Director of Philanthropy
- Lead Teach For Australia’s philanthropy strategy and grow diversified revenue through major gifts, trusts and foundations, and partnerships.
- Build and steward relationships with donors, corporate partners, the Board and senior stakeholders, and oversee funding propositions and impact communications.
- Provide executive leadership and develop a high-performing philanthropy team in support of educational equity across Australia.
- Executive leadership role driving educational equity across Australia
- Lead transformational philanthropy, partnerships and revenue growth
- Melbourne, hybrid. Full-time, 2-year fixed term contract
Teach For Australia (TFA) is on a mission to ensure every child in Australia has access to an excellent education, regardless of postcode or background. Through recruiting and developing exceptional people to teach and lead, TFA is building a growing movement committed to educational equity and opportunity.
TFA is a values-driven organisation where they:
- Serve the Students – Everything they do is in service of children and young people.
- Have High Expectations – For themselves, for others, and for what’s possible for students.
- Make It Happen – They act with deliberate intent to create meaningful change.
- Get There Together – Collaboration is at the heart of their vision.
- Celebrate Along the Way – They find joy in progress, impact and possibility.
The Role
Reporting to the CEO and sitting on the Executive Team, the Director of Philanthropy is a critical leadership role responsible for growing and diversifying revenue to support Teach For Australia's long-term impact and sustainability. This role provides both strategic and hands-on leadership across major gifts, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships and donor stewardship, while fostering an organisation-wide culture that values and champions philanthropy.
In this role, you will:
- Lead philanthropy strategy: Develop and deliver an ambitious fundraising strategy aligned to TFA's growth ambitions, ensuring a sustainable and diversified revenue mix
- Drive revenue growth: Achieve ambitious fundraising targets while strengthening and expanding philanthropic income streams
- Build transformational donor relationships: Cultivate and steward major donors, high-net-worth individuals, trusts, foundations and philanthropic partners
- Grow strategic partnerships: Identify, secure and steward corporate and community partnerships that deliver mutual value and long-term impact
- Shape compelling funding propositions: Oversee high-quality funding submissions, donor communications, campaigns and impact storytelling
- Provide executive leadership: Contribute to whole-of-organisation strategy, planning and culture as a member of TFA's Executive Team
- Engage and inspire key stakeholders: Partner with the Board, ambassadors, champions and senior leaders to strengthen cultivation and fundraising outcomes
- Lead and develop a high-performing team: Build capability, create clarity and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and achievement
About YOU
You are an accomplished executive leader with significant fundraising, philanthropy, business development or partnership experience and a genuine commitment to educational excellence and equity.
You will bring:
- A proven track record developing and delivering successful philanthropy, major gifts, business development or revenue growth strategies
- Demonstrated success securing support from major donors, trusts and foundations, corporate partners or other significant stakeholders
- Exceptional relationship-building, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
- Strong strategic thinking combined with commercial acumen and the ability to translate vision into execution
- Experience working with Boards, executive teams and senior leaders to drive organisational outcomes and impact
- Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling cases for support and present to diverse audiences
- Strong leadership capability, emotional intelligence and a collaborative leadership style
- A degree or equivalent professional qualification
- Experience in the education sector and with Salesforce environments will be highly regarded
Gembridge Australia champions diversity and is committed to building an inclusive environment. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation and genders.
APPLY NOW if you are a strategic philanthropy leader ready to grow philanthropic support, build transformational partnerships, and help create a stronger, more equitable education system in Australia.
Gembridge is proud to partner with Teach for Australia.
For a confidential discussion, contact Michelle Varcoe at Gembridge on ************ or **********************.
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