Donor Engagement Manager

Reporting directly to the CEO, the role involves being across these areas: 

• Regular Givers – growing our regular giving program and maintaining excellent communications via email and post with our existing regular givers. Marketing the FCA brand to new regular donor base.
• Grant applications – looking for eligible grants and then writing a ton of applications
• One-off funding appeals to our email database – thinking about which campaigns and projects we do would be appealing to our supporters, then enlisting their financial help.
• Support to the CEO in establishing and nurturing major donor relationships – helping to identify and connect with people who have the potential to significantly contribute to our work. You will assist in organising at least 2 major donor events each year, one in Sydney & one in Melbourne. 
• Using our NationBuilder pipeline to maintain regular communication and ensure the delivery of timely and effective reporting with our existing donors. 
• Assisting to build corporate partnerships and grow corporate donations – exploring opportunities for agricultural companies (e.g. wineries, large farm businesses) to support FCA’s work financially or in-kind. 
• Merchandise Sales – overseeing the creation and sale of a limited number of FCA merchandise items, like our annual calendar, our bumper stickers, and t-shirts. 
• Administration – ensuring our fundraising licences remain valid in each state and territory, helping our Deputy Director follow up Federal Government to secure deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, report to ACNC and other tasks related to our legal ability to fundraise. 
• Engaging with the management team to discuss, identify and support efforts to secure new, emerging fundraising opportunities and diversify revenue streams.
• Other marketing and comms support including managing digital assets as required. 

Key skills

Strategy and Analysis:

• You are a strategic thinker and will be able to design, implement and evaluate our regular giving program and other fundraising initiatives to align with the FCA strategic goals and support our key messages, campaigns and culture.

Relationship building:

• You’re a ‘people person’ (and probably an extrovert) with experience being in a role where you’ve had to build and manage a lot of deep relationships with people. This includes face-to-face, over the phone and email. 

Top-notch written communicator:

• You love writing and you’re good at it. From grant applications to donor updates and major donor reports you use clear, compelling language that evokes just how awesome the work we’re doing is – and how great the need is for us to ramp it up! 
• You’re comfortable in the digital space and ideally have some experience with managing content of websites and social media as well as using Facebook and other media to expand donor bases. You understand engagement strategies and how to maximise brand and message.

Persuasiveness: 

• You’re experienced and comfortable asking people to do big things. You don’t take it personally if someone says no. A general rule of fundraising is that 1/3rd of the people you ask will say yes, and this means you have to be OK dealing with the fact that 2/3rds will say no. 

Organised and efficient:

• You’re a no-stuffing-around, get-things-done kind of person. When you say you’ll do something by a certain date, you get it done – even if it means overcoming obstacles. You have no problem with the day to day functions of driving programs.  
• You’re organised and methodical, a real details person who has had experience in a role where there are lots of moving parts to keep track of, like organising stalls or events with volunteers and generally getting your hands dirty.

You also need:

• The ability to travel at least 2 days/ 1 night per month

Bonus points if you:

• Have fundraising and/or marketing experience.
• Have experience in managing regular giving programs.
• Have some experience with or connection to agriculture (e.g. grew up on a farm, have worked in the sector or have worked with farmers).
• Know how to use NationBuilder (our constituent relationship management software)
• Come with existing relationships with philanthropists or organisations that you’re willing to draw on to help grow Farmers for Climate Action.

Work arrangements

This is a full time position based in Canberra. The initial contract period is 1 year with high likelihood of extension.

Farmers for Climate Action is committed to offering staff development opportunities and  will provide ongoing training opportunities, as appropriate to carrying out the duties of the position. 

Finders fee: 

There is a $500 finders fee available for the person who recommends or recruits the winning candidate.