• Support the coordination and delivery of personalised donor stewardship initiatives, events and communications, ensuring exceptional donor experiences for transformational and major donor supporters.
• 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, permanent role

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.

The impact you will have in this role

As the Donor Engagement Coordinator, you will play an important role in delivering meaningful donor stewardship and engagement experiences that strengthen relationships with supporters and demonstrate the impact of their philanthropy.

Reporting to the Donor Relations Manager, you'll work closely with the Major and Transformational Giving teams, researchers, senior leaders and external suppliers to coordinate personalised donor communications, recognition activities and stewardship initiatives. You'll help deliver exceptional donor experiences through thoughtful project coordination, event management, compelling communications and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring initiatives are delivered to a high standard and on time.

This opportunity is well suited to a proactive, hands-on and naturally curious individual with strong organisational and project management skills who thrives on managing multiple competing priorities. You'll enjoy building relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, taking ownership of your work and contributing as part of a collaborative team. If you're looking to build your fundraising career while learning from an experienced team, this is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to one of the world's leading heart research institutes.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of a comprehensive donor stewardship program across all giving levels, with a focus on major and transformational donors.
• Plan and deliver donor events and stewardship experiences from end to end, coordinating logistics, suppliers, invitations, run sheets and on-the-day delivery.
• Apply strong project management skills to coordinate multiple stewardship initiatives, managing timelines and competing priorities to ensure activities are delivered on time and to a high standard.
• Coordinate personalised thank-you letters, impact reports and donor updates that demonstrate the outcomes of philanthropic support.
• Maintain stewardship calendars and ensure timely donor communications and engagement activities.
• Partner with the Media & Communications team and Individual Giving Manager to develop compelling donor-facing content, including newsletters, impact stories, annual reports and donor updates.
• Ensure consistency of messaging, branding and tone across all donor communications.
• Work collaboratively with researchers, senior leaders and internal stakeholders to deliver meaningful donor experiences.
• Support the Donor Relations Manager in responding to donor enquiries and delivering stewardship initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Major and Transformational Giving teams to strengthen donor cultivation, stewardship and retention.
• Track donor preferences and feedback to inform future engagement strategies.
• Maintain accurate donor records within Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Monitor stewardship activity and prepare reports to measure engagement and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support compliance with donor intent and gift agreements.

Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in donor relations, fundraising, communications, project coordination or a similar role.
• Strong project management skills, with proven ability to coordinate and deliver multiple concurrent projects and events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create engaging communications and build strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and project coordination skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• A proactive, hands-on and naturally curious approach, with strong problem-solving skills, a willingness to learn, ask questions and continuously build new skills and knowledge.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office, with exposure to Canva, Adobe InDesign or similar design platforms.
• A familiarity or willingness to use AI tools, such as Microsoft CoPilot and Claude.
• Confidence collaborating with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Experience coordinating events or working with suppliers would be advantageous.
• A genuine passion for medical research and creating meaningful donor experiences.

Applications

Please apply by clicking 'Apply Now' and uploading your resume. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with conversations progressing with suitable candidates throughout the recruitment process. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date, so we encourage early applications.

Please direct any enquiries to Kristina Baric at Impact Advising on [email protected] using the subject line: Donor Engagement Coordinator - 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.