Business Development Officer at Little Eden

Reports to: Business Development Manager

Location: Edenvale, Johannesburg

Job Purpose

Responsible to secure the financial resources necessary to sustain and advance the mission and programs of LITTLE EDEN Society to ensure the sustainability of the Society.  This role serves as the vital link between the needs of LITTLE EDEN and potential donors and donors who can provide support.

Responsible for sourcing new donors, upgrading certain current donors, developing relationships with current and potential funders, assisting, supporting and reporting to the Business Development Consultant. 

1. Strategic Management

• Assists and supports the Business Development Manager with the development and implementation of an integrated fundraising strategy which is targeted at certain categories of donors in order to secure short, medium- and long-term funding for LITTLE EDEN Society.
• Develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies across multiple channels in order to generate consistent revenue streams that enable the organization to deliver its services and fulfil its mission.

2. Programme Proposals & Budgeting

• Develop and submit high-quality proposals with detailed, funder-aligned budgets.
• Maintain strong success rates of funded proposals across donor types.
• Ensure proposals align with LITTLE EDEN’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Meets agreed upon departmental financial targets as specified by the Business Development Manager which can at a later stage evolve into personal monthly/quarterly/annual fundraising targets. Financial targets will vary from year to year dependent on the operational requirements and budget of LITTLE EDEN.

3. Funding Research & Pipeline Development

• Identify and assess new funding sources (grants, sponsorships, corporate partnerships).
• Expand and diversify the funding base through targeted opportunities.
• Submit research findings and funding leads to senior management in a timely manner

4. Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and retain strategic relationships with donors, partners, and sponsors.
• Represent LITTLE EDEN at events to enhance visibility and attract support.
• Leverage networking opportunities to develop new leads and strengthen existing ties.

5. Donor Stewardship & Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of high-value and recurring donors, ensuring engagement and retention.
• Implement stewardship and recognition programmes to increase donor satisfaction.
• Facilitate new donor connections and elevate donor involvement.
• Researches and identifies lapsed donors in order to revitalize these.

6. Recurring Giving, Campaigns & Appeals

• Design and manage recurring giving programmes to ensure predictable revenue.
• Develop and execute fundraising campaigns for specific projects or needs.
• Track campaign effectiveness and ensure consistent donor follow-ups.
• Develops and organizes fundraising events/campaigns that will lead to donations. Support will be given in terms of the logistics and planning of specifically, events.

7. Corporate & Legacy Giving Initiatives

• Drive corporate giving and employee engagement programmes with measurable outcomes.
• Grow planned giving and legacy programmes (e.g., bequests, charitable annuities).
• Offers support and actively encourages corporates to take up the Give As You Earn (GAYE) programme.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance in all legacy-related activities.

8. Data-Driven Fundraising & Insights

• Maintain accurate donor records and optimise segmentation for targeted campaigns.
• Analyse donor data to uncover trends and inform fundraising strategies.
• Increase data-driven decision-making across all fundraising initiatives.

9. Proposal & Communication Management

• Produce timely, well-crafted proposals, thank-you notes, and impact reports.
• Ensure all submissions include complete documentation and accurate financials.

10. Grants Funding

• Identify, apply for, and manage grants funding.
• Ensure submissions align with LITTLE EDEN’s mission and funding priorities.

11. Internal Collaboration & Team Support

• Provide strategic input and support to the Fundraising team.
• Foster a collaborative culture and contribute to shared fundraising targets.

12. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• Deliver timely progress reports with actionable insights.
• Track performance against fundraising goals and recommend strategy improvements.

13. Public Relations/Communications and Marketing

• Undertakes public relations, communications and marketing tasks as required.
• Assists in identifying media programmes relevant to the work of the Society and assists with contacts to relevant news reporters/media with a view to securing publicity for LITTLE EDEN.
• Is willing and able to be interviewed live by all media types e.g. newspapers, radio and TV when requested by the CEO or Business Development Consultant.
• Serve as an ambassador and advocate for the Society’s cause.
• Escorts visitors and new corporates around LITTLE EDEN as and when required.
• Provides concepts for appeals and provides information for campaigns and events in the Department.
• Ensures that changes required by Management, for example, in newsletters and appeals, are actioned as requested and signed off by the Chief Executive Officer or Business Development Consultant.
• Events (Internal and External) - Represents LITTLE EDEN at events as and when required and ensures that LITTLE EDEN is represented in a conscientious and valuable manner.

14. Administration

• Provides the Business Development Consultant with donor reports, acquisition reports and retention reports on a monthly basis or as required.
• Ensures that all administrative requirements are fulfilled on a regular basis.
• Donor Management System (Devman). Provides donor contact details to the Business Development Administrator ensuring that the contact details for the relevant donors are continually updated and co-operates to ensure that the donor database is up to date. Draws reports from the system as required.

15. Other Duties

• Keeps abreast of developments in the fundraising and related fields by attending approved seminars/conferences and networking with other fundraisers.
• Performs all reasonable duties or projects that may fall outside of the Fundraiser/Development specific function, when requested to do so, on reasonable notice given by Management.
• Offers assistance with the development of the Annual Report.
• Works closely with the other team members of the Development Department and any external stakeholders to ensure efficient and appropriate measures are in place for maximum benefit to LITTLE EDEN.
• Is willing and able to work outside normal office hours (e.g. at evening functions, weekends etc.), when required. This is non-negotiable.

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