The Senior Fundraising Manager will help develop Climate Defenders Australia's (CDA) fundraising program and manage meaningful donor experiences. This is a hands-on fundraising role reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Operations Manager. This role will involve securing funding and creating compelling communications that allow funders to understand our impact.

This role will be ideal for someone who wants to use their relevant fundraising experience to help grow CDA. If you’re excited by the idea of designing a fundraising strategy and seeing the tangible impact of your behind-the-scenes work, this role will be a great opportunity for you to use your skills in a values-aligned organisation.

We're looking for a caNdidate who can:

• Refine CDA’s funding strategy and identify new sources of philanthropic income.
• Be responsible for donor stewardship, ensuring that donors have a warm and professional experience with CDA.
• Draft donor communications, including pitch decks, ensuring accurate and compelling messaging.
• Project manage grant applications, ensuring application deadlines are met.
• Manage existing grant compliance with support from the operations manager.
• Secure large, medium and small donations.
• Support the Executive Director in reporting to the CDA board on relevant fundraising metrics.
• Collaborate with our legal team to translate court outcomes into impactful stories that can be shared with funders.
• Represent CDA at events where donors are present.

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• 4+ years' experience in philanthropy and working with major donors. Preferably in a not-for-profit environment.
• Demonstrated experience in managing donor relationships.
• Experience in grant reporting and compliance.
• Strong written communication skills with experience in drafting pitches and writing grant applications.
• Passion for social justice and social change, focusing on climate justice.
• Ability to prioritise tasks according to need, meet deadlines and work at a fast pace when required.
• Ability to work autonomously and in teams.
• Highly developed organisational skills, including the ability to manage and organise files and documents.

Desirable:

• Previous experience working in a Community Legal Service, or an environmental or human rights NGO.
• Experience working with both domestic and international funders.

About us

Climate Defenders Australia (CDA) is a first-of-its-kind not-for-profit community legal service that specialises in defending frontline climate and environmental defenders. While our office is based in Sydney, we work across Australia, principally in the areas of criminal law, administrative and constitutional law, tort law, anti-discrimination and human rights law.

We also assist defenders who want to hold governments and police accountable for their actions by using courts and other mechanisms like complaints to regulators and authorities, as well as responding to Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) which are used to threaten and intimidate people from engaging in civic space.

In addition to legal practice, CDA also provides legal information, education, and other related support to the community to advance and protect the natural environment. In this way, CDA advocates for law reform in areas relevant to its legal practice, consistent with its charitable purpose.

CDA operates from the Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub in Circular Quay, a co-workspace where all tenants are working to address matter of climate and environmental concern. Our team primarily work hybrid from this office, but we are willing to negotiate a fully remote role within Australia for the right candidate.

Equal Opportunity Employer

CDA is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We warmly welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people who identify as LGBTQIA+. If you are a candidate with disability, please let us know if you require any support to participate in the application and recruitment process.

A position description is attached.