The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) seeks an experienced and dynamic Director of Fundraising to lead fundraising
efforts for the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne project, an ambitious conservation and adaptation initiative
at Ellisland Museum and Farm. The post is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to the players
of the National Lottery. This exciting role involves launching and directing a major fundraising campaign to
secure backing required for the £7.4m project, which will restore and transform the historic site into a vibrant
centre for heritage, learning, and artistic inspiration.
Introduction/Background
The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust (RBET) safeguards the 1788 farm designed and built by Robert Burns on the banks of
the River Nith near Dumfries. This A-listed site is the best-preserved of all the poet’s homes and the place
where he wrote a quarter of his musical output, including Auld Lang Syne.
The farmstead sits on 140 acres of woodland and fields first enclosed by Burns himself. Managed by a volunteer-led
SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) since 2020, Ellisland is both a museum and a public space,
with seasonal opening hours, events, and group visits. Volunteers maintain the grounds year-round, providing
free public access to the riverside paths and walks.
RBET’s mission is:
“Ellisland is the place to fall in love with Burns. We will increase awareness of Ellisland as central to the
artistic development of Robert Burns in poetry and romantic song. We will enhance understanding of the site as
the best place to see the natural world through the poet’s eyes. We will create a world-class visitor experience
and a vibrant centre for creative learning to ensure the unique collection, buildings, and landscape are
accessible to a diverse range of modern audiences.”
Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne
In September 2024, we secured a development stage grant of up to £489,206 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for
Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne. The development stage of the project is costed at £945,000, with an estimated
total project cost of £7.4m.
The project will restore the 1788 cottage, create an immersive visitor experience, adapt the barn into a Centre for
Song, and develop a new museum gallery to safeguard and display Burns’s collection. It will also include outdoor
enhancements, skills training, volunteering, and a robust programme of events and residencies, ensuring the
site’s long-term sustainability and community engagement.
The Director of Fundraising will be integral to achieving the funding goals necessary to bring this vision to
life.
The Brief
The Director of Fundraising will lead a global fundraising campaign for the Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne
project. This individual will work closely with the Project Director, Technical Project Manager, Trustees, and
external consultants to deliver funding targets for the capital project and associated revenue funding needs.
The fund-raising campaign will be monitored by Trustees who will also support engagement work and identification
of donors. The is a fundraising sub-committee which will monitor progress. The project includes a budget to
support our membership recruitment and retention with a CRM system. It is essential that the individual has
experience of working with projects supported by the Heritage Fund.
The position can be fulfilled either through a freelance contract or a staff position.
The position will cover the Development Phase of the project, leading up to a Delivery Stage Application to the
National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Trusts reserves the right to continue the contract into the the delivery
stage of the project, which is expected to last until 2028. The Trust also reserves the right to end or suspend
the contract at the end of the development stage.
Any Freelance contractor will require to have appropriate Professional Indemnity insurance, Employer’s Liability
Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. This should be highlighted in the advert.
A full Project Brief is available for download below.