Title: Community Fundraiser – Ulster Connacht
Reports to: Community Fundraising Manager
Direct reports: None
Contract type: Specific Purpose Contract (Sick Leave)
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week) Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm with evening and weekend work required
Location: Home based (a base in Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan or Sligo would be beneficial but not a requirement of the role) 
Salary: €48,000 per annum

Who we are

We are a community of patients, survivors, volunteers, supporters, health and social care professionals and researchers. Together we are transforming the experiences and outcomes of people affected by cancer through our advocacy, support services and research.

It was estimated that in 2023 an estimated 44,000 people received a cancer diagnosis in Ireland. More people in Ireland are being diagnosed with cancer now than ever before. Our services and supports are more in demand and this will continue for the foreseeable future. The need for our work in research and advocacy is more important now as we try to find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Being told you have cancer can be devastating. The good news is that many people go on to live long lives after a diagnosis. There are now more than 200,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. This means that there is a growing need for the support that the Irish Cancer Society provides for survivors. With only 5% funding received from the State, our fundraising is vital to ensure we are able to continue to deliver key services, supports, advice and research to cancer patients and their families as we work towards our vision that, in future, no one in Ireland will die from cancer.

We’re looking for a Community Fundraiser to join our team. As the Community Fundraiser – Ulster Connacht, first and foremost you will be the face of the Irish Cancer Society amongst your local community.  You will be proactive in engaging local business, community and school groups and promoting the work and impact of the Irish Cancer Society to deliver a case for support that will generate fundraising activity and achieve income targets for the region. 

You will be part of a creative and agile Community Fundraising team responsible for identifying new opportunities as well as the retention and growth of existing supporter and volunteer activities in line with the Society’s fundraising strategy.

If you are a self-motivated, innovative, team player, passionate about building connections, supporting your community and raising funds to support vital services for cancer patients and their families, we want to hear from you!

Whilst experience fundraising in a community setting would be advantageous, we have a strong and experienced team that can support the right candidate in developing those skills. Individuals with a customer relations, account management, project management, business development or digital marketing and engagement background with a strong interest in making a difference in their community and alignment with the relevant skills detailed below would be equally suitable for this role. 

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What you’ll do

The overall objectives of the role are to:

• Recruit new supporters and volunteers to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
• Manage, motivate and inspire supporters and volunteers to maximise their fundraising outcomes. 
• Provide an environment of support and stewardship to ensure we retain our loyal supporters and volunteers.
• Research, approach and secure new community fundraising partnerships and opportunities. 
• Support the Community Fundraising Manager to deliver the Irish Cancer Society fundraising strategy within Ulster Connacht.
• Manage responsibility for targets and delivery of same in the Ulster Connacht area. 

Key accountabilities associated with the role include:

Local community ambassador

• Ensuring the Irish Cancer Society is represented in a professional, informed and energetic manner in your local community.  Being responsible for engagement, interaction and attendance at public facing events in your area, equipped to convey the story and impact that our services have both at national and local level. 

Putting the supporter and volunteer first

• Recruit, manage and develop supporters and volunteers to contribute towards attainment of agreed financial targets and develop loyalty to the Irish Cancer Society.
• Identify and recommend products, platforms and methods that best match supporter and volunteer needs in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness of fundraising activities.
• Develop supporter and volunteer care and stewardship activities designed to deliver excellent communication and support to a wide range of audiences. 
• Identify opportunities for case studies.
• Promote awareness of all aspects of the Society within assigned communities. 
• Work with relevant internal resources to ensure appropriate recognition and acknowledgement of supporter and volunteer achievements. 

Income generation

• Develop, grow and optimise local, high value supporter and volunteer led fundraising. 
• Research, identify and action new income generation opportunities. 
• Establish relationships with key business, community and school groups to generate leads and deliver new business outcomes and income. 
• Work with relevant internal departments to create and deliver localised messaging regarding the impact of funds raised at a localised level. 
• Identify opportunities for major donor, corporate and legacy fundraising to share with relevant internal fundraising departments. 
• Develop and deliver both local fundraising plans and activities and support the implementation of national ICS campaigns e.g. Daffodil Day, Breast Cancer Campaign and Relay for Life to maximise income within your area.

Strategy and planning

• Assist in development of the community fundraising budget and annual regional revenue targets 
• Contribute to the planning of key national campaign events including the Breast Cancer Campaign and Daffodil Day.
• Develop annual operations plans to achieve targets.
• Liaise with other organisations in the region to avoid competition with fundraising activities.
• Review and analyse fundraising trends and develop innovative responses to ensure the Society is viewed as a leader in community fundraising. 
• Plan and manage time in a cost effective manner, ensuring that all efforts are focussed on activities which maximise the potential for income and raising awareness. 

Data, reporting and administration

• Ensure accurate and up to date financial and supporter and volunteer records are maintained and accessible through the Society’s fundraising database (Dynamics). 
• Participate in the continual review, development and evaluation of community fundraising events and activities and provide reports as necessary and upon request. 
• Handle cash, banking of funds and acknowledgment and receipting of income in accordance with Society policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding supporter information at all times, and ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.

Fundraising best practice and support

• Be fully conversant with all fundraising regulations, in particular the Charities Regulator, Guidelines for Charitable Organisations on Fundraising from the Public, as they relate to community fundraising activities and ensure that the Irish Cancer Society complies with all relevant requirements and that supporters and volunteers are made aware of their obligations.
• Keep up-to-date with current issues and developments in fundraising. Establish memberships and liaise with local bodies, agencies and other associations to ensure industry best practice. Undertake training as necessary.
• Provide occasional support in the event another team in the department has an urgent need.
• Assist with special projects as required or self-determined to enhance the Society’s fundraising capacity and/or program objectives.

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Who you are

The right candidate for this role is:

Passionate about raising funds to ensure the continued delivery of key services, supports, advice and research to cancer patients and their families

A people person: whether it is meeting a member of the public at an event, working with colleagues and volunteers, or engaging with supporters, you understand what makes people tick, and create effective, lasting relationships.

A great communicator: you are able to communicate effectively across multiple channels (face-to-face, written, digital) and adopt your style to meet the audience where they are. 

Technologically savvy: you are comfortable using digital and technology tools, including digital marketing and social media content and identifying new ways that technology can support fundraising. 

An effective project manager: you have proven experience in managing projects, both strategic and operational, and are able to bring people together to achieve goals on time, on budget and to deliver impact. 

An innovative self-starter with initiative, drive and an ability to work independently, think creatively, and identify opportunities.

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Your qualifications and experience

• Demonstrated success in working towards, and achieving targets.
• Proven understanding of the customer / supporter journey and be able to demonstrate your ability to apply this to a fundraising setting
• Experience in identification of new business opportunities with demonstrated success outcomes.

You may have the following experience or be able to demonstrate how your skills and experience can transfer to this role:

• Experience of raising funds, particularly in a community setting
• Experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers.
• Experience of the not for profit sector in Ireland.
• Experience using a fundraising database system (such as Microsoft Dynamics or similar).

Some of our benefits:

• 23 days Annual Leave a year or Pro Rata equivalent, plus public holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a working day) 
• Service Days - Additional days awarded to reflect long service with the Society.
• Sick Pay Scheme (following Probationary period)
• Flexitime
• Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (after 6 months)
• Group membership for VHI and HSF (health plans)
• Bus/Rail Ticket Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment)
• Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and compassionate Leave)
• Learning and Development Programmes
• Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Optional Flu vaccine provided