Community Fundraising Officer

Job Title: Community Fundraising Officer – Full or Part time

Company: Self Help Africa

Department: Fundraising

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours of Work: 30 – 37.5 hours per week

Wage: £27,000-£33,000 per annum pro rata

Benefits: 7% Pension contribution, permanent health insurance, life assurance

Location: Midlands/Wales, Hybrid working, based from the Shrewsbury office 2 days a week.

Reports to: Head of Fundraising UK

Purpose

Identify opportunities to maximise fundraising activity and income. Significantly raise regional profile to grow core income and supporter/donor involvement. Deliver high levels of stewardship to a variety of volunteers, supporters, and community events.

Organisation Review:

About Self Help Africa & United Purpose

In late 2021 Self Help Africa (SHA) and United Purpose (UP) merged. The two organisations – one headquartered in Ireland and the other in Wales – implement projects to end extreme hunger and poverty.

This merger doubled our size and reach – and means that in 2022 we are implementing poverty eradication projects in 17 countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Collectively, we are also part of a group that includes social enterprise subsidiaries Partner Africa, TruTrade and Cumo Microfinance.

In 2022 our work will reach more than six million people and invest upwards of €45m in more than 100 development programmes designed to improve food systems, facilitate access to markets and financial services, combat climate change, gender inequality, and improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

This is an exciting time to join us as we unite two like-minded and entrepreneurial organisations seeking to tackle the global challenges in progressive and innovative ways.

Key Responsibilities:

Community Fundraising

• Devise, implement and evaluate a region-wide Community Fundraising plan, and associated budgets, as part of the overall fundraising strategy, in conjunction with the Head of Fundraising.
• Research new prospects, and maintain existing relationships with: – community groups, churches, schools, universities, and corporates, to inspire and support them to raise funds – including the delivery of talks.
• Be the first point of contact for the supporter-led events. Liaise with the Communications department to manage external requests for publicity for fundraising events and activities, undertaken on behalf of Self Help Africa.
• Co-ordinate the recruitment and appropriate use of volunteers to support fundraising and keep them informed on the charity’s developments and activities, help develop their own plans and encourage members to act as ambassadors.
• Support the formation of volunteer fundraising groups, with the aim of maximise the funds they raise
• Manage public collections and community events and festivals.
• Manage the Church fundraising appeal – producing and distributing a Direct Mail resource, and related online content for Harvest services.
• Co-ordinate and implement a Schools and Universities fundraising strategy for the UK. Produce marketing materials and update website with relevant information.
• To devise and implement Community campaigns developing appropriate marketing techniques to maximise participation and income.
• Take the lead in developing UK challenge events with recruitment, marketing, fundraising and all the communications.
• Assist in promoting and administering international challenge events.
• Support new fundraising income opportunities and target new income prospects/revenue alongside the Campaigns Manager
• Provide support for the annual programme of fundraising events – including marketing, administration, and event delivery.
• Contribute to the annual Fundraising operational plan and associated budgets.

Fundraising Administration

• Respond to enquiries from supporters, prospective supporters and volunteers via telephone, e-mail and post, maintaining excellent supporter relations.
• Create and maintain accurate records of supporters, contacts and income using the Salesforce database.
• Support with monitoring stocks, and liaise with suppliers, for fundraising materials and merchandise, including Christmas Cards.
• Support the office with being a point of contacts for the Fundraising department, answering the phone and meeting and greeting people who arrive to the office
• When required to, assist with donation processing, and ensure timely and appropriate acknowledgments, using both standard and bespoke correspondence.
• To adhere to administrative procedures to ensure the delivery of a high-quality service which is compliant with all relevant legislation, policies, regulations, and guidelines.

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Head of Fundraising (line-manager)
• Fundraising Campaigns Manager
• Database and Supporter Care Officer
• Fundraising and Communications Officer
• Fundraising and Communications Team in Ireland
• Volunteers

External

• Self Help Africa supporters and donors

Qualifications/Other Requirements

Essential

• Full UK driving licence.
• Relevant qualifications from a Further Education institution.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a business development or a customer-facing role.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude; flexible and adaptable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (English).
• Excellent planning, administrative, organisational and time management skills to deliver and cope with a busy workload.
• High-level of computer literacy, specifically Microsoft Office
• Strong keyboard and numeracy skills, with a high-level of accuracy.
• Commitment to Self Help Africa’s vision of an economically thriving and resilient rural Africa.

Desirable

• Office/administration experience in a busy environment, preferably in fundraising or marketing.
• Working knowledge of marketing/relationship CRM databases, such as Salesforce.
• Educated to degree level.
• First Aid Certificate