Major Gift and Legacy Manager – Please send all applications and any enquires to hr@rda.org.uk

RDA is seeking a Major Gift and Legacy Manager to lead the growth and strategic direction of our major gift and legacy fundraising programmes. This key role will focus on attracting new major donors, securing gifts in wills, and ensuring the stewardship of existing supporters.

You will play a crucial part in increasing RDA’s income to support the life-changing work we do with disabled children and adults through horse riding and carriage driving.

Specific Responsibilities: 

Strategic Planning and Development 

• In collaboration with the Head of Fundraising, develop and implement robust strategies to secure income from major donors and legacies;  
• Responsiblity for developing and implementing annual activity plans to achieve targets; 
• Engagement with the wider sector and monitoring of trends to maximise opportunities.  

Operational 

• Lead on the creation of impactful collateral to attract new donors (major gifts and legacy pledgers) and retain existing donors and legacy pledgers; 
• Work effectively with the Fundraising Team and RDA teams to identify new opportunities for income growth; 
• Lead on building, updating and generating donor portfolios (both major donors and legacies) and income pipelines, reporting against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); 
• Ensure all prospects have a positive donor journey, creating unique and engaging development plans to support relationship management; 
• Identify potential major donors and research other prospects with a likely interest in our cause; 
• Lead and directly manage a portfolio of key donor relationships, while maintaining accurate records, and growing RDA’s supporter database. 
• Support the excellent stewardship of major donors, liaising with RDA teams as required, to ensure donor objectives are fully met. 
• Lead on developing a special events programme for high value supporters and for promoting legacy giving; 
• Lead on the management of major donor and legacy fundraising content on MyRDA (RDA network web platform). 

Financial 

• Responsibility for the development of annual income targets in relation to major donors and legacies, in agreement with the Head of Fundraising and Director of Finance and Resources. 
• Process all incoming donations in line with internal procedures and ensure prompt and appropriate acknowledgement of all income. 
• Assist in quarterly forecasting, weekly and monthly reporting across a range of financial and non- financial KPIs. 

 Other 

• Implement the Equal Opportunities Policy into daily activities; 
• Ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (2018) across all relationships, including data collection; 
• Keep abreast of key fundraising trends/issues and the regulatory environment around fundraising. Ensuring standards are set, procedures are followed, and issues addressed or escalated as appropriate. 
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends on an occasional basis. 
• Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required in this post. 

 Person Specification: 

Knowledge and Experience (Essential)  

• Experience of strategy development and implementation in major donor or legacy fundraising; 
• Experience of managing and developing relationships with existing and potential major donors, influential individuals and senior volunteers to inspire them to support the charity;  
• Demonstrable success in proactively identifying, cultivating and recruiting new donors and soliciting new major gifts/uplifting gifts; 
• Experience of prospect research, formulating project and bespoke budgets to create proposals for high value donors; 
• Experience of coordinating stewardship and engagement programmes which underpin a successful high value annual gift strategy; 
• Experience of supporting senior volunteers, staff and trustees to maximise donor relationships; 
• Proven experience of meeting targets and deadlines, and ability to work under pressure; 
• Exceptional organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks and prioritising effectively; 
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across teams to achieve organisational objectives; 
• Ability to plan and report on activities; 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; 
• Strong analytical and creative skills; 
• Experience of using administrative systems and Central Relationship Management (CRM) systems. 

 Knowledge and Experience (Desirable) 

• Experience of reviewing and adapting plans; 
• Experience of working with volunteers;  
• Experience and/or understanding of working in a federated charity structure; 
• Previous experience of building or running high profile and professional events; 
• Some knowledge of working with disabled people. 

 Attributes and Behaviours 

• High level of motivation; 
• Credible, with exceptional relationship development skills; 
• Organised with great attention to detail; 
• Collaborative approach; 
• Desire to give RDA supporters an excellent experience; 
• Empathy with the aims and values of RDA. 

Why take on an RDA UK position? You will:

• Make a big difference right across the RDA community
• Have the opportunity to gain new skills or further develop existing ones
• Work in an inclusive and diverse organisation
• Get to meet and understand the impact of our work on our incredible participants and volunteers.

Based at: RDA National Office (Lowlands Equestrian Centre, Warwickshire)  Option for hybrid working with a minimum of 2 day a week office based 

Hours: Full time or Part time working available (flexible to candidates’ requirements)  

Contract: Permanent 

Salary: £47,000 FTE (based on 37-hour contract) 

Please apply by sending your CV (and a short cover letter if desired) to hr@rda.org.uk. 

Applications close Sunday 23rd March at 23.59.