Applications are now open for places on the Arts Council England funded mentoring scheme, organised by the Young Arts Fundraisers, the Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network, to provide support for arts and cultural fundraisers
The 2019-20 mentoring programme is part of the Institute of Fundraising’s RAISE: Arts, Culture & Heritage programme and applicants from across England are encouraged to apply for either mentor or mentee roles.
They say the year-long mentoring scheme ‘matches early career fundraisers with senior or director level development professionals from a wide range of organisations in the arts and cultural sector across England’. The programme was founded to support long-term financial resilience and sustainability in arts and cultural sector by equipping early-career and more seasoned arts and cultural fundraisers with appropriate skills and much-needed support networks in all regions of England.
Professional development
“Encouraging professional development and the sharing of fundraising is hugely important to the future of our workforce and our organisations,” said Martin Kaufman, Chair of the Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network. “Our mentoring scheme has had a really positive impact on the cultural sector, and I’m delighted that Arts Council England’s support has made it possible to return this programme for a third year. I strongly encourage those in the cultural sector, across all arts and heritage organisations, to apply for a role in the mentoring scheme.”
The mentoring scheme returns after a successful two-year pilot run with funding for the next four years by the Arts Council and actively welcomes applications from ‘a broad range of backgrounds and is committed to increasing diversity throughout the sector’.
“Young Arts Fundraisers was founded to create an inclusive community providing training opportunities which early career fundraisers or their organisations couldn’t afford,” said Leah Swain, Director, Mentoring and Professional Development, at Young Arts Fundraisers, a professional network for early-career fundraisers in the cultural sector. “The arts funding landscape in England means the next generation of fundraisers will need increased resilience, agility and commitment to deliver financial sustainability for arts, culture and heritage organisations. Arts Council England’s support for our mentoring scheme takes us one step forward.”
The Selection Process
Mentors and mentees will be shortlisted and matched by a panel including representatives from the Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network, Young Arts Fundraisers and the RAISE programme.
Selected mentors and mentees commit to meeting at least six times over the course of 12 months and receive ongoing support from Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network, Young Arts Fundraisers and RAISE.
The organisers welcome mentee applications from fundraisers in the first five years of their careers and/or up to manager level and mentor applications from senior development professionals with management experience working in arts and heritage or the wider fundraising sector.
Applications are encouraged from senior fundraisers with management experience working from across England.
The Institute of Fundraising Cultural Sector Network and Young Arts Fundraisers actively welcome applications from a broad range of backgrounds and are committed to increasing diversity throughout the sector. Applications from individuals that self-identify as black, Asian or other minority ethnicity, and individuals working in small organisations will be prioritised.