Donor Engagement and Events Internship

About MSF

Doctors without Borders (MSF) Southern Africa is a global network of principled professionals who specialise in medical humanitarian work driven by our common humanity and guided by medical ethics. We work together in teams, small and large, to respond to the medical needs of people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics and those excluded from healthcare.

Doctors Without Borders team members are on the ground, working directly, every day. We bear witness and describe what is happening, to raise awareness about the experiences of the people we assist and the situations where we work. We alert the public to emerging crises, acute emergencies and serious challenges, such as lack of access and exclusion from healthcare, and to mobilise support for MSF’s work and social mission, provoking change.

Today, MSF is present in more than 70 countries, where thousands of MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, and other medical and non-medical professionals work together to bring essential health services to people caught in humanitarian crises. MSF South Africa is in Johannesburg, with an office in Cape Town too. MSF SA is governed by the MSF Southern Africa Association, which is made up of more than 300 members from seven countries in the region.

The MSF-SA Fundraising Team's mission is:

To inspire and engage the South African community to take action to save lives around the world through financial support towards MSF projects. MSF SA’s fundraising department is responsible for raising private funding, predominantly from individuals, to support our humanitarian mission and our activities in the Southern African region.

Job Overview:

Reporting to the Retentions manager and working directly with the Donor Engagement and Events officer, the Donor Engagement and Events Intern will provide support on all the fundraising Events and merchandise, he/she/they will ensure all the administration and logistical running of events. Providing essential personal contact to donors and qualified prospects by handling customer service issues, facilitating donors’ Events queries, crowdfunding platforms like Givengain, recording of EFT donations on CRM and assisting in all retention activities while learning about fundraising and donor care.

Visions of the post:

By providing quality outbound and inbound care and services to all donors' queries regarding Events and merchandise via both online and offline channels, mainly emails and telephone, but not limited to.
Accurate capturing and recording of all donor care requests and queries on the 
CRM. Work with the Donor Care team to archive annual team KPIs and improve donor efficiency.

Reports to: Retentions Manager

Purpose of the job:

The Donor Engagement and Events intern(DEEI) at MSF Southern Africa (MSF SA) will be part of the Retentions and Loyalty team in the Fundraising department. Working with the Donor Engagement and Events Officer, the DEEI will provide support for all fundraising Events and merchandise. He/she/they will ensure the administration and logistics of events. Providing essential personal contact to donors and qualified prospects by handling customer service issues, facilitating donors’ queries, crowdfunding platforms like Given gain and assisting in all retention activities while learning about fundraising and donor care.

We are looking for a proactive and efficient individual with outstanding interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, a strong work ethic and a commitment to confidentiality and high ethical standards. The Donor Engagement and Events Intern will be able to prioritise workloads promptly and translate donor requests and queries into the most efficient solutions to improve MSF’s donor retention and loyalty objectives.

The Donor Engagement and Events Intern will have to be an individual with a 
passion for humanitarian causes, a strong customer service focus, and excellent attention to detail. He or she or should be computer literate with high-level oral, Good Networking, and strong social skills.

Key Learnings

The Donor Engagement and Events Intern will focus on the following 
learning areas:

• Events management and organising.
• Merchandise sells and management.
• Customer care practical responsibilities, customer Relationship system 
  management experience, and user administration.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Pro-active Events and Engagement program:

• Support the planning and organising of Fundraising Events such as 
  Marathons, ML Webinars, school visits, donor fundraising initiatives, etc.
• Ensure that all EFT, crowdfunding and Merchandise website donations are recorded in the database.
• Provide support and actively track and report on the Merchandise and events.
• Facilitate the delivery of Merchandise and events logistics.
• Proactively communicate with donors in a timely and appropriate manner to: thank/welcome them and systematically encourage engagement.
• Work with the Donor Care team to implement the Events strategy by 
  researching and suggesting new ways and connections for events' fundraising initiatives.

2. Re-active Events and Engagement program:

• Respond to all incoming inquiries and requests from current and prospective donors, regarding events, updating donors’ profiles and details, and requests for this type of information.
• Record each interaction with donors and update the donor profile accordingly.
• Ensure that all event gifts are acknowledged with appropriate and timely correspondence.
• Support other Fundraising units and other departments with requests and inquiries that synchronise with events and engagement.

3. Donor Engagement and loyalty program: Admin and Reporting tasks:

• Update, as required, MSF SA fundraising files, both paper and electronic/online.
• Active participation and contribution to the editing and writing of SOPs.
• Assisting in the quality checks for call centre calls regarding events and EFT donations, but not limited to this.
• Support the Donor Engagement and events officer in maintaining and managing the merchandise website.
• Actively participate in the MSF CRM database updating and customisation to ensure that the database is meeting any retention activities needs, both for short-term and long-term activities.
• Work with the Donor care team to improve the KPIs of the retention and Loyalty programs.
• Related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education:

• Minimum of a National Diploma or a Bachelor's Degree qualification in Marketing, Business Administration, Public Relations, and 
  Communications.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, and a working 
  Knowledge of search functions for donor research purposes; Knowledge of working with databases, events and websites a plus.
• Organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload promptly to complete assignments when faced with many deadlines and competing requirements.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Willingness to learn skills in coordinating and managing personalized Donor relationships.

Required Competence:

• Passion for humanitarian causes.
• Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethic.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Strong customer service focus and excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated creative thinking, with the ability to take initiative and the 
  willingness to learn.

Personal attributes:

• Detail-oriented, deadline-driven and self-directed.
• Team-player.
• A natural curiosity about people is key.
• Confidence to show initiative.
• Tact, diplomacy, sound judgment and demonstrated commitment to 
  professional ethics and safeguarding donor confidentiality at all times.
• A positive mental attitude, persistence and desire to learn.
• Cross-cultural awareness.
• Results and quality orientation.
• Strong organisation, multi-tasking skills, and the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines at specific times.
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our values: Respect, Transparency, 
  Integrity, Accountability, Trust, and Empowerment.
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioural Commitments.

Remuneration and resources:

• Resources needed, such as working space, computer, internet, stationery, and other resources, will be made available.
• Monthly Stipend: R 5000.
• 100% Medical aid contribution.
• Transport allowance.
• Cell Phone Allowance.

Commitment:

Length of commitment: 12 months 

APPLY HERE

Closing date: 3 | April | 2026
Starting date: ASAP

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NB: Information

The protection of your personal data is important to MSF SnA. By submitting your application, you consent to MSF using your personal data only for the recruitment process to have all the information and documents necessary to proceed with the recruitment, validation of your application and selection of the most suitable candidate. Your personal data will be treated confidentially. MSF SnA will not use your personal data in any other way not foreseen for purposes of recruitment.

MSF values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, and all other diversity characteristics.