Organizational Background:
VisionFund International (VFI) is the world’s largest Christian microfinance network. For more than a decade we have been improving the lives of children across the developing world, as we provide small loans and other financial services to families struggling in poverty.
As the microfinance subsidiary of World Vision, the world’s largest Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation, we work in 30+ countries through our network of affiliated microfinance institutions (MFIs) located across the globe in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. We have an outstanding loan portfolio of nearly US$ 535 million, serve over 1.2 million active borrowers and impact the lives of over 4 million children each year.
Sharing the same vision as World Vision, VFI aims to provide ‘life in all its fullness’ to children as their parents receive small loans, improve their businesses and increase in ability to care for their children as family incomes multiply.
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
VisionFund International (VFI) is seeking a full-time Regional Fundraising Coordinator to provide support to the VFI Asia-Pacific Fundraising Director with the World Vision Philanthropy teams in WV support offices in the Asia-Pacific region.
Through a combination of interpersonal and organizational skills and fundraising/sales/communications knowledge, this role will support VisionFund International and the World Vision Support Offices in the regions in achieving their fundraising goals and ultimately this will have a positive impact on the world’s poorest families.
Relationship building, information management, process design and content creation are key aspects of this varied and fast-paced role that combines proactive and reactive elements. This role requires a customer service orientation and analytical abilities for KPI reporting and budget monitoring.
Working as part of the VisionFund International fundraising team, this role is crucial to implementing a successful regional fundraising programme, providing support not only to the VFI Regional Fundraising Director but also to WV Australia, WV NZ, WV Singapore and a number of other Asian support offices. The role will be a key liaison between WV support office philanthropy teams, WV National Offices where our programmes are, our Micro Finance Institutions around the globe and the broader VFI Fundraising Team. The role supports major donor fundraising generally, but with a particular focus on funding the livelihood and microfinance programs of World Vision and VisionFund. Ability to speak fluent English is essential and Mandarin would be a strong advantage.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Resource Development:
- Donor offers & reporting: Ensure timely donor project proposals, reports and other inspiring information suitable for major donors by monitoring the offers and reporting process and by coordinating with the VFI Offers and Reporting Manager the priorities, queries and timelines. Personalise and adapt materials to Asia-Pacific context and language.
- Donor field visits: Managing the organisation of VisionTrips with the support of MFIs, including serving as a liaison between travelers, VisionTrip teams and regional SOs/fundraising managers - including generating ideas with the input of fundraising director/MFI, designing trip agenda, organizing logistics, designing and producing trip collateral.
- Event Coordination: Manage and coordinate fundraising events as needed. Manage the support and coordination of livelihood and microfinance industry events with the VFI marketing/comms team and SEED/Livelihoods teams. Organize and support internal meetings and training with fundraising teams.
- Prospect Research: Working with SO Manager Prospect Development to seek, identify, research and provide relevant information for Resource Development Managers on potential major donor prospects, foundations and corporations interested in microfinance and Livelihoods as required.
- Donor collateral: Coordinate the production and adaptation of marketing materials supporting major donors and institutional fundraising.
Regional Coordination and Support:
Reporting: Manage and administer regional fundraising reporting and scorecards. Reconcile performance against plans and forecasts, flag any concerns and make recommendations to the VFI Regional Fundraising Director Analysis:
- Monitor the progress of SOs in the region toward their monthly/annual fundraising goals, providing reports to the WV Resource Development Director and VFI directors.
- Systems and Processes: Set up and maintain systems and processes for the region. Assist colleagues with managing donor information.
- Customer service: Be the key contact point for the region to support appropriate funding coding, transfers and processes.
- Budget: Oversee regional fundraising budget and flag concerns to VFI regional fundraising director.
- Ensure regional communications to SOs are aligned to global engagement plan. Provide link from region into the Global Centre and vice versa.
- Ad hoc administrative/coordinating support as needed.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
- Analytical thinking ability at university level is required – minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent level of work experience.
- A resourceful, self-motivated person with strong decision making ability, to assess most appropriate course of action and execute taking into account the needs and values of others.
- Excellent organizational skills, including project management methods, and attention to detail.
- Ability to use initiative and work without close day-to-day supervision.
- Strong creative ability to inspire and move with words, and ability to influence and negotiate, through strong written and verbal communications. English fluency.
- essential. Mandarin in addition would be a strong advantage.
- Excellent computer skills - Word, Excel, Powerpoint, databases, web maintenance, and Lotus Notes or similar.
- Financially numerate and comfortable with budgets, reporting and analysis – numeracy at A-level/IB-level as a minimum, ideally with budget monitoring experience.
- Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, in particular for building relationships with donors, potential donors and colleagues – including intercultural effectiveness.
- Significant experience (a minimum of five years) providing coordination, customer service, project management and administrative support in a fundraising, development, marketing or sales team in either a corporate or non-profit environment.
- Proven track record in prospect identification and research - ideally including experience in identifying fundraising opportunities and sharing them with fundraising teams.
- The jobholder needs to have had direct experience working with teams, to have a heart for the poor, and to have excellent relational skills.
- Proven ability to provide high levels of customer service to teams in a pressurized target-driven environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously in a multi-player working environment.
- The jobholder must be confident enough, and culturally sensitive enough, to effectively engage colleagues from every area of the organization.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement.
Preferred Knowledge, Technical Skills and Experience:
- Ability to act on own initiative and deliver against a long-term plan rather than requiring close supervision/direction.
- Prefer fluency in Mandarin in addition to English.
- Prefer knowledge of fundraising theories and methodologies (in particular major donor fundraising) and an ability to apply those in day to day interactions and materials. This could have been gained through a bachelor’s degree or a qualification from the Institute of Fundraising or CFRE or similar level of work experience.
- Creativity and flexibility to tailor communications to individual donors/ different markets.
- A plus to have fundraising knowledge and cultural awareness, ideally gained through experience in an international fundraising context.
- Preferably some understanding of economic empowerment programmes, microfinance and technical products, for communicating with the public.
- Preferably experience working with major donors in international development or ultra and high net worth individuals in the private sector.
- Demonstrated ability to create deliverables with use of photos and graphics within a brand strategy is a plus but not prerequisite.
- Fundraising support and administration experience ideally in an international organization including the organization of field visits.
- Work experience in international development / marketing / fundraising project management.
- Experience of fundraising in a Christian non-profit organization.
Work Environment/Travel:
- The position will be based in Melbourne.
- It requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time.
- The variety of timezones where colleagues work means there will often be a requirement for virtual meetings early in the mornings or in the evenings.
We welcome applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and cultures and aspire for all employees to be fulfilled through their work and contribution to our mission of providing long-term sustainable solutions to the world’s most vulnerable people.