Head of Development

Founded in 1570, Bury Grammar School is an independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 18 years from all  backgrounds. Our Founders’ ethos was to create a school where children from all backgrounds would thrive, and we are still true to this ethos today. Our successful means tested bursary programme ensures diversity in our pupil population through offering financial support to those families for whom an independent school education would otherwise be unattainable. Our bursaries are funded from our endowment funds, donations and from general fee income. Currently 1 in 9 senior school pupils receive means tested support and the average bursary is 80% of the fees.

The School has in place a small, established and highly successful Development Team, led by the Head of Development.

Recent campaigns include the Sports Campaign and the 450 Bursary Campaign, both of which raised considerable funds for the School.

Due to the retirement of the current Head of Development we are seeking to appoint a new individual to this role;

someone with drive and energy who can continue to develop and progress the outstanding work we have seen from the Development Team over the past several years. The School has strong links with donors, Trusts and friends of the School and is now ready to embark on a new and exciting next stage of development. The School has recently invested in a new database and CRM package, ToucanTech software, through which we aim to become even more connected to our BGS community and to maximise the benefits of this for all. 

Ideally the candidate will be working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday working throughout the year including the school holidays. The school would be willing to consider part time working for the post.

 Our staff enjoy the following benefits:

• Pension Scheme

• Induction, support and personal development

• Family-friendly policies

• Generous lunch allowance in our School Dining Hall

• Above average annual leave entitlement

• Free access, at stipulated times, to our extensive sports facilities

• Friendly staff common room and active programme of social activities

• Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme

• Access to borrow books from our library

• Fee remission scheme

• Specsavers Corporate Eye Care Scheme

• Free Parking on site

• Pay progression

• Free afterschool club care 

Reporting directly to the Bursar and in close liaison with the Principal and Vice-Principal, the post holder will be responsible for:

Supporting the Schools’ vision, ambitions and achievements through fundraising, and specifically:

• Plan and agree the Development strategy and targets with the Executive.

• Work towards and support the School’s vision and current objectives as outlined in the School’s Strategic Plan.

• Raise the profile of the Development Office and help embed a culture of fundraising at the School and within the BGS Community. Create awareness of the importance of the work carried out by the Development Office, its value within the School community and ensure that all members of the School community are kept informed of its work.

• Maintain relationships with other post holders in similar independent schools in the North West.

Fundraising Programmes and specifically:

• Build upon the existing fundraising strategy and devise new strategies for bursary and other projects. Creating appropriate strategies and targets for different donor and potential donor types. Working closely with the Executive, build and develop donor stewarding and contact strategies, including (but not limited to) legacy and major gifts, regular giving, trusts, businesses etc.

• Build meaningful on-going relationships with donors who will include, new and current donors, friends of the School, current and former parents, alumni, trusts, current and former staff, and local businesses.

• Devise, implement and co-ordinate gift acknowledgement.

• Create stewardship strategies for all levels of donor and maintain relationships with donors at all levels.

• Articulate the needs of the School, both orally and in writing, to potential supporters, including specific details of projects for which the School is seeking funds, representing the School, its ethos and culture appropriately and effectively.

• Develop and implement an ongoing programme of online PR using (for example) social media, online newsletters, ToucanTech online platform, websites etc.

• Ensure the production of up-to-date, appealing and attractive supporting printed materials where appropriate.

• Provide advice on all types of tax-efficient giving and manage tax reclamation efficiently, in collaboration with the Finance team.

• Maintain relationships with donors at all levels. 

• Initiate fundraising and awareness events (including virtual events), social activities, reunions, and entertainment of prospective and existing donors.

• Be present at School events such as Prize giving, concerts, lectures and productions etc. where donors and potential donors may be present in order to steward, forge and maintain relationships.

• Ensure all of BGS’s fundraising activities are in accordance with the regulations and guidance set out by the

Fundraising Regulator.

• Undertake relevant research in order to understand better potential donors’ attitudes and needs to influence future campaign planning.

Management of the Development Office and, specifically:

• Line manager two members of staff, who have key responsibilities and roles within the office, maintaining excellent working relationships and building team spirit.

• Work in collaboration with the team to maintain, improve and develop administrative systems and ToucanTech. Ensure accuracy of records at all time.

• Manage the Development budget in accordance with guidance from the Bursar.

Alumni Relations and, specifically:

• Ensure that the ToucanTech site content engages our alumni community, has content that alumni want and that it is update at all times. Use the software to segment data and communications where necessary. Join online user groups to learn how other schools use the software and ensure our system runs efficiently and always uses the most up to date functionality.

• Use ToucanTech to:

o Control data – ensure we can segment data as required

o Grow the BGS alumni/community

o Create engaging online content regularly (daily/weekly) that the community want to see – use market research

feedback to help steer content.

o Communicate with the community through this platform

o Manage events, including ticketing and seating plans

o Promote mentoring and careers – link with LinkedIn page

o Run fundraising campaigns

o Track all activity.

• Maintain excellent links with the Old Girls’ and Old Boys’ Associations, their committees and all connected associations.

• Maintain and improve upon the existing programme to encourage students and alumni to maintain lifelong links with the School. Undertake market research to monitor alumni engagement, explore what alumni want from the School and to identify potential new donors.

• In conjunction with the alumni Associations’ Committees and the Heads, organise reunions and events to strengthen relationships between the School and its former students and parents.

• Ensure that former students receive regular information about the School.

• In collaboration with the Bursar and Heads promote opportunities for alumni to contribute to the life of the School, recording these as appropriate.