Helen Searl Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

- Supporting the CEO on the strategic development of the organisation, including developing and reviewing the business plan against agreed KPI’s. -Working closely with the Board (including attending meetings and sitting on Finance Committee). - Lead liaison with major funder Arts Council England (Managing fund applications, funding agreement negotiations and reporting requirements), brokering a strong working relationship with key stakeholders within Arts Council England and ensuring Rambert applies for all additional funding it is able to. -Delegated responsibility and authority to deputise for the CEO including representing the company at industry networks, with key stakeholders, or through company leadership in the Chief Executive’s absence. -Responsibility for special projects representing the company to make new connections and galvanise stakeholders to ensure Rambert is able to achieve its’ strategic plans.

London, United Kingdom

- Responsible for all raised and earned income representing a budget of £3.5m per year and team of five. - Creation, planning and implementation of an innovative fundraising strategy worth £750k; the oversight of the company’s status as an Arts Council England NPO and the delivery of earned income from venue hire and commercial events. - A close working relationship with the Trustees and the Development Board sub-committee to create and deliver a robust fundraising strategy and by utilising peer to peer fundraising techniques- A budget holder, financially literate, responsible for setting and reporting P&L budgets as well as fiscal responsibility for Gift Aid and VAT on membership schemes. - A proven ability to attract and secure new funds, with particular experience of accelerating growth in the corporate income area by launching new experiences and commercial events for corporate donors.- Effective relationships built internally and externally with an authentic and passionate belief leading to buy-in from individual donors, sponsors and key Trust contacts.- Led on the launch of new philanthropic areas of support, focusing on moving individual donors from membership schemes to give on a project basis, in addition to membership.- Managed key fundraising applications to Trusts and Foundations and institutional funders such as Innovate UK and the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as ACE and DCMS Covid support. - Overall responsibility for all income generating communications such as proposals, reports, letters, direct mail, appeals and presentations and experience of overseeing all brand communications whilst filling the interim role of Director of Audiences alongside my own from February- June 2020.

Hackney

You Make It offers a creative and inspiring programme for young women living in East London. They are given the tools to transform their lives through personal empowerment and a series of workshops, mentorships and work placements.

London, United Kingdom

- A newly created post as a key member of the Development Board and senior management team tasked with completing a review and audit of previous fundraising practices followed by the writing and implementation of a new Development Strategy to consolidate current raised income, and grow other budgetary lines. - Responsible for all fundraised income for both Opera Holland Park and Opera Holland Park Friends, representing a target of over £500,000 per year.- Redefined the strategic direction for high value individual giving by co-ordinating and developing key relationships with high value individual donors; donations of over five figures identified and secured.- Developed and implemented initiatives to source new income streams from individuals including the launch of an annual appeal, designed to convert some of OHPF’s 2,500 Friends into philanthropic donors.- Led on the diversification of the trust and foundation strategy to secure funding for new projects.- Developed a new events strategy to attract new supporters and deepen engagement with existing supporters to provide additional income streams. - Led the team to streamline office processes, to enable more time to be spent fundraising, and income lines to reconcile on a monthly basis.- Managed a team of four as well as a team of volunteers.

London, United Kingdom

- Responsible for all corporate income with a target of almost £600,000, representing over a third of the overall Development departmental target of £1.75million per annum.- Created engaging and creative partnerships, proposals and giving schemes. - Pitched projects and negotiated sums of up to six figures.- Negotiated and secured contracts for monetary and in-kind relationships.- Managed a portfolio of sponsors and supporters who contribute to a range of projects; from concert sponsorship to bespoke projects or support for the Orchestra’s education programme.- Researched and identified potential corporate prospects and cultivated supporters through a range of methods including organising bespoke recruitment events and leveraging peer to peer support.- Had a strong working relationship with Trustees of the LPO.- Managed all aspects of corporate support including writing multi-year strategies, reviewing all sponsorship accounts on an annual basis and organising progress meetings.- Tasked with additional responsibility of managing Contemporaries, a membership scheme for young professionals in their 20s and 30s, which I subsequently refreshed and re-launched, leading to a 40% increase in new members whilst retaining previous members.- Budgetary responsibility for several income lines including of preparing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports as well as reconciliation at the end of the financial year.

Glasgow, United Kingdom

- Generated new philanthropic relationships from major donors and individuals, from identification, to research, cultivation and making “ask” as well as benefit delivery.- Responsible for leading on researching and preparing applications and reports to charitable Trusts and Foundations and corporates. - Managed a portfolio of major donors as well as devising and organising events to cultivate new individual relationships.- Co-ordinated the annual events plan featuring open rehearsals, 'behind the scenes' events and a variety of exclusive bespoke events for major donors and individual supporters.- Worked closely with colleagues to plan and deliver the company's first Fundraising Dinner which exceeded target, raising over £60,000 and developing a number of new supporters from the 250 guests.- Oversaw a successful and growing Friends scheme, including a re-brand and re-launch. - Planned and implemented Scottish Ballet's most successful annual fundraising appeal which raised £25,000 (50% more than in previous years). - Led on implementing new industry practices, such as online fundraising and fundraising using new media such as text giving.- Responsibility for Gift Aid and Direct Debit payments.- Member of a very small team, and was relied on to deliver targets and contribute to the organisation goal. Actively managed a Development Assistant and oversaw the workload of a Senior Fundraiser.

- Administered the Friends of Scottish Ballet including thanking and banking, renewal letters and upgrades. - Administered all corporate giving schemes including ticket management and financial processes.- Organised and managed events for sponsors and individuals.- Wrote and edited ‘Backstage’ the magazine for the Scottish Ballet’s supporters.- Researched and source new prospects for income including writing proposals to businesses and Trusts.- Administrated the benefits for Scottish Ballet’s successful £11.5million Capital Campaign.

San Francisco Bay Area

- Seven week period at San Francisco Ballet to further develop my skills as a fundraiser.- Attended 2012 Gala as well as more tailored events for donors and corporate supporters, including donor cultivation and follow-up on their annual $1.5m gala.- Undertook evaluation of first time donors to Christensen Society Dancer’s Council ($5,000+ gifts).- Learnt how to use the fundraising database Tessitura and spent time in the Central Administration, HR and Marketing departments. - Met with San Francisco Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet (based in Seattle) to share knowledge and learn more about US funding models.