As Siyazisiza continues to grow, we are strengthening our fundraising capability, expanding strategic partnerships, and increasing our visibility to secure sustainable long-term impact.

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and relationship-driven Fundraising & Communications Manager to lead the organisation's fundraising, donor engagement and communications functions, helping secure the resources and partnerships needed to transform the lives of rural farming communities across South Africa.

Role Overview

The Fundraising & Communications Manager provides strategic leadership for Siyazisiza Trust's fundraising, donor engagement, strategic partnerships, marketing and organisational communications. Working closely with the Executive Director and Management Team, the incumbent leads fundraising initiatives, cultivates donor relationships, oversees both internal and external communications, and strengthens the Trust's visibility to support long-term sustainability and impact.

The role is responsible for coordinating and managing all external marketing, branding and communications service providers while also driving internal communication initiatives that promote employee engagement, organisational alignment and consistent messaging across the Trust. The incumbent collaborates closely with Project Management, Finance, Human Resources and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) teams to deliver high-quality donor engagement, organisational communications and stakeholder reporting.

• Fundraising Strategy - Develop and implement Siyazisiza Trust's fundraising strategy to secure sustainable funding from corporate, government, foundation and donor partners. Identify new funding opportunities, coordinate grant applications and proposals, manage the fundraising pipeline, and monitor progress against fundraising targets. Support initiatives that diversify funding sources and strengthen the Trust's long-term financial sustainability.
• Donor Engagement & Strategic Partnerships - Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, corporate partners, government stakeholders and development agencies. Coordinate donor stewardship, reporting and compliance, while identifying strategic partnerships that enhance programme delivery, organisational sustainability and community impact.
• Communications, Brand Management & Organisational Visibility - Develop and implement Siyazisiza Trust's integrated communications and marketing strategy to strengthen organisational visibility, stakeholder engagement and brand recognition. Oversee the development of all marketing and communication materials, including donor reports, newsletters, proposals, presentations, impact stories, annual reports, website content, social media, media releases and promotional campaigns. Ensure consistent branding, messaging and visual identity across all communication platforms while promoting the Trust's impact to donors, beneficiaries, partners and the broader public.
• Proposal Development & Grant Management - Coordinate the preparation of high-quality funding proposals, concept notes and donor reports in collaboration with Programme, Finance and Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) teams. Ensure all submissions are accurate, compliant with donor requirements and submitted within agreed deadlines, while monitoring grant obligations throughout the funding lifecycle.
• Strategic Leadership & Organisational Contribution - As a member of the Management Team, contribute to organisational strategy, sustainability planning and continuous improvement initiatives. Work collaboratively across departments to identify opportunities, strengthen stakeholder relationships and support the achievement of Siyazisiza Trust's strategic objectives.
• Communications Agency, Marketing & Internal Communications Management - Coordinate and manage relationships with external communications, marketing, media, branding, digital and creative service providers to ensure the effective delivery of marketing campaigns, digital communications, publications and promotional materials. Develop and oversee internal communication initiatives that keep employees informed, engaged and aligned with Siyazisiza Trust's strategy, culture and organisational priorities. Ensure that all internal and external communications support the Trust's values, brand standards and fundraising objectives while promoting collaboration across departments

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a strategic, relationship-driven fundraising and communications professional with a proven ability to secure funding, build lasting partnerships and communicate organisational impact effectively. They possess exceptional proposal writing, marketing and communication skills, understand the South African donor landscape, and have experience managing both external marketing initiatives and internal organisational communications. They are collaborative, innovative and results-oriented, capable of balancing strategic leadership with operational delivery while strengthening Siyazisiza Trust's brand, stakeholder engagement and long-term sustainability.

The successful candidate will bring a strong combination of fundraising expertise, strategic thinking, relationship management skills and communications experience appropriate to support the sustainable growth of a mission-driven organisation.

A. Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications, Development Studies, Business Admin or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in Development Studies, Fundraising, Communications, Marketing, Non-Profit Management or a related discipline will be advantageous.
• Professional certification or training in fundraising, proposal writing, donor management or business development will be advantageous.
• Excellent written communication and proposal writing skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and experience with using digital communication platforms and donor databases or CRM systems would be advantageous.

B. Experience

• Minimum 5–7 years' experience in fundraising, donor relations, communications or partnership management within the NGO, development or public benefit sector.
• Demonstrated success in securing institutional, corporate and philanthropic funding through proposal development, donor engagement and strategic partnerships.
• Experience in fundraising strategy, grant management, donor compliance, reporting and pipeline management.
• Experience contributing to organisational strategy and leading or supervising a small multidisciplinary team.
• Experience working with digital marketing platforms, social media management tools, website content management systems and email marketing platforms will be advantageous.
• Experience managing organisational communications, internal communication programmes, brand management and marketing campaigns, including the coordination of external marketing or communications agencies

C. Operational Requirements

• Strong relationship-building, networking, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent planning, project management, analytical and organisational abilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity, confidentiality and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate effectively across teams and travel when required.
• Commitment to Siyazisiza Trust's mission, values and community-centred approach.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel extensively to rural programme areas.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders and translate complex programme information into compelling donor, marketing and employee communication material.

D. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Achievement of fundraising targets and growth of the funding pipeline.
• Achievement of annual fundraising targets and growth of the funding pipeline.
• Successful submission of high-quality funding proposals and effective donor relationship management.
• Compliance with donor reporting requirements, grant conditions and funding obligations.
• Successful implementation of Siyazisiza Trust's communications and marketing strategy, resulting in increased organisational visibility, stakeholder engagement and brand recognition.
• Effective management of internal communication initiatives that promote employee engagement, organisational alignment and information sharing.
• Successful coordination and performance management of external marketing, branding, communications and creative service providers.
• Growth in digital presence, media exposure and stakeholder engagement across communication platforms.
• Development and maintenance of strategic partnerships that contribute to organisational sustainability and programme impact.

Siyazisiza Trust reserves the right to verify qualifications, employment history, and references as part of the selection process.  Siyazisiza Trust is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.