About Media Trust
At Media Trust we believe in the power of media to change lives. We work with the media industry to empower charities and communities to have a voice and be heard.

This is achieved by:

• providing communications skills and resources through expert-led training courses and events, free professional support, film production, free online guides and resources;
• helping access audiences through Community Channel on TV and online, national news distribution and media partnerships;
• harnessing creative industry talent through media volunteers and media partnerships.

Our corporate members include Aegis Group plc, BBC, Channel 4, Daily Mail and General Trust, Discovery Networks Europe, Elmwood, Google, Guardian Media Group, IPC Media, ITV plc, MTV Networks UK and Ireland, News International, OMD, Sky, WPP.

Role Purpose

Media Trust is the UK’s leading communications charity. We work with the media industry to empower charities and communities to have a voice and be heard. They, in turn, provide invaluable support to millions of individuals and communities.

We are at a very exciting turning point in our history, where we are aiming to make a step change in maximizing both philanthropic income and volunteering so that we can offer more services to more people. We have recently invested in fundraising to meet our ambitious targets for the period of 2012-2015. So, our Fundraising Team is relatively small and new. It currently includes a Fundraising Director, a Trusts & Statutory Manager, a Corporate Fundraising Manager and a Fundraising Assistant. We are now looking to create new fundraising pathways that generate unrestricted income for the charity, and amongst them, we are looking to get a closer insight into the feasibility of a Legacy and In Memoriam Fundraising Programme. In this pursuit, we would like to recruit a professional volunteer to undertake benchmarking and feasibility studies that could inform our decision making in developing a Legacy & In-Memoriam Fundraising Strategy and business plan.

Line Management: Fundraising Director

Accountability:  Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team
 
Responsibilities

• Undertake a benchmarking exercise about Legacy and In-Memoriam Fundraising
• Undertake a feasibility study for Media Trust to inform benefits and risks involved in a Legacy and In-Memoriam Fundraising programme in the short, medium and long terms
• If recommended by the results of feasibility study, progress to develop a detailed Legacy and In Memoriam Fundraising Strategy and business plan. The strategy will need to include concrete recommendations about:
  • What is needed to create and maintain a successful Legacy and In Memoriam Fundraising function
  • Best platforms for marketing and promoting legacy gifts
  • Best ways to identify and target prospects online and offline
  • How best to communicate with prospects and work with them
  • How to identify solicitors, executors and other agents that we need to work with to maximize the success of the programme
  • All necessary steps to avoid Inheritance and/or Capital Gains Tax liability where appropriate
  • How to set realistic legacy and In-Memoriam targets and achieve them i.e. number of legacy pledges needed per annum, the average size, and how to secure them
  • Cost and income projection in short term (1-3 years), medium term (3-5 years) and long term (5-7 years)

Person Specification

Candidates will need to demonstrate

• Legacy fundraising expertise and a sound understanding of law as it relates to charity legacy administration
• A minimum of 3 years experience in a relevant professional capacity (e.g. a legal practice, legacy administration department of a charity or the probate department of a bank).
• Sound knowledge and experience of the law relating to Wills, Probate and Trusts and associated tax laws.
• Good IT skills including Word, Excel and Databases.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to convey information succinctly in correct English. 
• Excellent attention to detail including analytical skills

To apply for this role, please e-mail your CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to role@mediatrust.org by Friday 30 March 2012 at 5 p.m.

Media Trust values diversity and is an equal opportunities employer.
Registered charity no. 1042733