Temp Fundraising Operations Assistant (fixed term:10 months duration) - Edinburgh, UK - #1709165

Reporting to Fundraising Operations Manager

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Department Summary

The Mercy Corps Fundraising Team plays a critical role in securing both restricted and unrestricted funding while strengthening our global brand. Within this team, Fundraising Operations serves as the backbone—managing key processes that ensure seamless and effective fundraising activities.

General Position Summary

As a Fundraising Operations Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in supporting Mercy Corps’ mission by ensuring donors feel valued and their contributions are handled with care. You will be responsible for processing incoming gifts, maintaining accurate and up-to-date supporter records, and delivering high-quality supporter care to individuals who reach out to us. Your work will help strengthen relationships with donors and support the smooth operation of our fundraising efforts.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly organised, detail-oriented professional who thrives on accuracy and takes pride in delivering excellent service. You’ll bring a proactive mindset, strong administrative and technical skills, and a genuine passion for supporter care. If you’re someone who enjoys working methodically, communicating with empathy, and contributing to a global cause, we’d love to hear from you.

Essential Responsibilities

Administration

• Process incoming donations, including cash, cheques, card payments, and digital contributions, ensuring timely and accurate handling.


• Maintain organised and secure digital records, including scanned donation forms and related correspondence.


• Maintain and update Gift Aid declarations in line with HMRC regulations, ensuring all records are complete and compliant.


• Track and record email subscription statuses and supporter communications across platforms.


• Oversee the day-to-day administration of recurring donor accounts, including updates and troubleshooting.


• Conduct and action regular data audits to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of supporter records in The Raiser’s Edge.


• Process invoices related to fundraising operations and ensure accurate documentation for financial tracking.


• Support the continuous improvement of internal procedures for gift processing, acknowledgments, and data imports, helping to streamline operations and enhance consistency.

Stewardship

• Serve as the first point of contact for the fundraising team via phone, post, and email, providing timely, courteous, and effective supporter care.


• Ensure all donors receive appropriate acknowledgments, including personalised thank-you communications.


• Support the Fundraising Team in communicating with key donor groups, particularly around stewardship activities and engagement initiatives.


• Collaborate with the wider Fundraising Team to help shape and deliver meaningful supporter journeys that enhance engagement and retention.

Finance and Reporting

• Assist in monthly financial reconciliation processes to ensure accurate reporting of income.


• Provide reporting and data support to the Fundraising Operations Team as needed.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports To: Fundraising Operations Manager

Works closely with: Members of the Fundraising Operations Team, the wider Fundraising Team in Europe, the Corporate Finance Team, and US-based colleagues.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of administrative/coordination support experience


• Experience working with fundraising CRMs or relational databases. Experience with The Raiser’s Edge is a plus, but not essential.


• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, with the ability to review and manipulate datasets.


• Experience in donor care or customer services.


• Experience in processing donations (desirable).


• Understanding of data protection regulations, ensuring compliance across activities.

Success Factors

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, able to work independently, and takes ownership of tasks with minimal supervision. They bring a logical, systematic approach and strong problem-solving skills, along with professionalism, resilience, and adaptability in fast-paced environments. They thrive under pressure, effectively manage shifting priorities and tight deadlines, and collaborate well across diverse teams and geographies. A positive, solution-oriented mindset, clear communication, and the ability to engage stakeholders are essential. An interest in international development and alignment with Mercy Corps’ mission and values are key.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Edinburgh and may involve occasional national travel.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all Mercy Corps locations.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness 

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to the Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (***************@mercycorps.org).