Philanthropy Assistant

The Philanthropy Assistant will support the Philanthropy Team as it expands, helping to develop innovative fundraising ideas. You will provide administrative support and deliver excellent supporter care, particularly for those donating in memory of loved ones, as well as appeal donors and major givers. A key part of your role will be ensuring donations are processed smoothly, communications are handled with empathy, and our donor records are kept accurate and up to date.

You will be the first point of contact for commemorative fundraising enquiries, including In-Memory giving and the Tree of Life. You will coordinate the ordering and organisation of memorial items and Legator recognition pieces. Ensuring timely acknowledgement of donations and answering supporter queries promptly and correctly is essential, as is maintaining excellent supporter relationship management.

Badger - Photo: Andrew Parkinson 2020 Vision

Early bumblebee - Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography.

Alan Price

People & Bluebells - Tom Marshall

The role involves processing donations through our new Access CRM system, ensuring records are maintained accurately. You will monitor the Fundraising inbox, responding to requests such as Adopt a Species and appeal enquiries. Additionally, you will compile regular donation reports and contribute to internal updates and newsletters.

Collaboration is key, and you will work with the Philanthropy Team to gather information for design briefs and liaise with the Design Team. As part of the wider Wildlife Trusts movement, you will share ideas and best practices with colleagues across the federation of Wildlife Trusts. Ensuring compliance with fundraising regulations, GDPR, and other industry standards will also be part of your remit.

This role is ideal for someone with a passion for providing personalised supporter experiences and strong administrative skills. You will have a compassionate, proactive approach, excellent communication abilities, and a genuine enthusiasm for Essex Wildlife Trust's mission. The ability to manage multiple tasks and work both independently and within a team is essential. Experience with CRM systems and knowledge of GDPR and fundraising regulations would be advantageous.

As the county's leading conservation charity, Essex Wildlife Trust is dedicated to protecting wildlife and inspiring a lifelong love of nature. By 2030, our aim is to protect and connect 30% of land and sea, while inspiring 1 in 4 people in Essex to take action for wildlife. Our Fundraising Team plays a crucial role in achieving this, growing our supporter base and generating the income needed to fund our vital work., Essex Wildlife Trust is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we know how important diversity is, both in our natural world and amongst the people we employ. We want everyone to feel valued and empowered to contribute to our vision of "A county rich in wildlife with people connected to nature".

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible.

Based at our beautiful headquarters at Abbotts Hall, near Colchester, this role is a permanent role working 28 hours per week (we can be flexible on hours and days) with a starting salary for this post is £17,286.83 per annum (FTE £ 23,152.00). Essex Wildlife Trust offers flexible homeworking arrangements. Further details of the hybrid-working arrangements will be shared at interview.