Director of Fundraising

Director of Fundraising 

Permanent, Full-Time | Melbourne | Hybrid Working  

Who are we?

We believe when we invest in girls, everything changes – their families, communities and entire nations rise. We tackle the root causes of inequality, support communities through crisis, and shift money, power and influence toward girls and the local organisations closest to them. 

We are evolving. We are becoming a catalyst for change – mobilising evidence, influence and investment that strengthens those closest to the issues, rather than simply delivering programs ourselves. This is the world you will help us create. 

The Opportunity 

Plan International Australia is entering a bold new chapter. Our Girls Rise strategy repositions us as a bridge builder – connecting resources, evidence and influence to locally led organisations driving change for girls at scale. At the heart of this strategy is a strategic flywheel: thought leadership, advocacy and resource mobilisation working as one system, where every success compounds into greater impact for girls. 

We are looking for a Director of Fundraising to lead the engine that funds this strategy. 

This is not a traditional fundraising leadership role. You will own the full fundraising portfolio – regular giving, mid-value, cash, gifts in wills, and the digital supporter experience – and you will be the architect of a deliberate pipeline that moves supporters from first gift to deep, lasting commitment. You’ll ensure the transition from mass-market fundraising to high-value philanthropic relationships is intentional, strategic and seamless. 

Sitting on the Executive Leadership Team and reporting directly to the CEO, you will shape the long-term direction of income generation at Plan International Australia – setting forecasts, investment strategy and the future channel and product mix. You will work at the critical intersection of fundraising, data and technology, partnering closely with the COO to unlock the potential of AI, automation and our CRM as strategic assets. 

This role exists because our income mix must fundamentally shift. Traditional revenue streams are in structural decline. Growth will come from philanthropy, gifts in wills, climate finance and diversified giving. That is going to require new capabilities, new thinking and a different organisational shape! You will deliver reliable income today while building the supporter relationships and technology foundations that sustain us for the long term. 

What You’ll Do 

Lead Strategy 

• Set the long-term fundraising direction for Plan International Australia, including income forecasts, investment strategy and channel/product mix. 
• Contribute to organisation-wide strategy, risk and resource decisions as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, bringing a supporter and revenue lens to cross-portfolio choices. 
• Represent Plan International Australia externally in fundraising forums, sector bodies and across the Plan International global federation. 
• Provide reports, papers and recommendations to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board, and its sub-committees. 

Drive Performance 

• Hold accountability for the fundraising P&L: income targets, acquisition investment, retention performance and cost-to-income ratios across all giving products. 
• Lead strategy for regular giving, mid-value, cash, gifts in wills, and the donor-facing supporter experience – ensuring the pipeline from first gift to high-value transition is deliberate, not accidental. 
• Treat acquisition spends as investment within agreed guardrails, sharing a single funnel view of income, cost, quality and lifetime value. 

Build the Future 

• Champion responsible, ethical use of AI and automation across fundraising to improve supporter experience and team productivity. 
• Ensure the fundraising CRM and supporter data environment are managed as strategic assets, in close partnership with the Technology, Data and AI team. 
• Work across portfolios to ensure fundraising propositions are grounded in credible program evidence and impact stories. 

Own Critical Connections 

• Partner with the Deputy CEO, Engagement to ensure smooth handoff from pipeline to philanthropic cultivation at the agreed high-value threshold. 
• Collaborate with the COO to translate fundraising priorities into the technical backlog, with AI and automation use cases that make us smarter and leaner. 
• Coordinate with the Deputy CEO, Impact on emergency appeal execution and program-grounded fundraising propositions. 
• Work with the General Manager, Finance to bring finance into channel and campaign decisions before spending is locked. 

Lead People 

• Lead, coach and develop the Fundraising team, building a culture of accountability, learning and collaboration. 
• Set clear, measurable goals and ensure team members have the support, feedback and development opportunities to do their best work. 
• Model feminist leadership – share decision-making, seek out the strengths of colleagues, and contribute to a positive, connected organisational culture. 

Hold Compliance and Risk 

• Own organisational compliance with all applicable fundraising standards including the ACFID Code of Conduct, FIA Code of Practice, PFRA Code, Australian Privacy Principles, ACNC and ATO requirements. 
• Ensure fundraising activities comply with safeguarding and child protection policies. 
• Ensure all fundraising materials uphold our values – avoiding paternalistic, saviorism or stereotyped representations of the children, girls and communities we work with. 

How You’ll Bring Your Best 

• You demonstrate a deep commitment to equality, human rights, and gender justice in all you do. 
• You challenge power dynamics and processes that are unjust. 
• You share power and seek out the strengths of colleagues while holding clear accountability for your areas of responsibility. You work beyond traditional team boundaries, enjoying collaboration and coaching over directing. 
• You embody self-awareness and the courage to be vulnerable. 
• You embrace using AI and technology responsibly and ethically to help us work smarter and deliver more for girls. 
• You look for ways to evolve our ways of working. 
• You demonstrate a deep commitment to child protection and safeguarding in all you do. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising within the for-purpose sector, with a track record of delivering income growth and managing complex P&Ls. 
• Demonstrated experience building supporter pipelines across multiple channels – from mass-market acquisition through to mid-value and high-value transition. 
• Strategic acumen: the ability to set long-term direction while making sharp, evidence-based decisions in the short term. 
• Experience leading teams through change with empathy, clarity and accountability. 
• Fluency in data-driven decision-making and genuine curiosity about how technology, AI and automation can transform fundraising. 
• Understanding of the Australian philanthropic and fundraising landscape, including regulatory requirements. 
• A genuine commitment to feminist leadership, gender equality, inclusion and diversity. 
• Experience engaging with Boards and senior stakeholders, with the confidence to represent the organisation externally. 

What It Feels Like to Work with Us 

• You will get up each day knowing your work helps create justice and equality for girls. 
• Hybrid working: We do some of our work in the office and some at home – and honour true flexibility. 
• You’ll find strength in our diversity, inclusiveness and mutual respect. 
• Salary packaging up to $15,900 in pre-tax salary packaging plus $2,650 meals and entertainment packaging, increasing your take-home pay. 
• You’ll feel part of a broader team. Beyond just the people you work with every day – because we see that creating change for girls takes all of us, working as one interconnected organisation.
• Connection: regular team events, offsites, and active staff-led communities including our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group, Reconciliation Action Plan Group, Pride Network Committee and Social Committee. 

Safeguarding, Gender Equality and Inclusion 

Safeguarding, gender equality, inclusion and anti-racism are central to who we are and how we work. We take seriously our responsibility to ensure that we, and anyone who represents us, do not harm, abuse or commit any act of violence against the people we work with – including children, young people, and all participants and partners. 

Plan International believes that in a world where children and program participants face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we do everything we can to keep children and program participants safe. As part of our efforts to create safe environments for children and program participants, candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory National police Check, sign our Safeguarding policies and code of conduct, and where necessary complete a Working with Children Check. 

How to Apply? 

To apply, please review the position description and submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining why this role excites you and what you will bring to Plan International Australia at this pivotal moment in our strategy.    

We’ll be reviewing applications and conducting interviews on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We don’t want to miss connecting with the right person.    

We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people of all genders and sexualities.