• An exciting entry point into philanthropy, this role offers hands-on exposure across trusts and foundations, donor engagement and major gifts fundraising.
• Join a collaborative and high-performing team where you’ll develop best practice fundraising skills while helping advance impactful heart health research.
• Sydney-based | Hybrid | Full-time

Impact of the organisation

The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute is dedicated to finding cures for cardiovascular disease and is one of the most respected heart research facilities in the world.

Renowned for the quality of its breakthroughs, the Institute was established in 1994 and has grown to a team of over 200 researchers from around the globe, working across five divisions.

As a global centre of excellence, the Institute brings together expertise in Cardiac Physiology and Transplantation, Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics, Structural and Computational Biology, and Vascular Biology to drive innovations that improve outcomes for patients and their families. At the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, we rapidly translate discoveries into new diagnostics, preventions, and treatments for cardiovascular disease - reducing the incidence, severity, and impact of heart disease globally.

Impact you will have in this role

The Development Coordinator sits within the Advancement team and is a fantastic opportunity for an emerging fundraising professional looking to build their career in philanthropy. Supporting the growth of the Institute’s mid-level giving program, the role focuses on trusts and foundations, community grants and donor relationships that help fund life-changing heart health initiatives and medical research.

This role offers hands-on experience across grant writing, donor stewardship and relationship management. Working closely with experienced fundraising leaders, the successful candidate will research funding opportunities, contribute to compelling grant applications and support meaningful engagement with mid-level donors and supporters.

The position also provides valuable exposure to major gifts fundraising, with opportunities to identify and support high-potential donor relationships while learning from senior members of the Transformational Giving team. Alongside this, the Development Coordinator will collaborate with Community Giving and Donor Relations colleagues to help nurture donors on their philanthropic journey.
This role is ideal for an ambitious early-career fundraising professional looking to build a long-term career in philanthropy. Combining relationship management, donor engagement and grant writing, the position offers an exceptional training ground for someone eager to deepen their skills and gain exposure across fundraising.

Working alongside experienced philanthropy leaders, the successful candidate will benefit from strong mentoring, hands-on development opportunities and exposure to sophisticated fundraising strategies, all within a collaborative and purpose-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of trusts and foundations, club and community grants, and individual mid-level donors aligned to the Institute’s Heart Health Check program and medical research priorities.
• Research, identify and qualify new funding opportunities, assessing alignment with strategic priorities and funder criteria.
• Prepare and submit compelling five-figure grant applications and proposals in collaboration with research, finance and development teams.
• Steward trusts and foundations relationships through reporting, acquittals, renewals and ongoing engagement.
• Support the development and delivery of a structured mid-level donor stewardship journey alongside the Donor Relations Manager.
• Build relationships with mid-level donors through personalised engagement, including thank-you calls and stewardship activities.
• Identify and escalate major gift opportunities emerging from trusts and foundations, donor conversations and community giving pipelines.
• Partner with Community Giving colleagues to nurture and transition donors into deeper philanthropic engagement.
• Maintain accurate donor records, pipeline activity and reporting within Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Monitor fundraising activity and pipeline performance against targets and reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards, privacy legislation and organisational policies.
• Contribute to a collaborative fundraising culture while continuing professional development and sector engagement.

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience or transferable skills in fundraising, grants, sales, customer service or relationship management.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to prepare compelling proposals and applications.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to identify funding opportunities aligned to organisational priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including confidence engaging with donors and stakeholders over the phone.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain accurate CRM records.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and communicate complex information in a clear and engaging way.
• Comfortable using Microsoft 365, CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge NXT highly regarded) and digital productivity tools.
• Collaborative, self-motivated and eager to learn within a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment.
• Interest in philanthropy and a genuine desire to build a long-term career in fundraising and development.
• Flexibility to support donor and stakeholder engagement activities when required.

What we offer

• Salary packaging (including a $15,900 tax-free component, plus meal and entertainment allowances, holiday accommodation/venue hire plus many more).
• Banking & lifestyle benefits with Commonwealth Bank, including lending offers, discounts from participating retailers and financial wellbeing webinars.
• Fitness Passport
• Excellent environment with new state-of-the-art equipment.
• Collaborative team environment
• Continuous learning and development opportunities

Applications

To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

Please direct all enquiries to Kristina Baric at Impact Advising on [email protected] using the subject line: Development Coordinator - Mid-Tier Giving - Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Impact Advising is committed to creating diverse and inclusive work environments that reflect the rich tapestry of our communities. We believe that diversity enriches organisations and fosters innovation. We are dedicated to building workforces that are a representative of the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our society. We embrace diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and cultural background. We actively seek to foster inclusive workplaces where all employees can bring their whole selves to work, feel respected and valued, and have equal opportunities for growth and advancement. We are committed to providing a fair and unbiased recruitment process, and we strive to eliminate any barriers that may impede the inclusion and participation of underrepresented groups in workforces.