Freelance fundrasing & development consultant at Robert Burns Ellisland Trust

Working Hours: Part Time
Contract: Fixed Term
Salary: £20,000 – £30,000
Location: Remote/Hybrid including Dumfriesshire
Closing date: 14/06/2026

About the Role

The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust is seeking to appoint a Freelance Fundraising & Development Consultant to support the next phase of the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne campaign. This post is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ellisland Farm is the home built by Robert Burns in 1788 and the place where he wrote Auld Lang Syne and Tam o’ Shanter. The Trust is delivering a major conservation and reinterpretation project to restore this internationally significant site and establish it as a nationally and internationally important heritage and cultural destination.

The project has successfully completed RIBA Stage 3, secured Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent, and is currently progressing through RIBA Stage 4 technical design work.

The Trust has already secured significant public and charitable investment from organisations including:

• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• South of Scotland Enterprise
• Museums Galleries Scotland
• Dumfries and Galloway Council
• UK Shared Prosperity Fund
• The Holywood Trust
• The Pilgrim Trust

Our campaign has secured national and international attention, due to a successful programme of marketing, engagement opportunities and events, including showcasing the music created at Ellisland with the Burns Family Flute. The campaign is now entering a concentrated period of Delivery Phase preparation and capital fundraising.

Purpose of the Role

The Trust seeks an experienced fundraising professional to provide senior fundraising support during a critical phase of project development.

The role will focus on:

• Trusts and foundations fundraising
• Prospect prioritisation and progression
• Bid writing
• Funding applications
• Fundraising coordination

Key Responsibilities

Funding Applications & Bid Writing

• Prepare high-quality funding applications to trusts, foundations and statutory funders
• Tailor applications and supporting materials to specific funder priorities
• Coordinate supporting information, budgets and technical data required for applications
• Draft donor briefings, proposals and supporting fundraising materials as required

Prospect Progression & Fundraising Coordination

• Progress priority funding prospects already identified by the Trust
• Support donor cultivation and follow-up activity
• Maintain fundraising tracking systems, application schedules and reporting timelines
• Coordinate fundraising input from trustees, consultants and advisers where required

Delivery Support

• Support implementation of the existing fundraising strategy and Case for Support
• Assist preparation for major funding applications linked to the Delivery Phase of the project
• Help ensure fundraising activity remains aligned with project timetable and priorities

Person Specification

The successful candidate is likely to have:

• A strong track record in trusts and foundations fundraising
• Excellent bid writing and communication skills
• Experience of heritage, arts, culture or capital fundraising
• Experience of complex capital campaigns involving mixed public and private funding
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• The ability to prioritise effectively and work to tight timescales
• The ability to work collaboratively within a developing project environment

How to Apply

Please submit your application to admin@ellislandfarm.co.uk by Midnight on 14 June 2026. Mark for the attention of Joan McAlpine, Project Director