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Milton's Cottage

Head of Fundraising / Development

Salary: £35,000 per annum pro-rata

Hours: Part-time (14 hours / week based on a 35-hour week pro rata; flexible working schedule at postholder’s discretion)

Location: Chalfont St Giles (remote position with occasional on-site working required)

Contract: 12 months, initially

Application deadline: 4th May 2025

Overview

Milton’s Cottage is the only surviving residence of John Milton, and the place where he completed his epic masterpiece Paradise Lost. We are seeking a dynamic fundraiser to build relationships and raise income to support our future ambitions, and ensure a sustainable legacy for this irreplaceable literary landmark.

This is a new role within Milton’s Cottage and the post-holder will work with the Director and Board of Trustees on strategic development and sustainable growth. They will oversee the development and delivery of our fundraising strategy, maximising opportunities for income generation through new and existing relationships with a range of philanthropic partners.

This is an exciting time to join Milton’s Cottage as we build on our recent growth and expand our programme of public impact projects. Working across a variety of income streams, you’ll help us achieve a step-change in our fundraising journey.

If you have demonstrable experience of income generation within a charitable setting, and are looking for a part-time opportunity to shape the fundraising future of a small but internationally significant museum, then we would love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Work with the Director to develop and implement a fundraising strategy for Milton’s Cottage 
Work with the Board of Trustees - in particular the Development Trustee, Paradise Maintain’d Trustee, Fundraising & Capital Development Committee - to develop an integrated, inclusive and ethical fundraising culture at all levels 
Build on the stewardship and management of existing donor relationships to ensure they are fully engaged and informed
Undertake research to identify new prospects and funding opportunities for Milton’s Cottage across trusts and foundations, individuals, and corporate partnerships 
Securing philanthropic gifts from new and existing donors
Work with the Director and Treasurer to monitor annual income targets against performance
Liaise with the Treasurer to ensure that income is properly administered, including acknowledgement, financial receipts, maximising donation values and Gift Aid 
Work with the Director to ensure evaluation requirements are integrated into funded projects 
Manage fundraising data, track prospect and donor journeys, and ensure the data that is stored is fit for purpose and GDPR compliant 
Develop and maintain fundraising policies and procedures
Act as an advocate for Milton’s Cottage
Other fundraising and events duties as reasonably required by the Director and Trustees
Targets and workload will be set at a level that is proportionate to a two-day per week role, with other people available within the organisation to help execute the fundraising strategy 

Essential Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Strong fundraising skills, including demonstrable experience of securing significant philanthropic gifts 
Excellent communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders, including the ability to communicate a vision and build trust
Strong writing skills with the ability to craft a compelling and persuasive narrative 
Detailed knowledge of the current fundraising landscape and the challenges facing those raising funds within the arts, culture and heritage sectors in the UK
Experience of raising funds from major trusts and foundations and / or statutory sources
Experience of raising funds from individuals, including legacies, patron schemes, fundraising events and / or annual / regular giving appeals
Ability to plan and prioritise a demanding workload and meet deadlines
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
Understanding of CRM databases
Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality at all times 

Desirable Experience, Skills & Knowledge

Experience of fundraising for capital projects
Experience of securing at least 5-figure gifts from philanthropic partners
Knowledge of / interest in culture, literature and museums  

Application Process

Please send a copy of your CV with an accompanying cover letter - outlining your interest in and suitability for this role by 4th May 2025. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 6th May 2025 (please let us know in your application if you cannot make that date so that we can make alternative arrangements with you).

We are committed to equality and diversity within our workforce and our recruitment process is open to all. We welcome applicants from global majority backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTQ+, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and those who identify as disabled, as these groups are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector more widely