P: (03) 9537 3177| E: [email protected] | W: www.firststep.org.au
ABN: 51 093 661 995 | Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the ATO

Fundraising and Engagement officer
Position Description

This position description lists the responsibilities of the position of Fundraising and Engagement
Officer and then describes the duties that the person holding the position would undertake to
meet those responsibilities. Additionally, the position description describes how the person is
accountable to the position, and to whom.

Position overview

Position Title: Fundraising and Engagement Officer

Position summary: The Fundraising and Engagement Officer plays a central role in
sustaining and growing First Step's philanthropic income, donor engagement and
organisational profile. Reporting to the CEO, this position is responsible for the day-to-day
management of grants, donor communications, fundraising systems and engagement
activities that underpin First Step's fundraising success.

Working closely with the CEO, the Fundraising and Engagement Officer will support the
organisation's philanthropic priorities while maintaining existing systems, embrace emerging
technologies such as AI, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of First Step's
fundraising and engagement activities.

Classification:
Wage by negotiation

Appointment status:
Part-time

Authorisation: Chief
Executive Officer

Reports to: CEO

Direct reports: Nil

Location: This role will take place at First Step (18 Mitford St, St Kilda).

About First Step

First Step is a specialist centre for integrated care – medical, mental health and substance use –
with an embedded community legal service. Operating in inner Melbourne, we deliver more
than 14,000 bulk-billed or otherwise funded appointments each year to over 1,600 people. Our
multidisciplinary team includes doctors, psychologists, nurses, peers, psychiatrists, care
coordinators, lawyers and social workers, working side-by-side to support people with co-
occurring needs such as substance use, trauma and mental distress.

Our fundraising program supports client care, strategic initiatives and financial sustainability.

First Step's vision:
A community where people who use drugs and alcohol and people living with mental distress
can live well, be secure and be supported.

First Step | 18 Mitford Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
P: (03) 9537 3177| E: [email protected] | W: www.firststep.org.au
ABN: 51 093 661 995 | Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the ATO

Our mission:
Ensure people seeking support for alcohol and other drugs or mental distress get all the help
they in need in a welcoming, hope-filled environment.

Provide an integrated community of care and support, maximising each person’s agency,
resilience and connection.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Minimum qualifications

- Relevant tertiary qualification in communications, fundraising, marketing, public

relations, business, community development, nonprofit management or a related
discipline; or

- Demonstrated equivalent experience in fundraising, philanthropy,



grant management or

stakeholder engagement.

Essential skills and experience
Fundraising and Grants

- Preparing high-quality grant applications and funding submissions.
- Managing grant calendars, reporting requirements and acquittals.
- Building and maintaining productive relationships with trusts, foundations and

philanthropic partners.

- Identifying funding opportunities aligned with organisational priorities.

Donor Engagement

- Managing donor communications and stewardship activities.
- Supporting donor onboarding and retention.
- Assisting with initiatives that grow First Step's donor community.

Communications and Engagement

- Excellent written communication with the ability to translate complex programs into

compelling fundraising narratives.
- Experience developing content across digital channels including websites, newsletters

and social media.
- Confidence delivering straightforward fundraising and awareness campaigns.

Systems and Administration

- Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
- Experience using CRM systems, donor databases or marketing automation platforms

(experience with NationBuilder is highly desirable).

- Ability to establish efficient workflows, templates and documentation.
- Strong project management and time management skills.

Technology

- Demonstrated willingness to adopt emerging technologies, including AI, to improve

efficiency, research, content development and fundraising practice.
- Confidence learning and implementing new digital tools.

Collaboration

- Capacity to manage multiple competing priorities while meeting deadlines.

First Step | 18 Mitford Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
P: (03) 9537 3177| E: [email protected] | W: www.firststep.org.au
ABN: 51 093 661 995 | Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the ATO

Desirable

- Ability to create engaging communications using platforms such as Canva or similar

design tools.
- Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, clinicians and program staff to

identify funding priorities and communicate organisational impact.

Personal attributes
• Commitment to First Step's mission and values.

- Exceptional integrity and professionalism.
- Initiative and curiosity, with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships.
- Excellent judgement and discretion when working with confidential information.
- Creativity balanced by sound organisational discipline.
- A collaborative approach that values teamwork across clinical and corporate functions.
- Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic setting.
- A genuine interest in communicating stories of impact while maintaining the dignity and

privacy of the people we serve.

Duties, outcomes,



accountabilities and measures

Duties and Outcomes Accountabilities and Measures

1. Grants and
Philanthropic Funding
Maintain a high-quality
grants program that
supports organisational
priorities.

a. Maintain an annual grants calendar and funding pipeline.
b. Prepare high-quality grant applications with program staff

and the CEO.
c. Ensure all grant reports and acquittals are submitted

accurately and on time.
d. Develop and maintain productive relationships with

trusts, foundations and philanthropic partners.
e. Research and identify new funding opportunities aligned

with organisational priorities.

2. Donor Engagement
and Communications
Build and maintain
meaningful
relationships with
supporters and donors.

f. Coordinate donor onboarding, stewardship and regular
communications.

g. Maintain donor records within NationBuilder (or successor
CRM).

h. Support growth of the Next Step Fund.
i. Assist with partnership-based fundraising initiatives and

donor engagement activities.
j. Produce newsletters, annual giving communications and

donor updates for fundraising and engagement purposes.

3. Organisational
Storytelling and Public
Engagement
Communicate First
Step's work and impact
to external audience

k. Develop compelling fundraising narratives and impact
stories.

l. Maintain an active organisational presence across social
media and digital channels for fundraising and
engagement purposes.

m. Produce website and communication content consistent
with First Step's brand.

n. Create digital assets using Canva or similar software.
o. Support straightforward fundraising and awareness

campaigns

First Step | 18 Mitford Street, St Kilda VIC 3182
P: (03) 9537 3177| E: [email protected] | W: www.firststep.org.au
ABN: 51 093 661 995 | Endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient by the ATO

4. Systems, Innovation
and Continuous
Improvement Ensure
fundraising systems are
effective, documented
and continually
improved.

p. Maintain accurate fundraising databases and CRM
records.

q. Maintain and improve templates, workflows and
documentation to improve organisational capability.

r. Identify opportunities to use AI and other digital tools to
improve fundraising efficiency.

s. Monitor fundraising performance and prepare reports for
the CEO and Leadership Team.

t. Contribute to continuous improvement of fundraising
systems and processes.

5. Collaboration and
Organisational
Contribution Work
collaboratively across
First Step to support
organisational
objectives.

u. Work closely with the CEO to identify funding priorities.
v. Collaborate with program staff to gather information and

demonstrate impact.
w. Represent First Step professionally with external

stakeholders.
x. Contribute positively to First Step's culture and strategic

objectives.
y. Undertake other duties consistent with the role as

reasonably directed by the CEO.

Acknowledgement
Please confirm that you have read and understood this position description:

Name

Signature

Date

📌 Fundraising and Engagement Officer (St Kilda)
🏢 First Step
📍 St Kilda