Fundraising Administrative Assistant

Imagine being told that you, or someone you love, is losing their sight. In that moment, two profound questions demand urgent answers: can this be stopped? how will I live my life? Currently, research into preventing and treating sight loss is chronically underfunded, receiving a mere 1.2% of publicly funded health research grants. People who are blind or vision‑impaired are three times more likely to experience loneliness and isolation than the general population. We find and fund the brilliant minds and bright ideas that put change in sight. Our researchers are at the forefront, making breakthroughs that will prevent, treat and cure eye disease. The partnerships we build and initiatives we support are changing life for blind and vision‑impaired people. We are Fight for Sight: we won’t stop until we Save Sight. Change Lives.

We are now looking for experienced, committed and creative individuals to join our dynamic team to help realise a new five‑year growth strategy. If you want to be part of something impactful, we’d love to hear from you.

As a Fundraising Administrative Assistant, you will be an integral part of our Fundraising Team. You will support the team as we devise and launch a new five‑year strategy and provide key administrative support across the fundraising function.

Role Responsibilities

• Supporter Development team
  • Support the Individual Giving Managers and Legacy Giving Manager with day‑to‑day communications with our donor base, including timely database administration to capture communication preferences and personal details.
  • Support the Database team with data and financial processes, including recording and batching donations, generating reports, contributing to supporter journeys and reconciling income.
  • Liaise with design and print suppliers to source quotes and deliver appeals and other campaigns.
  • Support the Supporter Development team in‑person in the office, with the processing of direct marketing appeal responses, including banking of donations and sending thank you letters.
  • Work with the Individual Giving Managers to implement supporter journeys to encourage further support to the organisation.
  • Support the Individual Giving Managers in building emails using the charity’s email marketing platform.
• Philanthropy team
  • Use a CRM database to effectively administer and manage event and community enquiries and activities.
  • Work with the Events and Community team to send out literature and parcels to community groups and event participants efficiently and timely.
  • Support with logistics for virtual and in‑person events as required.
  • Work with suppliers to order new fundraising materials.
  • Be responsible for managing and replenishing fundraising merchandise and stock.
  • Help the team source prizes and goods for community and challenge events.
  • Provide financial admin support to the Philanthropy team including batching and reconciling incoming payments.
  • Provide general administration support across the Philanthropy team as required, including printing and posting items.
  • Update the database and provide CRM reports as required.
• Wider fundraising
  • Answer inbound calls as part of the head office call team, at least three days per week, and respond to or triage enquiries to be resolved in a timely manner.
  • Support the Supporter Care Officer in dealing with external enquiries and managing internal post, including sorting incoming post and organising outgoing fundraising post from head office.
  • Provide general administration support across the fundraising team as required.
  • Be responsible for the fundraising team’s 1Password folder, ensuring it is consistently updated.
  • Work in compliance with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice and data protection legislation.

Person specification

• Desirable skills, knowledge & experience
  • Excellent communicator in formal and informal communications, both verbally and in writing, to all stakeholders.
  • Proven ability to engage, inspire and enthuse a range of supporters.
  • Commitment to undertake training where required and enthusiasm for new challenges and experiences.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport.
  • Strong project management and prioritisation skills.
  • IT literate with experience of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook and databases.
  • Commitment to our values: Together we are bold, tenacious, informed and optimistic.
  • Experience of using a CRM database to support relationship management.
  • Understanding of the charity sector and associated fundraising technique.
• Personal qualities
  • Understanding of and commitment to blind and vision‑impaired people.
  • Passion for fundraising and a desire to make a difference.
  • Keen to succeed and demonstrate abilities.
  • Highly organised with the ability to juggle several deadlines at the same time.
  • Positive, confident and enthusiastic.
  • Use initiative, common sense and solve problems.
  • Self‑motivated, team worker with ability to work autonomously as required.
  • Willingness to work flexibly where required.
  • Approachable, creative, ‘can‑do’ attitude.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Comfortable with managing day‑to‑day routine administrative tasks and prioritising ad hoc tasks when required.
  • A growth mindset.

Flexibility

The role description is a general outline of duties and responsibilities and may be amended as we grow. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties that may be reasonably required from time to time. All applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK. We do not have a sponsoring licence for non‑UK employees; if you do not have a current, valid UK working permit, please do not apply.

Employee benefits

• Great team and supportive culture.
• Employer pension contributions matching up to 10% and death in service cover.
• Generous parental leave.
• Flexible/hybrid working options.
• Apprenticeships scheme, study leave and financial support for training & development.
• Cycle to work scheme, eye test vouchers, staff loan scheme and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Active Social Committee and staff events.

Accessibility

We believe in fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, feel supported and valued. If you have any accessibility requirements or specific needs that you would like us to accommodate during the application process, please let us know. If you are unfamiliar with MS Teams and would like to familiarise yourself with the platform before the interview, we are more than happy to arrange a tech run‑through to ensure your comfort and confidence.

Equal opportunities, diversity & inclusion

At Fight for Sight we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every item in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. We have an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, including any adjustments required to support people from diverse community groups.