Fundraiser: Campaigns

Main Job Objectives

Responsible for the generation of financial support in the forms of bursaries and scholarships through the design and introduction of fundraising plans and programmes, including raising endowment funding for current and future student financial aid programmes. Manage, monitor and evaluate, and coordinate all students’ financial aid programmes in accordance with financial assistance policies.

Key Responsibility Areas

Increase Bursary and Scholarship Support from current and potential donors

• Identifying and maintaining a donor prospect list
• Identify opportunities to leverage off previous contributions
• Regular stewardship visits to existing donors cultivation of prospective donors to improve relations and increase student financial aid support
• Implement and use fundraising processes in accordance with best practice in related fields
• Develop and implement new fundraising initiatives for increased donor support and retention
• With the Development & Fundraising Managers support, develop and implement the ISIVIVANE FUND, the institution’s flagship project for student financial aid

Diversify and expand the bursary and scholarship funding base

• Networking with peers and current funding partners to gain access into untapped funding resources
• Explore and secure multi-year funding partnerships
• Conduct prospect research to be able to respond to calls for application for student support
• Submit appeals to current and potential donors and regularly follow up on appeals submitted
• Monitor and evaluate progress of appeals
• Submit narrative and financial reports when required
• Explore alternative streams of income like SETA’s to increase bursary and scholarship income
• Liaising with Students and the BeitTrust and John Conradie Trust Donors with regard to the funding of bursaries

Develop a Bursary Operational Management System

• Plan and coordinate a fundraising and engagement framework with the institution’s postgraduate and undergraduate financial aid officers
• Participate in the process of awarding bursaries based on Faculty selections, as per the award criteria
• Represent Development and Alumni at donor functions and on bursary selection committees

Effective Communication

• Communicate with Faculties and HOD’s about bursary and scholarship fundraising available to their students
• Develop an effective communication and management system with beneficiaries to monitor and evaluate the support needed by them
• Liaise closely with Finance to streamline fundraising activities

Education and Experience

• Relevant and recognised Bachelor’s degree, preferable in marketing/public relations/communication and at least 4 years relevant experience where such experience includes: -
• Fundraising and managing donor relations experience, fundraising within the higher education sector will be an advantage
• Previous administrative and organisational experience
• Previous project management experience
• Experience working with database management system, for example Devman
• Previous administrative experience within a computerised environment

Professional Competencies

• The ability to identify donors/funders and develop and cultivate long-term and sustainable relationships
• The ability to solicit funder/donors and raise money
• Ability to develop close relationships with funding agencies and or their representatives
• Project management competencies where such skills involve the coordination of multi-faceted projects
• Skills enabling incumbent to extract, sift and write up information through comprehensive research of various databases and publications as well as internal files and systems
• Computer software application skills

Administrative Skills

• Strong administrative skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise, meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Sound computer literacy, particularly in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, the internet and email

People and Communication Skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills – polite, able to interact with a wide variety of people from different occupations and backgrounds who at times, can be difficult and unfriendly
• Ability to persuade and influence others
• An excellent ability to read, write and speak English
• The ability to communicate in other official languages will be an advantage
• Ability to work in a team-orientated environment
• Assertive in interactions with others, able to manage conflict
• High level of self-awareness, and is committed to personal development
• The ability to introduce new ways of thinking and work with individuals to change their current way of thinking and functioning
• Understanding of organisational culture
• High level of persuasiveness, diplomacy and influencing skills

Work Behaviours

• Persistence and patience in following up requests and in accessing the relevant information
• Able to problem solve and take initiative when necessary
• Able to prioritise, meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Willingness to work overtime when required; Willingness and capability to work unsupervised and independently
• Openness to learning, change and personal flexibility is essential