For 120 years, Rhodes University has been delivering on their mission of cultivating and guiding their students into becoming outstanding, internationally accredited graduates. Committed to the spirit of African identity, Rhodes University strives to build a love of life-long learning in their students and provide a safe, well-equipped environment that is conducive to strong scholarship and collegiality. 

Having served the Eastern Cape community for as long as they have, Rhodes University is now at a crucial stage and aims to take the next step towards their goals of striving for excellence in South Africa’s higher education landscape.

To support this endeavour, Rhodes University is on the hunt of a talented, organised and passionate Fundraising and Development Manager who can help guide them into a new age of income sustainability and donor acquisition.

The ideal candidate will be fluent in the following competencies:

Fundraising and Development Strategy, Execution and Monitoring

Identifying, cultivating and nurturing donor relationships is crucial to success in this role. You will work with the Director of Communication and Advancement to develop, execute and manage funding campaigns, from the conceptualisation phase to proposal development and submission, to donor retention. In addition to this, it is imperative that you be able to work collaboratively with your team to track outcomes and use the data available to you to remain informed of new developments in your donor pipeline, keeping subsequent projects agile and relevant.

Advocacy and Communication

As Fundraising and Development Manager, you must not only be an efficient operative of your programmes, but a champion of their success. You will thrive in this role if you can emphasise the importance of fundraising activities to your fellow facilities staff and affiliates. The first step is crafting the campaign, the next is ensuring that you can identify potential roadblocks, be they structural or individual, that may impede its performance and develop effective solutions.

Management of Fundraising and Development Section

The success of your programmes and campaigns are driven by the strength of your department. You will be responsible for the effective management of the fundraising and development section, motivating for the appropriate allocation of resources, keeping track of its performance, where it requires intervention and the professional development of its staff.

To be considered for this incredibly prestigious role, you will require the following:

- A relevant 3-year tertiary qualification

- 7 years of experience in a fundraising and development role, with 3 of those years being in a senior management position

- Strong knowledge of Alumni fundraising and direct marketing techniques

- Excellent interpersonal competencies, with a keen ability to cultivate relationships easily and efficiently, with a knack for communicating at different occupational and professional levels

- An organised and strategic, analytically-driven mind that can plan and execute projects with great efficiency and meet goals with ease.

- Strong administrative skills, with sound computer competency and an a ability to understand and make use of digital workspace suites.

Closing date:   28th October 2024

Interview date:  TBC

H ow To Apply:  

Please email us at recruitment@charitycareersafrica.com to request a full job description and person specification. You are advised to get in touch well in advance of the closing date to give us time to consider your application and pre-interview the strongest applicants.

This search is being conducted by Charity Careers Africa. Our leadership team has all worked in the nonprofit sector and we use this experience to match organisations and individuals to create great appointments.