Fundraising Manager (Maternity Cover)

  • Rockinghorse Children's Charity
  • Oct 23, 2025
Full time Other

Job Description

About Rockinghorse Children s Charity

Rockinghorse Children s Charity supports sick and disabled children across Sussex. We support babies, children and young people, along with their families, at The Royal Alexandra Children s Hospital and The Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Brighton and all of the specialist children s wards and baby units throughout Sussex.

We deliver and fund projects that enable doctors and nurses to do more. All of projects are led by the needs of children and young people and their families the lifesaving medical equipment, the support for parents and families, the toys for children spending time in hospitals across Sussex, the environments and spaces that help children feel more at home when they are in hospital and additional staff to make sure children get the best possible care when they are unwell.

Originally set up in 1967 by Dr Trevor Mann, we have been supporting children for nearly 60 years, and in that time, we have supported nearly a million children and their families. As the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children s Hospital, including the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, we work with the NHS, charity partners and the Sussex community to ensure children can be children no matter now sick they are.

We do not receive any government, statutory or local authority funding and so we rely on the generous support of individuals, community groups, companies and trusts: people like you, who care about children and want Sussex to be a safe place for children to grow up.

About the role

We are looking for someone to manage the fundraising income streams across a broad range of fundraising activities (including challenge, community, and corporates) with the guidance of the Head of Fundraising & Partnerships and in line with our organisational strategy.

You will be a driven and articulate individual looking to support the whole fundraising team. We are looking for someone who can multitask and manage a wide range of new and existing supporters. Under the direction of the Head of Fundraising and Partnerships this role will support us to engage a broad range of supporters for example you might be managing our challenge events, expanding our community fundraising offer, or supporting our amazing corporate supporters with their staff fundraising plans. Every day is different.

You will play a pivotal role in developing our supporter engagement activities to tie in with the overarching plans for the charity and help to grow the income generated. You will be a team player who can see the importance of the charity s mission and who is keen to get stuck in. As a small charity this role is very much hands on doing planning and delivery of fundraising activities, campaigns and projects.

Duties of the role

Supporting the charity to secure income from across our fundraising portfolio:

Rockinghorse raises money to support children in hospitals, their families and the staff that care for them.
  • To manage fundraised income (including challenge, community and corporate) with the charity s strategic plan at the core of all activity.
  • To work with the Head of Fundraising & Partnerships and the team of fundraisers to implement and develop a holistic approach to fundraising and supporters.
  • To manage and advise all supporters with their events and activities in aid of Rockinghorse, to maximise income generated and increase awareness and understanding of the charity and our work.
  • To proactively grow and develop new ways for supporters to fundraise for Rockinghorse and engage in our work for children across Sussex.
  • To manage supporter journeys, products and mechanisms for the supporters you are assigned to manage.
  • To ensure you forecast, budget and have contingency planning in place for your income pipeline across your channels.
  • To understand the needs, wants and behaviours of new and existing supporters.
  • To help Rockinghorse grow our reach and find ways to bring our case for support to life for supporters.
  • To evolve our case for support to attract, retain and engage a loyal community of supporters.
  • To work with the Head of Fundraising & Partnerships on budgeting and reporting of income generating activities.
  • To maintain and develop the charity s central database (e-Tapestry).
  • To manage and develop all external platforms the charity uses for individual and challenge event fundraising.
Supporting the charity to deliver brilliant, funded projects that support children and their families:

Rockinghorse delivers and funds around 70+ projects per year supporting sick and disabled babies, children, young people and their families in hospitals in Sussex.
  • Work with Head of Fundraising & Partnerships to match projects to partners, supporters and appeals to ensure our projects are funded and delivered.
  • Work with Head of Fundraising & Partnerships to create case for supports for our projects that appeal to and attract a range of supporters.
  • Work with Projects Manager and Head of Marketing & Communication to create and disseminate project updates and communication to ensure our supporters are informed, educated and engaged in our work.
  • Work with the Head of Marketing and Communications and project leads to build up a bank of case studies, quotes and stories we can use to feed back to supporters.
Support the charity more widely:
  • Represent Rockinghorse at events and networks, building strong peer relationships and sharing best practice.
  • To present and speak on behalf of Rockinghorse at schools, colleges, community events and corporate events.
  • Model excellent conduct and behaviours in line with the charity s values and ethos.
  • Carry out other such duties as may be required for the purposes of the charity; this will include working during evenings and weekends as required and the postholder would be expected to work flexibly to do so.
  • There are travel requirements for this post (covering the whole of Sussex) to attend, put on events and meet with our supporters.
Person specification

Essential experience, skills and knowledge for the role:

  1. Experience and understanding of the principles of fundraising in a charity and/or not for profit.
  2. Experience and understanding managing fundraising activities (especially two or more of challenge, community and corporate fundraising).
  3. Able to work collaboratively and build productive relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and third-party agencies.
  4. Able to prioritise own workload effectively and confidence to work autonomously.
  5. Excellent time management skills with strong prioritisation and organisation skills.
  6. Brilliant communication and interpersonal abilities able to engage with stakeholders quickly and effectively.
  7. Ability to handle confidential supporter information.
  8. Experience of using customer relationship management platforms (Rockinghorse uses e-Tapestry).
  9. Commitment to Rockinghorse Children s Charity s mission, vision and values.
Desirable experience, skills and knowledge:

  1. Experience managing communications and/or marketing to support fundraising engagement and support.
  2. Experience of using MailChimp or other CRM & email platforms.

Work skills you ll need on the job:

  1. A can-do attitude.
  2. Brilliant organisational skills.
  3. Excellent people skills, adaptable and flexible in manner and approach.
  4. Excellent written and verbal communication.
  5. Ability to work on own initiative and as an active team member.
  6. Ability to work under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
Benefits of working for Rockinghorse Children s Charity:
  • 25 days annual leave (prorated for part-time) plus bank holidays.
  • An additional day of annual leave on your birthday.
  • Christmas closure days (prorated for part-time) up to three additional days of annual leave.
  • Cycle to work scheme.
  • Competitive pension scheme.
  • Employee and dependants health cash plan including access to an online GP and counselling.
  • Family leave including maternity, adoption, shared parental and paternity leave.
  • Ongoing opportunities for learning and professional development for staff.
  • Quarterly reward and recognition days for all staff.
  • Opportunity for flexible, hybrid and part-time working.
  • Access to Enterprise Car Club.
Rockinghorse is committed to building an inclusive workplace, with equity for all, whilst embracing and championing inclusion and diversity. We welcome applications from all.

Application Process

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter outlining how you fulfil the nine essential elements of the person specification.

Your covering letter must address your experience, skills and knowledge against the nine essential elements of the person spec. If you also have any of the desirable criteria, please outline these too.

NB: Applications without a covering letter will not be considered.

If you need any support with the process or application, please get in touch. We can also talk to through the role and answer any questions you may have informally.

All applicants will be shortlisted (to go to interview) based on their ability to demonstrate they have, or can gain . click apply for full job details