Fundraising Executive (Legacy Giving)

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and every role, every person in every corner of ZSL has one thing in common – we are all conservationists, and passionate about restoring wildlife.

The post holder will work to grow and sustain our funding stream from legacies and gifts in memory by focussing on the successful development, implementation and monitoring of a recruitment and stewardship plan. The role will take the lead on the development, application and management of the legacy and in memory fundraising strategy, programmes, and activities to sensitively generate sustainable and growing income from a new range of supporters to become legacy pledgers and to engage with current legacy engagers.

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Increasing legacy funding streams

• Lead the development of the legacy and in-memory recruitment and stewardship strategy to ensure an increase in legacy pledgers by exploring and developing new recruitment opportunities and methods to ensure retention and diversifying to other supporter initiatives
• Using an evidenced based approach of sector trends and impact, create a range of promotional materials and activities reflective of key target audiences. In collaboration with marketing and communications colleagues, this will include mailings, on-site and digital promotions, publications and events and leading on the development of new methods of engagement

Coordination of legacy and in-memory donations

• Accurately record pledges and income from and stewardship with supporters in line with the GDPR and take appropriate action on any differences
• Liaise with solicitors and executors to ensure legacy income is received and allocated according to the wishes of the supporter and recognised in the most sensitive and appropriate manner

Supporter relationships with dignity

• Nurture relationships with legacy pledgers to ensure they are valued and engaged with ZSL through personalised, efficient and respectful communications for them allowing our supporters to understand their journey with ZSL in meaningful ways such as legacy ambassadors and to include ZSL in their Wills
• With sensitivity and respect, steward our supporters giving in memory to ensure their support is recognised with dignity, ensuring that they receive timely coordination of administrative tasks with wider ZSL departments

Strengthening our fundraising portfolio

• Collaborate with fundraising colleagues to ensure that legacy messaging is incorporated across all fundraising activity when appropriate and all recruitment opportunities are maximised
• Support with strategic and business planning, budgeting/reporting and other major projects that the Individual Giving team may be asked to deliver

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasksmay be assigned from time to time that are in line with the level of the role.

Essential:

• Knowledge of broader fundraising challenges and opportunities in the environmental and conservation sector
• Effective use of IT, with strong skills in Microsoft Office, particularly in excel as well as database management in CRM or ticketing systems (such as Tessitura or Salesforce)
• Strong project planning skills, including developing and implementing strategy and marcomms plans
  
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate clearly, sensitively and diplomatically with people at all levels both within ZSL and with prospective donors and pledgers
• Able to draw meaningful insights from data to drive forward new ideas to create fundraising opportunities

Desirable:

• Experience in legacy income management with good understanding of financial metrics to enable effective tracking of predicted income
• Excellent organisational abilities and administrative skills with strong attention to detail

What do we offer?

You will have access to a blended program of Wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program as well as regular webinars and activities around mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing. The opportunity to be part of an organisation that is committed to improving diversity and inclusion.

Other benefits include 25 days holiday, life assurance, stakeholder pension (ZSL will also match further contributions you may choose to make up to a further 5% - limited to 12% employer contributions), complimentary zoo tickets with a 30% discount in shops and online, subsidised canteen, enhanced paternity and maternity leave, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership and access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities.  

Ultimately, you’ll know that you’ll help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct.