“FFR’s support took off a massive amount of time that I would’ve spent looking through applications.”
Simon on the Streets is a Leeds-based charitable organisation dedicated to supporting individuals facing homelessness.
As a community-focused charity, they rely heavily on fundraising to finance outreach and support initiatives, helping those who need it most.
Recently, they sought to hire a Community Fundraiser; a role vital to enabling the charity to expand its outreach team and ultimately impact more lives.
The Recruitment Challenge
Before engaging Flat Fee Recruiter (FFR), Simon on the Streets faced significant challenges in recruiting for the Community Fundraiser role.
Despite promoting the position on social media, Indeed, and their website, they received few relevant applications, and a couple of candidates didn’t work out, one previous hire had only lasted four weeks before proving to be a poor fit.
Beyond their limited time for recruitment, the charity also faced a broader sector trend: there has been a marked decline in the number of people seeking fundraising roles in charities, leaving many similar vacancies unfilled.
This trend posed an additional obstacle, making the role harder to fill and underscoring the importance of a fresh approach to attract candidates.
The Flat Fee Recruiter Solution – Ultimate
FFR proposed their comprehensive ‘Ultimate’ campaign package, a full-service recruitment solution designed to provide extensive reach and thorough candidate screening.
This package included premium advertising across major job boards and specialised platforms like Diversifying.io, a job board that connects inclusive audiences with opportunities. Along with work from FFR’s in-house recruiter who works to screen candidates and conduct first interviews over zoom.
The campaign also featured a sponsored social media campaign across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, with paid advertisements targeted at candidates meeting Simon on the Streets’ criteria.
This partnership was built on a foundation of trust. FFR CEO Lis and Simon on the Streets CEO Natalie.
Working with Flat Fee Recruiter
FFR worked closely with Simon on the Streets throughout the recruitment process, checking in regularly with Andy (Fundraising Manager) to ensure the campaign was effective.
FFR’s team also suggested an extra they provide – creating a promotional video for the role to boost visibility.
Hope from FFR visited the Simon on the Streets office to film Andy discussing the charity’s mission, the role, and the team’s culture.
The video was then promoted across social media channels, bringing the role to life and making it much more appealing to potential candidates.
Andy was thrilled with the video, saying,
“It showed the camaraderie and the close-knit team we have, and it truly captured the spirit of our work.”
The video led to even more applications, bringing in additional qualified candidates.
FFR’s team also assisted with screening and shortlisting, saving Andy considerable time and reducing his stress.
Andy noted,“FFR’s support took off a massive amount of time that I would’ve spent looking through applications,”allowing him to focus on his work while knowing recruitment was in capable hands.
The Benefits and Outcome for Simon on the Streets
The campaign’s results were a huge success for Simon on the Streets.
FFR’s recruitment team helped the charity interview four strong candidates, ultimately hiring a qualified fundraiser, Lauren, who joined in December.
Lauren mentioned that the promotional video played a key role in her decision to apply, noting that it showed Simon on the Streets as both a fun place to work and a meaningful role to undertake.
Having a dedicated fundraiser is essential for the charity’s mission, as it allows Simon on the Streets to expand its funding base.
Andy explained,
“This hire will enable us to reach more people experiencing homelessness. With additional funds raised, we’ll be able to hire more outreach workers and provide even greater support.”
