Job Title: Freelance Trusts and Foundations Fundraising Executive
Reports to: Head of Development
Location: Hybrid flexible working. Home based, anywhere in the UK with travel to Coalbrookdale, Telford when needed (1 / 2 days per month minimum)
Hours: Flexible. 3 or 4 days per week
Salary: £200-£300 per day depending on experience
Budgets Held: Fundraising
Closing Date for Applications: 9am Monday 18 August 2025
Fundraising Team
This freelance post will work collaboratively with other members of the fundraising team including:
· Fundraising Executive Major Donors and Partnerships
· Fundraising Officer (Prospect Research and Data)
Staff Reporting Directly: None
Functions:
The freelance Trusts and Foundations Fundraising Executive is an exciting post within the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust’s (IGMT) Fundraising Team and will work to support IGMT’s charitable objectives set out in its 10-year Manifesto.
Working with the Head of Development this pivotal role will be responsible for taking the trust programme to the next level, growing trust income, securing new grants, increasing multi-year gifts and managing a current portfolio of Trusts and Foundations.
The role will include working with a pipeline of existing and prospect Trusts and Foundations, cultivating and developing these relationships, to generate income by producing and submitting timely, compelling, high quality grant applications in line with the charity's needs and goals and providing appropriate levels of stewardship leading to long term support.
Working closely with the Fundraising Officer (Prospect Research and Data) you will identify new grant opportunities and ensure all reporting, updates and project evaluations are completed.
You will be highly organised, dedicated and a reliable individual, ready to play a significant role in income generation. An exceptional and eloquent communicator and writer, excellent at managing your time and a natural relationship builder.
If your experience does not align perfectly with all the criteria in the person specification but you meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our priority is finding the right person to thrive in our team.
The post holder reports directly to the Head of Development.
Duties:
What will I be doing on a day-to-day basis?
Working with the Fundraising Officer (Prospect Research and Data), you will be responsible for researching, building and maintaining a prospect pipeline of Trusts and Foundations.
Developing, writing and submitting high quality, compelling proposals and applications in a timely manner.
Using the CRM system, you will monitor prospecting and donor activity, to build a clear cultivation and stewardship plan for each Trust.
Growing relationships with Trusts and Foundations, through the development of supporter events, tailored updates and exciting information about our work.
Ensuring excellent donor stewardship is in place using visits, meetings, talks and inspirational writing to help Trusts learn about our work.
You will build relationships with internal colleagues (both paid and volunteers) and work across departments to understand organisational priorities, developing and implementing plans to secure donations from trusts and foundations for areas of work identified in the annual Business Plan.
You will be responsible for keeping up to date records for reporting, monitoring, and evaluation purposes, and ensuring reports for internal and external stakeholders are provided in a timely manner and are accurate.
Working as part of the team to implement and deliver against a fundraising income strategy for the charity ensuring long-term income growth to support our charitable goals.
Finally, you will contribute to IGMT’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your day to day working and your relationships with colleagues, external partners, and donors.
You will also carry out any other additional duties commensurate with this post.
Person specification
Demonstrable experience of fundraising in a similar role.
Knowledge and experience of the charity sector with a proven success in securing grants.
The ability to write persuasive, compelling applications and donor communications
Strong proofreading skills.
Ability to work independently and with own initiative.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.
Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
Good IT skills, confident in the use of Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
Ability to work evenings and weekend as required.
Staff benefits include:
- Paid annual leave up to 33 days (includes public holidays), pro-rata for part-time staff
- Auto enrolment to the Nest Pension Scheme for eligible staff
- Optional health cash plan through Paycare
- Free on-site parking
Participation in a Staff Membership Scheme which includes:
- Free unlimited daytime standard entry to all museums for staff member plus one accompanying adult and up to four children
- 20% discount on catering spend, including the Furnace Kitchen
- 20% discount on retail spend
- 20% discount on retail spend in Victorian exhibits at Blists Hill
- 4 free standard day-time admission passes for use by friends and family accompanying staff member
- Discount on special event tickets.
About the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is an industrial heritage organisation which runs ten museums and manages multiple historic sites within the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site in Shropshire, England, widely considered as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
The Trust operates various food outlets including the recently opened flagship restaurant The Furnace Kitchen. As well as visitor catering outlets the Museum also offers various Conference & Banqueting and Wedding and Event locations across our sites.
Our commitment to diversity and equality is a long-standing one. We believe arts organisations, museums, and libraries should ensure that their work draws on and reflects the full range of backgrounds and perspectives to be found in our society.
Disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent people, those from Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse backgrounds are under-represented in our workforce so we particularly encourage applications from people in these groups.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £200.00-£300.00 per day
Expected hours: 22 – 30 per week
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Telford TF8 7DQ
Application deadline: 18/08/2025
