WHAT IS START NETWORK? 

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally-led crisis response and anticipation. 

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability. 

OUR SOLUTIONS 

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations. 

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises. 

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises. 

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website.  

 OUR VALUES 

WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST: Communities come first in our decision-making and programming. 

WE ARE BRAVE: We have great ambition and are willing to explore new things and take risks to achieve it 

WE OPERATE COLLECTIVELY: We leverage the value of working as a network, sharing risk and resources, and learning together. 

WE ARE INCLUSIVE: We see the value in diverse perspectives and work to remove the barriers that prevent voices from being heard. 

WE ARE OPEN: We work transparently and with integrity, building mutual trust in all levels of our work, from governance to programming. 

WE ARE ETHICAL: We behave and operate based on key principles of anti-racism, non-discrimination, and anti-colonialism. This is a work in progress. 

JOB PURPOSE 

This exciting role focuses on raising income for the Start Network and its global initiatives, including the Start Fund, Start Ready, innovation and the expansion of a locally led network. The postholder will be an experienced trusts and / or corporate fundraiser who wants a role focused on business and relationship development. They will be responsible for an exciting portfolio of existing and prospective funders (that give 6-7 figure grants), adopting a relational approach to fundraising. 

You will be responsible for carrying out prospect donor mapping, growing a fundraising pipeline, building relationships with prominent foundations and corporates in the humanitarian space, writing technical proposals as required, pitching to donors well-articulated concepts, and building fundraising capacity within the organisation. 

It is critical that the postholder is comfortable with developing new relations. We have grown a significant number of new donors within our Foundations and Corporates over the last few years, and we hope to continue the growth of the team in this exciting role, so proof of having grown an income stream is key.  

Finally, the Senior Partnerships Officer will sit within a team of 3 focusing on strengthening and increasing the philanthropic portfolio and will work alongside the Partnerships Engagement Officer and will report to the Partnerships Manager. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES 

PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT TO CURRENT FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE DONORS 

• Responsible for managing the day-to-day engagement of key new donors who provide 6 and 7 figure grants 

• Develop strong relationships and provide high quality regular updates to donors on their areas of programmatic funding 

• Responsible for renewing grants, taking a lead on putting together proposals and budgets 

for continuation funding with a focus on increasing and maximising funds 

• Work with current corporate donors to develop employee fundraising and engagement opportunities 

• Work with donors to develop joint communications plans and events where possible 

• Support the grant management function and ensure donors are kept up to date with any movement in programmes or expenditure  

LEAD ON REPORTING 

• Work closely with all the relevant teams to provide detailed financial information, reports, and relevant reporting pieces as required to funders 

• Monitor our programmes and make sure donors are continuously updated on key progressor changes in the programmes they fund. 

• Support the planning and execution of the Donor Council and the Start Network Assembly as required 

FUNDRAISING FOR THE START NETWORK, WITH A FOCUS ON NEW BUSINESS  

• Responsible for prospecting donors, developing individual plans for large foundations or corporates, and involving key team members to help set up a plan of action/strategy for each donor 

• Responsible for proactively developing, cultivating, and converting new donor relationships, specifically trusts and foundations and corporates globally 

• Meet the needs and expectations of a portfolio of donors, working collaboratively with colleagues to provide relevant information 

• Support the Partnerships Manager and Head of Resource Mobilisation to plan the approach for this new area of income for the network 

LEAD ON PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT & PITCHES 

• Lead the proposal writing process coordinating with relevant teams 

• Coordinate pre-qualification proposal processes 

• Monitor funding opportunities and calls, ensuring relevant staff are informed in a timely manner 

• Work closely with programme teams, the finance team and other relevant stakeholders, to ensure that donor funding requirements are met 

BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY WITHIN THE ORGANISATION 

• Advise on contract negotiations, communication with donors, and compliance with donor requirements, working closely with programme teams 

• Support development of robust systems to manage fundraising growth, including use of Salesforce to manage relationships 

• Participate in key profile-raising events as required in order to build the reputation of Start Network among global funders 

• Work with the communications and advocacy team to understand how we can continue to build our branding and value proposition particularly for the corporate segment 

START NETWORK CULTURE  

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children  

• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach  

• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture. 

Please note with the growth of the team there may be some changes to specific responsibilities.  

PERSON PROFILE 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

This role is for a Corporate or Foundations Fundraiser. The successful individual will: 

• Identify opportunities and take calculated risks to capitalise on opportunities that further our purpose and mission without compromising our vision 

• Inspire and motivate others by creating passion around our vision and focus, connecting with humility and empathy, and showing openness and resilience 

• Actively promote collaboration by spotting and breaking down barriers to siloed working, connecting colleagues, teams, and initiatives 

• Balance the need to follow systems and processes with the courage, identifying when systems and processes do not align with the mission, suggesting alternatives 

Technical skills 

• Good understanding of the foundations and or corporate donor landscape relevant to the humanitarian sector 

• Demonstrable experience of leading on significant income generation from large trusts and foundations and corporates (6 and 7 figure grants) for NGOs, including proactive cold approaches 

• Experience of building and maintaining a pipeline of prospect donors with a global focus 

• Experience of writing and/or reviewing project proposals or reports 

• Experience of managing a pool of prospects all capable of giving 6- or 7-figure gifts 

• Demonstrable experience of collaboration, including forging and maintaining effective new relationships and partnerships, often across organisational boundaries 

• Demonstrable experience of embracing new approaches, new technology (especially 

• collaborative technologies such as Box, Zoom and Skype) and new ways of working 

• Excellent computer skills including word processing, presentation and use of spreadsheets and ability to maintain office and management information systems 

Personal skills 

• Ability to build relationships, negotiate with and persuade a wide range of funding partners 

• Ability to summarise complex information quickly and appropriately for different audiences 

• Excellent team player, able to work flexibly and adapt to changing demands 

• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills 

• Ability to organise own work, and to manage time and resources effectively 

• Ability to work occasionally outside normal hours to meet immediate deadlines or to liaise with people in other time zones 

Desirable

• Experience of troubleshooting grant management issues including donor compliance (desirable) 

• Financial skills, particularly production of complex budgets for proposals (desirable)