To help illustrate Conservation Fundraiser roles, here are three job descriptions that represent (real) entry level Fundraiser jobs. Pay particular attention to the selection criteria (specifications) to learn more about what conservation employers are looking for when they hire Fundraisers.

Fundraising Coordinator | Nature-Based Solutions Foundation | Remote, Canada

The Nature-Based Solutions Foundation (NBSF) is a new national organization with a mission of protecting endangered ecosystems across Canada. To this end, we fill key conservation funding gaps that are vital for securing new parks and other protected areas.

The Nature-Based Solutions Foundation is looking for a person with exceptional people skills, specifically related to fundraising and donor engagement, and who has detail-oriented research abilities. Working directly with the National Coordinator, the Fundraising Coordinator will provide the necessary support to quickly advance the organization’s fundraising goals by targeting and securing large-scale donations. We are looking for someone who has exceptional research skills and an aptitude for understanding diverse funders and donors with a special focus on the private sector. The Fundraising Coordinator will be responsible for identifying and monitoring funding sources and participating in the creation of strategic fundraising initiatives. This person will also focus on conducting in-depth research into prospective funders’ values and goals to ensure highly tailored communications. The ideal candidate will also have a passion for nature and must have a demonstrated commitment to and deep understanding of conservation issues.

Skills and experience:

• Exceptional people skills
• Demonstrated successful experience with fundraising for good causes
• Detail-oriented, organized, accurate, flexible, and reliable
• Exceptional research abilities with an eagerness to dive deep to find information
• Excellent written communication skills
• Experience with grant writing and application processes
• Familiarity with the private sector, specifically as it relates to business sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility
• Experience with database management and development (e.g. Constituent Relationship Management CRM systems, Donor Prospecting software, etc.)
• Work and/or volunteer experience with environmental organization(s)
• Bonus: familiarity with carbon offset markets and issues

Responsibilities:

• Apply research to successfully engage funders and secure donations
• Identify new funding opportunities (private funds, grants, etc.)
• Conduct research on donor prospects and other key stakeholders leading to funding opportunities
• Brief team on key research findings
• Monitor and maintain fundraising databases and softwares
• Participate in the development of strategic fundraising outreach initiatives
• Analyze and assess outreach efforts; troubleshoot where necessary
• Draft personalized and targeted messaging for diverse funders
• Support presentations, hikes, fundraisers, and other donor events
• Facilitate grant development (organize, prepare, write first drafts and reports)
• Assist with administrative tasks

Development Assistant | Conserving Carolina | North Carolina, USA

The Development Assistant’s primary responsibility is to support the fundraising/development work of the organization by managing our donor database and gift acknowledgement practices, providing administrative support to Development Director and Donor Relations Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

• Management and oversight of donor database including but not limited to:
• Gift and data entry and correction, pledge management, etc.
• Update information on current and past donors as needed
• Train and coordinate other staff, interns and volunteers on using best practices and procedures for donor database
• Work closely with Development and Finance staff to ensure efficient and appropriate
  processes for gift entry and management
• Produce gift, donor and membership reports for other staff as needed
• Compile and maintain various mailing lists including mass mailings and smaller segmented
  mailings using database
• Seek out new functions of database that would benefit fundraising efforts

Support membership recruitment and retention by:

• Production of regular membership communication through gift acknowledgements & member mailings (membership renewals, appeals, programmatic postcards, etc.), may include writing acknowledgement letters and other correspondence

Manage membership benefits for example:

• Make sure tote bags and other perks are ordered
• Work with other staff to organize members-only hikes twice a year
• Manage monthly giving program
• Plan and host the annual holiday party
• Support fundraising and donor stewardship events:
• Work closely with Donor Relations Manager to plan and execute annual Conservation

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with and the ability to learn how to input information into a database with thought about how the information will be used and reported
• Skilled with Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel), Adobe, and mail-merge required
• Strong attention to detail required
• Familiarity with DonorPerfect database a plus
• Strong verbal communication skills and experience engaging with donors
• Advanced office skills

Programme Development Officer, Statutory Funding | Fauna & Flora International | Cambridge, UK