Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager in Melbourne, Victoria at Childrens Ground

About Children's Ground

Children’s Ground is a First Nations organisation. The Children’s Ground Approach is designed and delivered through the leadership of First Nations people. We are committed to systems change to ensure dignity, justice and equity for all children and families. Our work focuses on national reform as well as evidencing a new way of working.

The Children’s Ground Approach is a whole of community, whole of life approach. We privilege First Nations knowledge systems and practice. Over the course of a generation, led by local expertise, we create and deliver an integrated system that is centred on learning, development and wellbeing that responds to the child and their family through the key transition points from pre-birth to young adulthood.

Our approach recognises the cultural, social, and economic strength of our communities. We build on this over a generation to ensure a future for our children and grandchildren that gives them freedom, opportunity and rights to their culture and identity.

Children’s Ground operates in Central Australia and across the Top End, with support provided by a Melbourne-based Shared Services team.

About the role

Children’s Ground has wonderful relationships with our funders and partners who go above and beyond to back our community leaders. This role will build on our major donor program so that we can achieve sustainable, long-term growth and further scale our work on the ground.

The role will support existing partners and increases opportunities for new funders to walk with Children’s Ground and stewards these prospective donors from identification to confirmed support. The role will nurture relationships with our key partners and expand our partnerships.

This role will be working closely with a small and talented team of fundraisers and communicators who are passionate about their work. You will be part of a growing organisation that is delivering on big goals that enable and empower First Nations children, their families, and communities to change their futures through our ambitious philanthropy and fundraising strategy.

Key Responsibilities

With a responsibility for Major Donors, Philanthropic Trusts and Foundations and Private Ancillary Funds this role will:

• Develop and manage a major donor portfolio including relationships, communications, contracts, obligations, and reports
• Research connections, establish and nurture relationships and create new partners, matching their goals with their CG supporter journey
• Support key philanthropic partners and their donor journey
• Support other partnerships and Ambassadors as required

• Supporting plans to grow income and meet or exceed partnership targets
• Track performance against KPI's
• Develop and execute acquisition strategies

Key Selection Criteria

Essential experience and skills

• Demonstrated experience as a fundraising and philanthropy professional, with at least 3 years of experience in roles focussing on philanthropy, major donor and/or corporate giving.
• Tertiary qualification in fundraising, business, marketing, social impact, communications or relevant field and/or equivalent professional experience
• Successful record in delivering against revenue target
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills including written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate concepts and ideas persuasively to a wide variety of audiences
• Developed organisational skills with an ability to balance competing work priorities to meet tight deadlines while working effectively with multiple stakeholders
• Experience using CRM databases, preferably Salesforce
• Willingness to undergo a National Police Check and obtain a Working with Children Check
• An ability to undertake occasional interstate travel and work outside normal business hours.

Desirable experience and skills

• Experience working alongside First Nations colleagues and communities, a strong understanding of First Nations culture, history and lived experience
• Experience working for a social change NGO
• Experience managing events

Working Environment

Children’s Ground works in deep partnership with First Nations communities and within complex systems change contexts. This work is meaningful and relational, and also requires flexibility, patience and cultural humility.

Team members must be comfortable working in adaptive environments where timelines may be influenced by cultural protocols, community priorities and complex service systems.

We invite you to walk with us on this unique journey…

Benefits include an attractive remuneration package $120,580 - $130,820 including excellent tax benefits six weeks leave (4 weeks annual leave + 2 weeks bonus leave).

If this sounds like the role for you please apply via Work with us - Children's Ground by including your resume and a cover letter. Applications will close on Monday the 18th May 2026.

In line with our workforce development strategy, Children's Ground strongly encourages and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants to apply.