We have established the England Football Charity to do more for those that can gain from the broader benefits of football. The FA already invests approximately £1 million every week into supporting the grassroots game. But for those with a disability or from deprived backgrounds, we know that they are harder to reach and require more support. Across these two audiences, our current mission focuses on helping young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) gain the skills they need to achieve the future they want.

The England Football Charity will focus on raising additional funding to enhance existing external programmes and activities that support these objectives. Whilst football will be the mechanism, the focus is on outcomes that improve individual development, employability and mental well-being, as well as supporting greater social cohesion.

The England Football Charity Head of Fundraising & Programmes is a home-based, 12-month fixed-term contract position. The successful applicant will play a critical role in securing funding for the charity to deliver it's objectives, and defining the programmes that will do so. Whilst the charity will look for a diverse range of funding sources, the initial focus will primarily be on major donations from high-net-worth individuals (HNWI). Income from corporate partners and charitable foundations will also be an initial focus.

This critical role is required to support the England Football Charity for 12 months, whilst the charity's operational viability is established. The position will be fully engaged with the charity, but will be employed by The FA for the duration of the contract. Should the role-holder be successful in their objectives during the 12 months FTC period, the role will then be employed directly by the England Football Charity.

Key Accountabilities:

Programmes Delivery Activities

• Engaging with funders and delivery partners, to design effective programmes that align to the objectives of the charity
• Ensuring appropriate resourcing, governance and oversight of all programmes
• Producing management reports to donors and Trustees on the progress and outcome of the programmes

 Fundraising Activities

• Increasing funds by researching and targeting charitable trusts whose criteria match the charity's aims and activities
• Developing bespoke fundraising strategies and packages in partnership with donor and delivery partner
• Utilising major fundraising opportunities (e.g. London marathon) to raise the profile of the charity and engage individuals in fund raising for the Charity
• Developing new and imaginative fundraising approaches, sources and activities to maximise the income for the charity

 Major Donors – Lead Generation & Relationship Management

• Identifying and researching HNWI (high net worth individuals) with a clear connection to the charity's objectives
• Establish initial contact with selected HNWIs in order to introduce the charity and secure their interest
• Maximising the level of donations received from HNWIs through appropriate ongoing communications and promotion of their personal impact
• Implement robust stewardship programs to maintain relationships with existing high net worth donors, ensuring ongoing engagement and appreciation for their contributions

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Knowledge
  • Deep understanding of the philanthropic landscape within high net worth circles in England
  • Strong understanding of ethical standards in fundraising practices to maintain transparency and accountability
• Experience
  • Broad experience of establishing and developing relationships with high net worth individuals
  • Prior experience fundraising within an early-stage charity or voluntary organisation
• Technical Skills
  • Research, screening and profile development of HNWIs
  • Developing bespoke, individual fundraising strategies, approaches and materials
  • Establishing clear metrics and KPIs to measure the success of fundraising activities

Beneficial to have:

• Knowledge
  • Understanding of the challenges and support required by those from a lower socio-economic group
  • Understanding of the challenges and support required by those with a disability

• Experience
  • Professional or voluntary experience working in grassroots football, or grassroots sports more broadly
  • Experience in self-management whilst undertaking fundraising activities
• Technical Skills
  • Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint proficiency
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills

Interview process:

Applications for this position close at 11:59pm on Sunday the 8th of June. the interview dates for the role are as follows:

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a video interview on Wednesday 11th June, with a completion date of Tuesday 17th June.
• Final in-person Interviews will be held on Friday 4th July

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work. 

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.