Fundraising Assistant

The Royal School of Needlework

The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) is the International Centre of Excellence for the Art of Hand Embroidery. Based at the historic Hampton Court Palace, we have been dedicated to preserving and innovating in the art of hand embroidery since 1872. Our thriving education programme offers courses for all levels, from beginners to degree level, and we teach onsite and online in locations across the UK, and internationally in America, Japan, and Australia. Our renowned Embroidery Studio creates bespoke embroidery for fashion, art, and royalty and offers expert conservation and restoration services for valuable and historical embroidered pieces.

The RSN is unique. No other single organisation covers the breadth of education and practice to promote the art and technique of hand embroidery or has our connections, collection, archive and heritage. Embroidery is an international language. Cultures and communities have used embroidery-based techniques to tell stories and record events for hundreds of years while the individual benefits of mindfulness and mental wellbeing are now increasingly being recognised today.

Overview

The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) is seeking a highly motivated and organised Fundraising Assistant to join our team and provide administrative support for our fundraising activities. The Fundraising Assistant will play a key role in generating vital income and helping the organisation achieve its fundraising goals by assisting with donor relations, event planning, grant research, data management, and campaign coordination.

Key Responsibilities:

Donor Support and Stewardship:

• Become a ‘super’ user of the CRM/database.
• Maintain donor records in the CRM/database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information.
• Help with the acknowledgment process, including sending thank-you letters and recognition communications to donors.
• Assist in coordinating donor communications and outreach campaigns (e.g., newsletters, appeals, and stewardship materials).

Event Support:

• Provide logistical and administrative support for fundraising events, including venue coordination, volunteer management, invitations, and guest lists.
• Help with event set-up, registration, and follow-up tasks.
• Assist in preparing event materials, such as programs, signage, and donation forms.

Grant Research and Application Support:

• Assist in researching potential grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government sources.
• Help prepare grant proposal materials and ensure submission deadlines are met.
• Track and report on the status of grant applications and funding received.
• Campaign Coordination:
• Support the planning and execution of online and offline fundraising campaigns, including peer-to-peer campaigns, crowdfunding, and direct mail appeals.
• Assist with creating and managing campaign content, such as donation pages, emails, and social media posts.
• Help monitor campaign progress and gather data to report on results.

Data Entry and Reporting:

• Maintain accurate records of donations, donor interactions, and event participation.
• Provide regular reports on fundraising progress, event outcomes, and donor engagement to the fundraising team.
• Assist in preparing data for end-of-year reports and audits.

Administrative and Operational Support:

• Provide general administrative support to the fundraising team, including scheduling meetings, preparing materials, and handling correspondence.
• Help with office management tasks, such as ordering supplies and maintaining filing systems.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Previous experience in a fundraising, administrative, or nonprofit role is a plus, but not required.
• Strong interest in education, heritage, fundraising, and community engagement.

Skills:

• Excellent organisational and multitasking skills, with attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with donor management software (e.g., Beacon, Access/ThankQ, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge) is preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact prof essionally with donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience or qualifications

Personal Attributes:

• Proactive and eager to learn, with a willingness to take on new tasks and challenges.
• Professional, courteous, and able to work well with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Passion for the arts, education, and heritage