Fundraising Operations Assistant- Edinburgh, UK

Location: Edinburgh Position Status: Full-time, open terms Salary: Edinburgh: circa 20K Travel: minimal Reporting to: Fundraising Operations Manager

Closing Date: apply with CV and Cover Letter before June 25th

Candidates must have the independant right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organisation powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In conflict, in disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps Europe (MCE) has grown rapidly in terms of volume of activity and complexity. With offices in Edinburgh, London and Geneva, we now attract over £90m in income, and employ around 100 domestic and expatriate field team members. The breadth and impact of our programmes makes Mercy Corps a unique and truly rewarding place to work. Our teams are proud of what we achieve in the field and we are always looking for talented individuals who share our passion and commitment.

The Role

The Fundraising team plays a key role in Mercy Corps, generating income and raising our profile. MCE’s Fundraising team has ambitious goals to increase private fundraising across the UK and continental Europe to support our agency goals around humanitarian aid, development and peacebuilding.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Fundraising Operations Assistant to support the Fundraising Operations team with efficient and effective processing of gifts and accurate recording and updating of supporters’ data and provide excellent supporter care to those who contact Mercy Corps. The role supports the wider Fundraising team to enhance donor stewardship pieces.

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROCESSING

• Maintenance of appropriate records (eg batches, scans)
• Recording of all gifts on the database (Raiser’s Edge)
• Responsible for all daily gift processing (including the handling of cash)
• Ensure Gift Aid declarations are recorded on the database (Raiser’s Edge)
• Manage website donations and all third-party donation sites.
• Maintain process notes for gift processing, acknowledgement and data imports

STEWARDSHIP

• Run and manage the thanking of all gifts, including personal and special thank yous
• First point of contact for the fundraising telephone line, postal donations and letters, and fundraising email communications
• Support fundraising teams with communications to their donor groups, in particular stewardship and local engagement.
• Feed into and assist with the implementation of supporter journeys in conjunction with the wider Fundraising team.

FINANCE AND REPORTING

• Assist with processing of month end gifts
• Assist with the production of financial reports
• Assist the Fundraising Operations Officer and Manager with reporting as needed

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Remain vigilant with Data Protection Regulations, Fundraising Regulator Legislation and GDPR Legislation and ensure teams compliance

The successful candidate will not only have the right experience on paper but also be someone who lives and breathes our culture and values, with a visible passion for the work we do and a desire to tell our story.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Fundraising Operations Manager / Senior Fundraising Manager

Works Directly With: Fundraising Operations Officer, wider fundraising team members

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working with a fundraising or similar CRM or relational database (with substantial volume of records and variety of interactions) for marketing, engagement and/or fundraising to input data, extract reports and conduct analysis. Experience of the Raiser’s Edge would be an advantage but is not essential.
• Experience / exposure to donor care or a customer service role
• Experience in processing gifts
• Knowledge and experience of using MS Excel

Success Factors

• Strong administration and organisation skills, especially the ability to deal with changing priorities, often at short notice and able to work well under pressure
• Confident communicator to provide a positive experience for volunteers, donors and partners
• Highly focused team player
• Skilled in anticipating and solving problems and communicating issues, involving others as needed.
• An exposure to and interest in international development issues is important, along with empathy for MC’s mission.

The position is based in Edinburgh, with the post holder expected to be in the office at least one day a week and this may increase as COVID restrictions ease. There may require some very occasional travel.

MCE team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all Mercy Corps locations.

Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer regardless of background. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK at the time of appointment.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.

Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees

Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.

This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.