Fundraising & Philanthropy Officer

Job title: Fundraising & Philanthropy Officer
Reports to: Fundraising & Training Manager
Working hours: Part Time, flexible, 30h/week. Mondays team meetings from 10am to 2pm are fixed. Occasional evening and weekend work at SAA-uk events when required.
Location: Leeds (SAA-uk office in Mabgate Mills) with some work in event venues, and hybrid working options
Salary (proposed): £27,000 - £30,000 p.a. pro rata, dependent on experience

We're looking for a Fundraising & Philanthropy Officer to join our friendly and ambitious Fundraising team! South Asian Arts uk is a registered charity founded and based in Leeds dedicated to championing and preserving South Asian performing arts in the UK. Since 1997 we have been teaching South Asian music and dance to children and adults, providing progression routes for underrepresented artists to pursue successful careers, and opening doors for young people beginning their journey in the arts sector. 

We are now seeking an organised, reliable and relationship-focused Fundraising & Philanthropy Officer to help us sustain our reporting to trusts & foundations, grant giving organisations, and maintaining relationships with our individual donors. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys translating data into compelling narratives and developing genuine relationships with donors and supporters of the organisation. 

The Role 
As a Fundraising & Philanthropy Officer, you will support regular reporting to funders and delivery of high-quality stewardship of donors, including administrative and communications support across the donor lifecycle.  

The role includes coordinating key aspects of grant reporting, donor engagement, and database management. It combines elements of data gathering, relationship management, administration support and storytelling, to help sustain donor support and meet strategic fundraising objectives. 

Key Tasks 

Funders Reporting

• Work closely with the team to gather evidence, budgets, and impact data to deliver accurate and timely reporting to funders that clearly demonstrates impact and the difference SAA-uk makes. 
• Translate complex programmes into engaging case studies to support high-quality funding applications and persuasive cases for donor support. 
• Manage multiple reporting deadlines simultaneously, maintaining strong attention to detail. 

Donor stewardship and new donor/patron support  

• Lead on the implementation of the stewardship plan for donors and patrons.  
• Maintain regular communication with donors, ensuring timely responses and quality interactions.  
• Act as the first point of contact for potential new donors and offer basic philanthropy advice.  

Administration and database management  

• Maintain accurate records of funder relationships, applications and reports using SAA-uk's OneDrive and Salesforce CRM systems. 
• Ensure all correspondence, philanthropic activity and reporting deadlines are appropriately recorded. 
• Develop a donor database identifying potential patron of the organisation. 
• Support donor data entry and our CRM system housekeeping to ensure accuracy and efficiency.  
• Manage and ensure digital records in line with data protection guidelines.  
• Support the creation and circulation of briefing notes and stewardship materials for Trustees and team members. 

  Internal coordination and reporting  

• Support the Fundraising & Training Manager and CEO/AD to identify and pursue funding opportunities where appropriate. 
• Liaise with colleagues across the team to coordinate the delivery of donor-facing updates, including financial statements, impact reports, and event invitations.  
• Prepare quarterly reports and summaries for the Fundraising & Training Manager. 
• Provide general administrative support as needed.  

Storytelling and communication  

• Work closely with the Fundraising & Training Manager and Arts Marketing & Creative Communities Manager to support the delivery of high-quality donor communications and fundraising campaigns. 
• Gather and contribute case studies and success stories to support donor communications.  
• Help tailor donor communications with messaging aligned to our Mission and Core values. 
• Support the design and delivery of donor & patrons updates, thank you messages, and personalised communications. 

General duties  

• Attend Department and Team meetings on Mondays (10am - 2pm). 
• The role is based in Leeds with flexibility for hybrid working. 
• Flexibility to attend SAA-uk live events (often evenings and weekends) outside of core working hours as will be occasionally required. 
• Representing SAA-uk at internal and external events including occasional public speaking may be required. 

Person Specification:

Fundraising & Administration

Essential

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines.
• A confident relationship builder with excellent communication and networking skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• The ability to work collaboratively to identify, analyse and solve problems.
• Demonstrable initiative and self-motivation when working independently.
• A strong commitment to the Mission and Core Values of SAA-uk.
• Experience producing compelling proposals, reports and presentations.
• A creative approach to developing engaging fundraising communications and social media content.

Desirable

• Familiarity with fundraising or donor stewardship within the charity or arts sector, through either direct or transferable experience.
• Experience in administration, customer service, donor support or using Salesforce CRM.

Essential

• A professional, friendly and values-driven approach to work.
• Commitment to delivering excellent customer service.
• Willingness to learn and contribute as part of a collaborative team.
• Commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and the needs of the team and the communities we support.

Desirable

• Knowledge or experience of South Asian traditional art forms, languages and cultural nuances.
• An understanding of Leeds' cultural and creative sector.

How to Apply 
To apply, please email your CV and a covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4), explaining why you're interested in the role, and what skills and experience you'd bring, to our Fundraising & Training Manager Barbara (barbara@saa-uk.org) by Monday 7th September, midday. 

If you have any questions or you'd like to have an informal chat about the role, please email info@saa-uk.org and we'll arrange for you to speak with one of our team members. 

​​​​​​​Interviews will take place at the SAA-uk office in Mabgate Mills on Thursday 17th September. Please let us know if you have any additional support needs that may require an adjustment if you're shortlisted for interview.