Help protect Australian wildlife with one of Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisations.

• Full-time 12-month fixed term contract with potential to extend
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Join a passionate, close-knit fundraising team
• Work with senior leaders on impactful fundraising campaigns to protect wildlife

For more than 40 years, WIRES has provided lifesaving rescue and care to injured, orphaned and displaced native animals. Our mission is to actively preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. Today, our 24/7 Emergency Rescue Service responds to more than 160,000 native animals in need every year.

As we continue to grow our impact, we’re looking for a confident and relationship-driven Fundraising Specialist to help expand our Major Giving program.

If you’re passionate about Australian wildlife, experienced in Major Gifts fundraising, and confident in making meaningful donor asks, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Fundraising and Marketing and working closely with our Donor Relationships Manager, this role will focus on stewarding existing Major Donors while building a strong pipeline of new Major Donors and Trusts & Foundations.

You’ll also play an important role in growing our Mid-Tier donor program and creating meaningful donor experiences that inspire long-term support for Australian wildlife rescue.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and nurture strong relationships with existing Major Donors and Trusts & Foundations through personalised engagement, proposals, events and stewardship
• Identify, research and qualify new Major Gift prospects using database analysis and external research
• Develop and manage new major donor relationships from identification and cultivation through to solicitation, gift closure and stewardship
• Confidently make asks and secure major gifts
• Plan, deliver and attend donor stewardship events including private briefings, morning teas and evening gatherings
• Collaborate with internal program teams to develop compelling proposals, impact reports and donor communications
• Produce timely reports to steward, update and thank Major Donors.
• Contribute to the ongoing growth and success of WIRES’ philanthropy program.

About You

You are a confident communicator and relationship-builder who thrives on connecting donors to meaningful impact. You bring a strategic mindset, excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine passion for wildlife conservation. You also have a strong track record of achieving your fundraising targets and you’re not afraid to make the ask!

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, including at least 3 years in Philanthropy or Major Gifts fundraising
• Proven success securing major gifts
• Demonstrated experience managing donor relationships through the full fundraising lifecycle
• Strong track record of achieving fundraising targets within set timeframes and budgets
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Marketing, Communications or a related discipline
• Experience using donor relationship management systems/CRMs

Desirable

• Experience using Raiser's Edge and/or HubSpot
• Strong skills in Excel, Canva and PowerPoint
• Understanding of the Australian philanthropic and fundraising landscape

Why Join WIRES?

This is an opportunity to use your fundraising skills to directly support the rescue, rehabilitation and protection of Australian wildlife.

You’ll join a passionate and collaborative team where your work will have real impact, making sure rescued native animals receive the rescue and care they need, so that wherever possible, they get their second chance of life in the wild.

next steps

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