Fundraising Operations Assistant- Edinburgh, UK

Location: Edinburgh, UK – flexible work environment

Office presence: Expected to be in the office at least twice a week and with more regular visits required as and when supporter communications are posted out. There may be requirements for occasional travel.

Position Status: Full time, permanent

Salary: The starting salary range for this position is 27,280 GBP commensurate on professional experience

Closing date: Please submit application and cover letter by July 28th

Current unrestricted work authorization in the UK is required at the time of application for this position.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse, and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Team

The Fundraising Development Team drives and supports Mercy Corps’ strategies for restricted funding, unrestricted funds and brand profile raising. Our Fundraising Operations (FundOps) Team is the “Engine” of the Fundraising Development Team, managing internal processes and procedures to ensure the smooth running of our fundraising activities. The FundOps team does not fundraise directly, rather we process income from donors and work with Finance and reconcile our voluntary income on a daily and monthly basis.

The Position

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

Essential Job Responsibilities

PROCESSING

• Responsible for all daily gift processing (including the handling of cash)
• Maintenance of digital records (including scans of gifts and donation forms)
• Processing website donations and all third-party donation platforms
• Recording of all gifts on the database (The Raiser’s Edge)
• Maintaining Gift Aid declaration filing and records on the database (The Raiser’s Edge)
• Recording email subscribers’ status and email communications on the database (The Raiser’s Edge, ActionKit and Care2)
• Contributing to and implementing the development of standard processes and procedures for gifts, acknowledgements and data imports

STEWARDSHIP

• Be the first point of contact for the fundraising telephone line, postal donations and supporter letters, and fundraising email communications
• Thanking donors for all gifts, including personal and special thanks
• Supporting the fundraising development team with communications to their donor groups, in particular stewardship and local engagement.
• Contributing to and implementing the development of supporter journeys in conjunction with the wider Fundraising Development team.

FINANCE AND REPORTING

• Assisting with processing for month-end financial reconciliation
• Assisting with the production of financial reports
• Assisting the Fundraising Operations Officers, Manager and Director with reporting

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Remain vigilant with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice to ensure team’s 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 Europe

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

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our programme 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

• Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of administrative/coordination support 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, Word and Outlook

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 with excellent attention to detail
• 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 Mercy Corp’s mission.

The position is based in Edinburgh, with the post holder expected to be in the office at least twice a week and with more regular visits required as and when supporter communications are posted out. There may be requirements for some very occasional travel.

Mercy Corps 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 Mercy Corp’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 organisation 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. By applying for this role an applicant confirms that they have not previously violated an employer’s sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding or trafficking policy. 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 e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential 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.