• Fantastic career opportunity for a fundraiser with experience in trusts and foundations or major gifts fundraising
• Permanent full-time | Flexible hybrid working with access to unique wildlife experiences and benefits
• Join a high-performing Major Gifts team working closely with senior leaders on high-value campaigns

Impact of the organisation

Taronga plays a vital role in wildlife conservation and public education in Australia. Home to thousands of animals, including many endangered species, Taronga runs breeding programs to help prevent extinction. Through partnerships with conservation organisations locally and globally, Taronga protects habitats, advances research, and supports species recovery.

Taronga is also active in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, with its veterinary hospital caring for injured native animals. Through hands-on care, scientific research, and community programs, Taronga continues to make a lasting contribution to protecting wildlife.

Education is another cornerstone of Taronga’s work; the zoo welcomes school groups and runs programs that teach students about biodiversity, sustainability, and animal welfare. These experiences help raise awareness of environmental challenges and inspire practical action to support conservation.

Impact you will have in this role

In this role, you will have the opportunity to make an extraordinary difference for wildlife. The gifts and support you secure will directly fund vital conservation programs, protect endangered species, restore habitats, and advance groundbreaking scientific research.

You’ll play a key role in Taronga’s large-scale campaigns and its innovative Habitat Positive program, creating wildlife sanctuaries and rewilding native species. Every relationship you build and every gift you secure will help animals and ecosystems thrive.

You will own and grow an existing portfolio of high-value donors, developing tailored proposals and strategic engagement plans that turn their philanthropic goals into real-world conservation outcomes. Your work will secure transformational gifts (five and six figures) that fund critical projects, expand habitat protection, and support scientific research, making a measurable difference for wildlife locally and globally.

You will also work closely with senior leaders and the broader Major Gifts team to drive the growth of Taronga’s philanthropic income. By managing and stewarding a dynamic donor portfolio, identifying new funding opportunities, and supporting key campaigns, you will play a central role in delivering a multi-million-dollar income stream that sustains conservation efforts and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations and wildlife.

Key responsibilities

• Drive real conservation impact by securing major gifts (five and six figures) that fund Taronga’s key wildlife projects, including large-scale campaigns and the innovative Habitat Positive program.
• Cultivate and manage established major donor relationships, developing tailored engagement strategies that inspire transformational support.
• Identify and engage new major donors and high-value grant opportunities to grow Taronga’s philanthropic reach and diversify funding streams.
• Play a central role in achieving a multi-million-dollar annual Major Gifts income target, contributing directly to the growth and success of the Major Gifts program.
• Collaborate closely with senior leaders, including the CEO, using negotiation and influencing skills to match donor interests with Taronga’s funding priorities.
• Create compelling, high-quality proposals, presentations, and communications tailored to each donor’s passions and philanthropic goals.
• Steward a dynamic donor portfolio, using CRM insights and strategic planning to nurture long-term commitment and maximise philanthropic impact.
• Maintain accurate donor records, strengthen internal and external stakeholder relationships, and support the wider Foundation team to ensure Taronga’s fundraising goals are achieved.

Skills and experience

• Demonstrated experience in trusts and foundations, or major gifts fundraising and philanthropy, with a track record of securing high-value donations.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging high-value donors and senior leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling proposals, presentations, grants and tailored donor materials.
• Demonstrated negotiation and influencing skills to align donor interests with organisational priorities.
• Experience in researching and identifying new funding opportunities, including trusts, foundations, and high-value grants.
• Proficiency in using CRM systems to manage donor records, track engagement, and monitor fundraising progress.
• Hold a current NSW Driver’s License (or ability to have an existing license formally recognised, including manual).
• Strong alignment with Taronga’s mission and values, with a genuine passion for wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.

Applications

To submit your application, please click 'Apply Now' to upload your resume.

Please direct all enquiries to Nadia Pachon at Impact Advising on [email protected] using the subject line: Philanthropy Manager - Taronga Zoo 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.