Head of Donor Engagement

World Vision Australia is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to join our team as the Head of Donor Engagement. Reporting to the Chief of Private Funding, this pivotal role supports the development, planning, and operations of our major gifts programs, including donor circles and new acquisitions.

This is more than a job—it's a chance to make a profound impact on the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children and adults.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Guide and support the creation of complex philanthropy strategies, engagement, and stewardship plans. Serving as an internal consultant to Relationship Managers, providing targeted services that support fundraising strategies and priorities.
• Designing, implementing and maintaining Major Gift Strategies such as Donor Acquisition, Engagement and Stewardship strategy, including development of Donor Circles and Transfer of Wealth (Bequest) and Next Gen Philanthropy for Private Funding.
• Operational Oversight: Oversee the Engagement & Stewardship functions, ensuring alignment with fundraising objectives across Individual Philanthropy, Corporate, and Trusts & Foundations teams.
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate with the Private Funding Leadership Team to foster a culture of philanthropy within the organisation.
• Deputy Responsibilities: Serve as the Deputy to the Chief of Private Funding, providing support and assuming leadership responsibilities in their absence.
• Strategic Planning: Assist in the strategic planning and execution of private funding initiatives.

What you’ll bring:

• Demonstrated knowledge of philanthropy and fundraising, including trends, opportunities, and gaps.
• Extensive knowledge of best practices in Major Gifts principles, methodologies, tools, and resources.
• A natural people leader with demonstrated experience in people leadership
• Significant leadership experience, with extensive experience in donor development roles.
• Proven track record in managing high-quality major gifts in large NFP hospitals or universities.
• Interpersonal Impact: Human-centered, value-focused, trustworthy, collaborative, friendly, and able to build relationships with exceptional communication skills.
• Skilled in building and managing relationships with key stakeholders cross functionally
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate vision into actionable plans.

The selection process 

For your information, the interviews will start immediately, and the role may be filled before the closing date.

We embrace diversity, employing people from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. We take our Safeguarding responsibilities seriously and we are committed to providing an environment that is safe for children. Our stringent recruitment procedures make sure the safest and most suitable people work with the children in our programs. All successful candidates will undergo all required pre-employment checks which is inclusive of a criminal record check.

We provide our staff and volunteers with ongoing supervision, support, and training in their work with vulnerable children and their families.  World Vision Australia participates in the Inter-Agency Scheme for the Disclosure of Safeguarding-related Misconduct in Recruitment Process within the Humanitarian and Development Sector. 

Who we are

World Vision is a Christian organisation that empowers everyday Australians to create meaningful change for children through relief, development and advocacy work. 

We offer great benefits such as salary packaging, birthday leave, flexible working arrangements, free on-site parking and an onsite café for our employees.

For more information on World Vision and the work we do, please visit our website: https://www.worldvision.com.au/about-us