Job Purpose:
The Donor Relations Manager is an integral part of the Operations department team, working with the Director Operations and Director Communications, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships to build donor relationships, create and implement fundraising opportunities, and ensure grant compliance. S/he will develop and implement engagement and fundraising strategies to enhance and grow revenue for URCS, ensuring that revenue goals are met for various fundraising areas. The position will also guide program/project teams with regard to donor reporting, administrative requirements such as amendments, waivers, and other approvals as necessary. The person will also support grants management. S/he will work in close collaboration with the teams in URCS’ nine directorates as they seek and implement grants at headquarters and branch level.

Under the strategic direction and supervision of the Director Operations, the Donor Relations Manager will develop and strengthen donor relations in anticipation of grant acquisition as well as manage URCS grants compliance.

S/N Key Result Areas Principal Accountabilities
01 Donor mapping and records management
• Identify and engage donors with potential funding areas that align to URCS strategic priorities
• Conduct donor mapping and analysis for institutional donors; market survey and analysis for private individuals, corporate sector and general public; market assessment for each commercial opportunity and business plan for income generation via business activity
• Develop and maintain an accurate record/database of donor contact information and communications.

02 Strategic partnerships and donor engagement
• Identify and pursue fundraising opportunities
• Support donor relations through relationship and trust building
• Establish/enhance partnerships with academic institutions/universities to support joint institutional fundraising efforts
• Manage logistics for meetings with donors, professional advisors, and all stakeholders including scheduling, material and presentation preparation, sharing information, taking notes, and necessary administrative arrangements
• Facilitate meetings, phone calls and written correspondence
• Manage all donor engagement activities, in liaison with Director Operations and Director Communications, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships

03 Fundraising
• Utilize the donor database to research prospective donors to determine their capacity for giving and potential interest in a specific cause area; prepare for meetings; analyze donor data and share insights on past giving to inform current strategies.

• Liaise with resource mobilization to update the resource mobilization strategy, including URCS’ priority income sources, mapping of main competitors per source of funding
• Develop strategies to increase donations from current support through retention efforts
• Identify/understand and communicate needs and opportunities to donors to fund URCS to render services to vulnerable persons within the mandate of URCS and Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• Liaise with Research, Performance Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (PMER), and projects/program teams to identify needs/gaps for proposal development
• Spearhead/support development of funding proposals
• In collaboration with the Director Operations and Director Communications, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships, work with active and prospective donors to support charitable giving and fund development.

• Advise and guide donors and URCS decisions on grants

04 Donor funds management
• Manage administration, stewardship and implementation of fund agreements, including working across teams to ensure the coordination and accuracy of all agreements and documentation.
• Maintain fund agreement templates, seek ways to improve and make the processes more donor friendly, and monitor and update documents as needed to reflect current laws and policies.
• Coordinate with the Finance department in processing donor funds, acknowledgement, quarterly fund statements and finalizing fund agreements.
• Work with and support Programs and project leads as well as directorates in the management of donor funds.
• Support management of donor funds

05 Donor communications management
• Managing relationships with donors to ensure that they are satisfied with their experience as donors
• Support outreach and communications to donors in collaboration with Director Communications, Resource Mobilization & Partnerships, including fundraising campaigns, marketing materials, and social media posts.

• Work with the communications team to develop invitations and creative ways to recognize supporters, and demonstrate the value of giving to URCS
• Manage donor engagement and recognition through creation and implementation of touchpoints such as donor events, creating published lists, sending personalized thank you messages, and coordinating special opportunities for direct contact.
• Manage administrative procedures, practices and project management tools regarding donor funds/grants

06 Grants management and Donor Compliance
• Responsible for guaranteeing URCS’ compliance with donor rules and regulations including through increasing internal understanding of donors and grant regulations, and supporting program/project teams on donor compliance. S/he will:
• Gather, monitor and communicate donor rules and regulations including during grant proposal inception meetings
• Identify training needs and help determine appropriate resources in areas such as donor rules and regulations as necessary

• Create training and information content to guide teams and all stakeholders at all levels on donor rules and regulations; and organize trainings/awareness sessions.
• Ensure donor rules are manageable for the URCS by defining acceptable standards, consider non-compliance risks and recommend risk mitigation measures in coordination with the Donor Relations Manager, Director Operations, Director Finance and Director Risk & Audit
• Register URCS on donors’ platforms.
• Develop/update and maintain a donor compliance register to track and improve compliance to donor rules and regulations.
• In liaison with the Donor Relations Manager, coordinate with donors to solve compliance issues with adequate problem-solving skills and adequate corrective actions in accordance with URCS standards and donor expectations

07 Performance Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting (PMER).
• Prepare and submit reports timely and of high quality
• Ensure that the allocated budget is used according to the agreements with donor and partners
• Ensure an efficient, timely and well executed response to calls for expression of interest or requests for proposals in line with URCS mandate.

