Philanthropy Specialist

**Position**
**Description**

**Very Special Kids believes that all children and young people have the right to**
**quality of life, no matter how long or short their life may be.**

Position Title: Philanthropy Specialist

Classification: FTE 0.8 (Part time)

Enterprise

Agreement:
Individual Contract

Location: 321 Glenferrie Road Malvern

Department: Fundraising & Marketing Team

No. Direct

Reports:
N/A

Reporting To: General Manager Fundraising and Marketing

Job Purpose: The Philanthropy Specialist plays a key role in supporting the growth and

sustainability of Very Special Kids’ major gifts program. The role is

responsible for building and managing relationships with current and

prospective major donors, developing tailored stewardship and

solicitation strategies, and contributing to the creation of compelling

funding propositions aligned with donor interests.

This is a dynamic and relationship-focused role, ideal for someone with

strong donor prospecting capabilities, confidence soliciting gifts and

making the ask, excellent interpersonal skills, and a passion for making

a meaningful impact through philanthropy.

Skills &
**Experience**:
**Qualifications & experience**
- 7+ years of demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor

engagement, or relationship management, ideally within a major gifts

or philanthropy context.
- Degree qualifications in Business, Marketing, Fundraising, or a related

discipline is desirable.
- Proven track record in achieving sales / fundraising income targets.
- Experience in managing relationships with key internal and external

stakeholders.

**Additional Requirements**

WWCC, Police Check

**Skills**
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build

trust and rapport with diverse stakeholders.

**vsk.org.au**
- Proven ability to develop and implement donor stewardship and

solicitation strategies.
- Strong writing skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and

impact communications.
- Proficiency in CRM systems, preferably Salesforce, and data

management.
- Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to

manage multiple priorities.
- Passion for the mission of Very Special Kids and empathy for families

facing life-limiting conditions.

**Personal Attributes**
- An active team player, contributing to the wider activities and functions

of the Fundraising and Marketing team and the wider organisation.
- Personable and able to quickly form good relationships with a diversity

or personality types.
- Energy and passion for connecting prospective supporters with the

work of Very Special Kids.
- Capacity to work after hours and on weekends.
- A compassionate and socially minded individual who understands and

respects the purpose and vision of Very Special Kids and the challenges

associated with working within the not-for-profit sector.

Summary of

Key

**Responsibilities**:

- Achieve annual income targets for major gifts by proactively soliciting

donations, acquiring new donors, and deepening engagement with

existing supporters to drive sustainable revenue growth.

**Major Donor & Revenue Growth**
- Support the identification, research, and cultivation of high-value

prospects for major giving.
- Conduct prospect research and analysis to inform donor strategies and

pipeline development
- Drive income growth by actively soliciting gifts from current and

prospective major donors.
- Confidently lead solicitation conversations and make direct asks,

tailored to donor capacity and interests.
- Develop and implement donor growth strategies, including acquisition,

upgrading, and reactivation.

**Donor Engagement**
- Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors, ensuring effective

qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Build strong, supporter-centric relationships with donors, tailoring

engagement and giving opportunities to align with their values and

philanthropic goals.
- Design and implement donor journeys and stewardship strategies

across multiple channels, including events, webinars, face-to-face
- Assist in planning and delivering donor engagement and recognition

events to enhance relationships and demonstrate impact.
- Support donor communications and touchpoints that reinforce

connection and trust.

**Proposal Development & Impact Communication**

**vsk.org.au**
- Work with the Philanthropy and Service Delivery teams to gather

project information, including budgets, to develop compelling donor

propositions.
- Contribute to the development of cases for support and impact

reporting materials that demonstrate the value of donor contributions.

**Data & Reporting**
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all donor interactions in

the CRM system (Salesforce).
- Monitor and evaluate donor engagement activities and moves

management performance against KPIs.
- Track and report on income and expenditure related to major donor

activities.

**Collaboration & Conti