The job advertisement for a fundraiser should be written in a standard way and by including information about your organisation, the ideal profile of the candidate, what is expected from the fundraiser and the salary. The recruiting process should be done in consultation with the other members of the NGO staff. You should have already decided on the main characteristics of the candidate together and in a plenary assembly. If your NGO is small, then everybody should be part of the process, as the new team member will be working with all of you. If the organisation is bigger and with different teams working independently, then you should make sure that the opinions of those who will directly work with the fundraiser are taken into account.
As a way of example, the ad could read as the following-
Job Title Fundraiser
Start with information about your organisation (short history, main programmes, main goals and long term objectives. Limit this to one single paragraph).
Person Specification (ideally two paragraphs)
We are looking for a fundraiser to join out team. The ideal candidate is a good communicator, someone who is ready to accept the challenge to raise awareness about (what the NGO does), elicit interest in the NGO’s activities and create opportunities for the NGO to increase its overall performance and impact in the community. The ideal candidate will be able to build and maintain good relationships with donors and to begin productive collaborations with other members of the civil society. Remember that collaboration is absolutely essential for grant winning. As such the ideal candidate will count on excellent social and interpersonal skills. Further, the ideal candidate will be positive, optimistic and enthusiastic. He/she will be eager to learn more about fundraising and to experiment new fundraising strategies also in collaboration with other team members.
Key Responsibilities (be honest!) Ideally a list of maximum 10 tasks.
The selected candidate will work in a vibrant and young environment. He/she will have the opportunity to contribute to the activities of the NGO and to participate in the improvement of (you should be as specific as you could in relation to what the organisation does). Among main tasks there will be to-
- Compile and maintain a database of local and international donors
- Compile thorough research for the organisation
- Consistently monitor donors’ websites and new calls for proposals
- Inform the other team members about suitable calls for proposals in relation to ongoing activities of the organisation and its set goals
- Maintain a database of successfully funded projects in the region and derive a list of potential partners that could be contacted for future collaborations (if opportunity arises)
- Build new working relationships with donors and other NGOs by attending relevant conferences and workshops
- Write concept notes and full project proposals
- Present innovative ideas to the rest of the team and answer to their questions
- Participate in meetings and plenary sessions to discuss matters of interest for the organisation as a whole
- Participate and support all the activities organised and promoted by the organisation
Previous experience (one paragraph)
We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual. Applications from candidates with no experience in fundraising will be considered although the candidate should clearly explain how previous job experience or personal interest contributed to developing skills that fulfil the requirements for this job.
Salary
Look at the market rates by scanning job adverts for similar positions. Consider other salaries paid in your organisation. If you are looking for a new member of staff for a young or small NGO, you might not be able to offer a competitive salary. This does not mean that you will not find an excellent fundraiser. You will have to write passionately about your organisation and explain to potential applicants that the salary will increase as soon as the organisation will be granted with more funding. As such you will also make the potential candidates aware of their roles in developing the organisation, which will be awarded with an increase in their salary. You will need to agree with the selected candidate on the modalities of this pay rise while discussing and signing the contract.
Reporting Structure The selected candidate will report to the NGO’s board of directors (or whoever will be in charge of supervising the activities of the fundraiser)
Hours of Works Number of hours per week.
How to apply for the job There are two main options
- Updated CV and cover letter. The CV will give you the possibility to assess previous achievements of the candidate and also to let the candidates write freely about themselves to convince you that they are the best option. Consider that the fundraiser will be in charge of writing letters, applications, reports and to submit enquiries to potential donors. Their writing skills should be impeccable. This is why by asking them to write a cover letter you will be able to assess their skills and style. To read through many letters and CV is time consuming. You should opt for an Application Form if you expect many applications.
- Application Form. This is a useful tool when you expect a huge pool of applicants. The Application Form will enable you to compare many applications and to spot the best candidates to invite for an interview in a shorter period of time.
Where to advertise the job vacancy
Advertising on your website in a cost effective solution (you should also advertise the position on all the other pages you administer on social media). You can also consider advertising the position in local newspapers, online platforms dedicated to job seekers or even to involve local recruitment agencies. The final choice depends on the budget you have at your disposal. As said, to advertise the vacancy on your website will not cost you money. To publish the ad in local newspapers and jobseekers portal will have different costs based on where you live and the local market. To involve recruitment agencies is certainly more expensive but it saves you time and energies.
Another important aspect to consider is that by advertising the job in existing platforms, you will attract people on market (those without a job and looking for one). Instead you should also reach out for those who are in the market (those currently employed in the NGO sector) because they have great experience and they could be the best candidates. As such, you should circulate the advert through your existing networks. For instance, you could post it on other organisation’s social media profiles or websites.
