Head of Philanthropy

Head of Philanthropy – Australia wide

• Location:
  Australia wide
• Term:
  Ongoing
• Full-time:
  37.5 hours (0.8 FTE will be considered for the right applicant)
• Remuneration:
  SCHADS Level 8: $137, % super + 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are particularly encouraged to apply

We are looking for an experienced manager to lead a high-performing philanthropy team. You are strategic and target-driven with excellent interpersonal and management skills. You have a proven track record of securing significant gifts and grants and are adept at managing relationships with important internal and external stakeholders.

Job title:
Head of Philanthropy

Reporting to:
Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by providing access to justice, running ground-breaking litigation and leading law reform advocacy.

Since time immemorial, First Nations and Indigenous peoples have been taking care of their Countries in Australia and the Pasifik. These deep understandings, knowledges and experiences are critical to maintaining the health and vitality of Australia and the Pasifik's unique wildlife and ecosystems. EDO respects these great knowledges and strongly believes that EDO cannot achieve a world where nature thrives without working for First Nations and Indigenous peoples.

The opportunity:

With the support of a talented philanthropy team, the Head of Philanthropy is responsible for a significant and growing pillar of EDO's fundraising strategy, encompassing a robust $5m+ portfolio of mid and major donors, trust and foundations, and bequests.

The Head of Philanthropy will maintain a reliable, sustainable income stream for EDO. You will work with the CEO to ensure effective cultivation and stewardship of donors and prospects across the philanthropy portfolio. You will implement strategies to retain existing support and secure new sources of funding with a focus on seeking extraordinary gifts of $100,000+. You will lead the development of donor-centric events and face-to-face opportunities to communicate our impact and strengthen our community of dedicated supporters.

Candidate Profile:

We are seeking a driven, strategic, committed, and experienced leader to drive our philanthropic programs and turbocharge our impact during this critical decade for nature and climate. As an experienced people manager, you will foster a positive team culture, empowering your team to reach new heights while delivering on fundraising goals.

With exceptional emotional intelligence and a collaborative mindset, you will work closely with the legal, science, operations and wider Fundraising, Marketing and Communications teams to understand and communicate EDO's impact. This role is perfect for someone passionate about making a meaningful impact and cultivating long-term donor support to advance EDO's mission.

Key selection criteria:

Core skills

• At least 3 years' experience managing a high-performing fundraising or business development team.
• Demonstrated experience in securing six-figure donations and grants for a mission-driven organisation.
• Demonstrated experience in high-impact fundraising events.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, monitor and meet financial targets.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgements and decisions based on consideration of different views and relevant data.
• A strong communicator who can understand and interpret legal impact for a sophisticated audience.
• Accuracy and attention to detail along with the ability to edit the work of others.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively, collaboratively and to deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team with compassion and emotional intelligence.

Substantive experience

• Sound knowledge of charity and fundraising regulations and the ability to apply and enforce workplace policies and procedures.
• Ability to keep on top of latest trends in the philanthropy sector.
• A background in fundraising in the environment sector highly desirable.
• Strong technical competency and the ability to work with fundraising tools such as Salesforce highly desirable.

Personal qualities and cultural competency

• A champion of the EDO values.
• Strong initiative and self-motivation.
• Commitment to the protection of human rights and the environment.
• A strong sense of ethics and understanding of professional obligations.
• Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of First Nations and peoples from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations in both the delivery of our work and our internal culture.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and team-based environment.

Our Culture and Benefits:

We care deeply about creating a workplace where our team members feel valued, respected and empowered. We are committed to providing equal opportunity regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or life stage.

• The chance to be part of the largest environmental legal practice in the Australia-Pacific.
• A very flexible and family-friendly workplace.
• Option to work from home.
• 8 weeks paid parental leave, regardless of gender or carer status.
• 15 days personal/carers leave.
• 20 days annual leave.
• 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave per year.
• 3 days paid cultural leave per year.
• Extra leave over the Christmas period.
• Opportunities and encouragement to attend NAIDOC week events.
• ICIP and Colonial Loading protection within employment contract.
• Access to EAP.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• EDO proudly has a JEDI (Justice, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion) Committee and a Mental Health Ambassador Committee, and has developed a First Nations Program with the aid of indigenous-led consultancies.
• Three Affinity groups for the following: Disability, Global Majority* and LGBTQIA+

*Global Majority is a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called, to think of themselves as belonging to the majority on planet earth. It refers to people who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities'.

Our Values

Commitment
– We are committed to; a united organisation, to each other, to collaboration, to justice, to our communities and to creating a world where nature thrives.

Diversity
– We are respectful of and welcome diversity of staff, volunteers, offices, environmental regions, communities, stakeholders.

Integrity
– We work effectively, efficiently, strategically, professionally, and ethically; "justice is in our nature".

Vision
– We lead change and environmental empowerment using innovation, creativity, and courage.

How to Apply

• Click 'Apply here' or apply via our website:
• To review the position description, please see this link:

If you have queries regarding this advert, please feel free to contact us at

Applications will close on Sunday 2nd November 2025 and interviews will take place on 5th, 6th and 7th of November 2025.

Applications must include a CV and a letter that clearly addresses each of the selection criteria above.

The Key Selection Criteria show the minimum essential requirements of the position. The desirable criteria outline additional attributes which would enable the successful candidate to perform the role more effectively; they are not essential but may be used to distinguish between applicants during the shortlisting process.

EDO particularly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Pacific Island people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, workers of all ages, people with disabilities and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

Please note:
Your application may be considered for future roles at the EDO within the next 12 months without additional advertising. Please notify us in your application if you would not like to be considered for similar roles beyond this recruitment.

If you have any accessibility needs for the recruitment or interviewing process, please let us know in your application or by emailing

Vaccination Requirements

EDO is not issuing a vaccination mandate. EDO staff have the option to share vaccination details within the EDO HRIS system, EDO will maintain this record of vaccination status of EDO employees, however if staff do not wish to disclose this information, it will not be enforced.

Working with clients face-to-face:

• EDO works with diverse peoples and groups across the Australian and Pacific communities, including people who are considered a high-risk group in terms of COVID-19.
• In order to ensure the safety of all EDO employees and the people we work with and around, staff visiting overburdened communities are required to take a COVID-19 test three (3) days prior and on the day of travel to the overburdened community.

Other Information

All offers of employment may be subject to satisfactory background checks including a National Police Check, disclosure of previous or current disciplinary action, referee checks, proof of eligibility to work in Australia and qualification checks.