Senior Specialist - Fundraising N000425 at North West University

Job description
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Development of Fundraising Plan:

• Support the Senior Manager: Development and Fundraising to develop and implement an integrated approach to the solicitation of funding for the benefit of the NWU.
• Make contributions to the development of strategies to target new donors and increased contributions from existing donors.

Prospect Research:

• Working with the Senior Manager to identify priority fundraising needs and causes at the NWU.
• In line with the priority needs and causes and working with the Prospect Researcher,
• identify and qualify prospective donors;
• conduct research on qualified donors; and
• record relevant prospect information in the database system.
• Engage with current and past donors to uncover new funding opportunities as well as any changes in the donors’ organisation, personnel, and attitudes.
• Continuously scan the market to find fundraising opportunities that are in line with the priority needs and causes.

Development & Fundraising Projects:

• Working with the Senior Manager, take ownership of development and fundraising with respect to assigned donors, needs, and causes.
• For each assigned project or cause:
• Develop and execute an account management plan.
• Identify internal stakeholders such as project leaders that will execute the project for which the funds are raised.
• Meet and communicate with qualified prospects to solicit funding in line with the needs of the NWU.
• In collaboration with the Proposal Writer, compile and submit high quality funding proposals to qualified prospects.
• Ensure that needed documents are produced, and prescribed processes, formalities, and approvals are followed to ensure that donations are received and accounted for.
• Draft and send progress and closing reports to donors in a timely manner.
• Ensure that donors, projects, solicitation actions, and donations received are registered, updated, and maintained in the database system.
• Ensure that donations are promptly acknowledged.
• Ensure that donors are included in stewardship programmes.

Development & Fundraising Cultivation:

Cultivation:

• Arrange and execute meetings with current and prospective donors to increase corporate giving.
• Arrange and execute visits by current and prospective donors to campuses and donor events.
• Suggest and arrange itineraries for executive management regarding national and international fundraising visits and other engagements.
• Participate in developing and delivering an integrated communication strategy to support fundraising initiatives.
• Contribute information to compile reports to management and governance structures of the university.

Internal Stakeholder Engagements:

• Continuously engage with the internal stakeholders (staff and students) to understand their fundraising needs and supply the necessary support and training.
• Participate in the development of advancement templates, procedures, and tools to enhance and empower staff and students to mobilise resources.

Minimum requirements

• An honour's degree (NQF level 8) in Marketing, Public Relations, Business Management or related.
• A minimum of 6 years’ proven experience in fundraising.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in building and maintaining relationships and networks with role-players: academics, funders, industry and government.

RECOMMENDATIONS / ADDED ADVANTAGES:

• Membership with MACE, PRISA and IABC.
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in the higher education sector.