Join Our Team as a Manager, Philanthropy!
Are you passionate about making a difference in children’s health? We are currently recruiting for a full-time, ongoing Manager, Philanthropy. Philanthropy plays a crucial role in improving children’s health and transforming the delivery of healthcare. The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation Philanthropy program aims to generate significant funds through meaningful relationship management with philanthropic donors, while ensuring they feel valued and recognised.
Who we are
Founded in 1989, the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Royal Children’s Hospital, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals. The RCH Foundation has the vital role of raising and distributing donated funds to the hospital, enabling the very best patient and family care and support, and saving and improving the lives of our sickest children. While a legally separate organisation, the RCH Foundation works closely with the RCH in achieving its vision.
The Role
The Manager, Philanthropy is a leadership role within the Fundraising Department, responsible for managing and driving the success of the Major Gifts Team and supporting the Deputy Director and Director of Fundraising in planning and executing campus-wide collaborations and the Campus Wide Campaign at the RCH Foundation. The role collaborates closely with the Deputy Director of Fundraising to achieve revenue targets as part of the growth strategy.
About You
- You are purpose-driven and committed to the mission and values of the RCH Foundation.
- You have a minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in philanthropy, with a proven track record of success, including specific experience in Major Gifts and fundraising, and demonstrated success in securing major gifts of six figures.
- You have a degree or equivalent qualification, preferably a recognised fundraising qualification(s), and a commitment to personal development.
- You have demonstrated people leadership experience, with the ability to mentor, coach, and lead a high-performing, accountable team, while modelling the Foundation’s values and behaviours of a leader.
- You have outstanding stakeholder and relationship management skills, with a proven ability to build strong relationships with donors, supporters, and key stakeholders.
- You have knowledge of Melbourne, Victorian, national, and international philanthropic communities that support health, and the ability to optimise high-level and key relationships, ideally with experience working in a health or university setting.
- You have advanced knowledge of CRM databases, with the technical ability to use Salesforce in a Major Gifts team, preferably with a high level of computer literacy and proficiency with other fundraising programs.
- You have a clear understanding of, and personal commitment to, the mission and values of the RCH Foundation.
Key Selection Criteria
- Demonstrated fundraising leader with proven success working with major donors and securing six and seven figure+ philanthropic gifts.
- Proven leader and demonstrated experience of leading and motivating a team and yourself.
- Proven track record in designing and implementing fundraising major gift strategies and operational plans.
- Sound understanding of major strategies includes moves management or 100-day journeys, donor motivations, and knowledge of the philanthropic landscape.
- Superb written and oral communication skills with experience communicating to a wide range of audiences, including major donors, corporate representatives, senior staff, board members, and volunteers; as well as experience writing tailored donor proposals.
- Excellent people skills with the ability to build relationships and demonstrated success in dealing with donors, including showing a high level of emotional intelligence and compassion.
- Demonstrated attention to detail, working under own initiative to strict deadlines, and managing accounts and projects simultaneously, including strong ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Demonstrated sophisticated relationship building and management skills with the ability to engage internal and external stakeholders.
- Proven track record of self-motivation, professionalism, six and seven figure gift achievements, and meeting stretch financial targets through ambitious and complex donor proposals.
- Ability to demonstrate having coached a Philanthropy Team member to steward, cultivate, and secure multiple six figure+ gifts.
- Demonstrated experience in achieving goals and KPIs both individually and collaboratively as part of a team.
- Alignment to the RCH Foundation values of Integrity, Gratitude, Innovation, Excellence.
Why Join us?
- Be part of a highly supportive team which consistently rates its culture as one of the best things about working at the RCH Foundation
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- The chance to make a real impact in the community
- Competitive salary and benefits package, including:
- Hybrid working model
- Salary packaging (up to $15,900)
- Three bonus days of leave between Christmas and New Year for the office close-down period
- Two additional days of leave per year to support staff wellbeing and mental health
- Two additional days of personal leave per year
- Enhanced paid parental leave offer
How to Apply
If you are ready to take on this exciting challenge and contribute to our mission, we would love to hear from you!
- Download the position description.
- Include a cover letter addressing the selection criteria outlined in the position description. Applications which do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.
- Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are a great fit for this role on the Bamboo online portal via the 'Apply For This Job' link.
Please email any enquiries to Laura Buck, Director, Fundraising, at laura.buck@rch.org.au using the subject line: Manager, Philanthropy.
Application Deadline: 11pm on Wednesday 8 April 2026.
Join us and be a part of something meaningful. Together, we can make a difference!
The RCH Foundation is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, all members of the LGBTIQA+ community and people with disability.
Commitment to child safety
The welfare of children will always be the RCH Foundation’s first priority, and it has zero-tolerance towards to any actions, behaviours, words or sentiments that may cause harm, including child abuse. Policies and practices are sensitive to the protection of children and, wherever there is contact with children and their families, the aim is to create a child safe environment.
The RCH Foundation is committed to the principles of cultural safety and inclusion of children from diverse backgrounds, and to the safety and inclusion of children with disability and recognises that these principles support the safety of all children.
