Creating and maintaining professional relationships with other members of staff
• To promote and comply with current legislation including Hay Festival policies on Equality and Diversity and Health & Safety, Safeguarding, in the delivery of services and the treatment of others.
• Adhere to HFF Financial Regulations
• Uphold the HFF brand and reputation at all times
• Observing organisational practices, administrative procedures, internal communications, staff training and development.
• Undertake other duties as requested.

Skills Specification

The Development Officer will have a strong understanding of the funding landscape across the UK and have successfully fund-raised from trusts and foundations and public bodies. The role requires excellent verbal and written communication skills articulating the case for support, setting targets and leading fundraising efforts for festivals, special projects and capital campaigns.

Essential:

• Demonstrable knowledge of trusts and foundations and public funding application processes and the ability to write strong, precise and persuasive proposals.
• Experience of writing evaluation and impact reports for funded projects or programmes
• Financially literate with an understanding of tax and legal issues affecting fundraising activity.
• Ability to network confident in meeting new people and establishing lasting professional relationships with a wide range of people, both internally and externally
• An understanding, and up-to-date knowledge of, the cultural sector.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent time management, ability to multi-task and consistently meet differing deadlines.
• A creative mindset with the ability to create new fundraising approaches and generate imaginative proposals and campaigns.
• Persuasive communication skills, in both writing and speaking.
• Flexible and responsive approach to working as part of a team and with external stakeholders.
• Passionate and articulate about the value of the cultural sector.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. (Word, PowerPoint) and Excel (spreadsheets)

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a charitable environment.
• Experience of fundraising for arts and culture
• Welsh speaker