08 Integration of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy
• Ensure that all supervisees of the position and representatives understand and comply with all aspects of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Policy.
• Create an organizational culture and foster a working environment which is free from and prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and supports the implementation of this Policy.
• Apply and maintain mechanisms and managerial systems to support the implementation of this Policy including effective supervision, awareness raising, prevention, reporting, and responding.
• Role modelling the standards of conduct and behavior required by this Policy and by making every reasonable effort to create and maintain an environment that assists in preventing SEA.
• Take immediate and appropriate action of reporting upon receipt of any report or complaint about SEA allegations, concerns or suspicions or retaliation related to SEA, as stated in the present policy
• Report SEA incidents as per reporting mechanisms established in 8.4 of the PSEA Policy.

09 Supervision
• Supervise ad hoc writing consultancy engagements

10 Other duties
• Build capacity of staff at national and branch level in grant identification and acquisition process
• Compile reports
• Participate in activities as a member of the Operations department team, and staff of URCS
• Carry out any other lawful assignment allocated by the immediate Supervisor

Qualifications/requirements
Minimum qualifications, working experience and competencies:
Education Qualifications
• Minimum Bachelors’ Degree in International Development/Policy/Relations, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations,
• Development Management or a related field from an approved, recognized and reputable university.
• Master’s Degree in Project Planning & Management, Policy Planning or a related field from an approved, recognized and reputable university is an added advantage

Working Experience
• Minimum five (5) years’ relevant work experience in similar position with humanitarian organizations, development and/or donor engagement, or similar experience providing relationship and donor funds/grant awards; three (3) of the years with supervisory responsibilities.
• Robust experience in strategy, proposal and budget development; program implementation, monitoring, evaluation & reporting
• Experience with large institutional donors and funding bodies at international or national humanitarian agency level

Core Competencies
• Negotiation and conflict management
• Innovation and creatively
• Stakeholder management
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Communication
• Technology awareness
• Policy research and development
• Change capability and adaptability
• Manage resources
• Empowering and building trust.

Knowledge and Skills
• Knowledge of and experience/relationships with diverse donors/funders
• Strong working knowledge of donor rules, regulations and policies
• Expertise in grants management
• High level of diplomacy, integrity, communication skills, and sensitivity
• Knowledge of institutional donors
• Management of donor relations
• Pitching, marketing, convincing, advocacy
• Negotiations
• Strategy development
• Coordination
• Experience in grant management
• Risk assessment
• Technical writing skills
• Training & capacity building
• Innovation and creatively
• Excellent command of English language, both written and spoken.
• Relationship building skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population, establish and maintain working relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Advanced computer skills (Word, Excel, Power point, access etc.)
• Ability to work self-motivated and independently and as member of a team
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), presentation and listening skills for multiple and diverse audiences.
• Ability to learn, understand and maintain current best practices in fundraising
• Respect for cross-cultural perspectives and experiences
• Commitment to promoting and encouraging generosity
• Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive information in accordance with organizational standards

Job application procedure
Applications from suitable persons to be considered for appointment in the outlined positions are hereby invited. All applicants should adhere to the Red Cross Principles. URCS is an equal opportunities employer and mindful of gender balance in its establishment.

The full job description and application form can be viewed and downloaded from here

Please send your filled application form and attach your academic transcripts and certificates. The filled application forms, academic transcripts and certificates should be e-mailed to; [email protected] or hand delivered, and or by post to:
The Secretary General,
Uganda Red Cross Society,
Plot 551/555 Rubaga Road,
P.O. Box 494, Kampala, Uganda.
Email: [email protected]

Closing date for receipt of the applications is 13th February, 2023 by 5:00 p.m.

Due to large volumes of applications; only short listed candidates shall be contacted. Canvassing shall lead to automatic disqualification.

Please specify your preferred location

N.B: URCS Service volunteers are encouraged to apply

Download application template from here