Education CHANCES Foundation – Hawthorn VIC

Education CHANCES Foundation | 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (19 hours per week) | Fully remote working arrangements | Boroondara, Melbourne

Help us open doors for young people in our community

Education CHANCES Foundation (ECF) is a local not-for-profit organisation committed to ensuring that financial hardship does not stand in the way of a young person's education, confidence or future.

For almost 20 years, we have supported young people across Boroondara through scholarships that help remove the everyday financial barriers to education. Since 2006, we have awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships to almost 1,200 students, helping young people access everything from laptops and textbooks to uniforms, camps, extracurricular activities and transport. Our independent evaluation found that every $1 invested in Education CHANCES generates up to $19.51 in social and economic value.

We are now looking for a proactive, hands-on Fundraising & Partnerships Manager to build the strong and sustainable funding base that will allow us to grow our impact.

The opportunity

This is a rare opportunity for a driven fundraising and partnerships professional to build ECF's funding base largely from the ground up.

Reporting to the Chairperson and working closely with the General Manager, Executive Team and Board, you will lead our fundraising and partnerships effort, with a sharp focus on building relationships with three groups of supporters: corporate partners, individual donors (including our existing donor base) and institutional funders, including universities and other higher education providers, trusts and foundations. You will also engage ECF alumni as a targeted group of supporters.

This is not a role where funding simply arrives. As a small, community-based foundation, we do not have the profile or established fundraising machinery of larger charities. We need someone who will roll up their sleeves, pick up the phone, get in front of people and follow every prospect through to a result.

Our ambition is not simply to raise more money. It is to build meaningful, long-term relationships that give ECF a secure funding base and enable us to support more young people across our community.

What you'll do

- Personally identify, approach and cultivate prospective corporate, individual,



alumni and institutional supporters.
- Build and actively work a strong pipeline of prospects, keeping up a steady rhythm of outreach, meetings and follow-up.
- Develop corporate partnerships with local and larger businesses, including opportunities to support specific scholarship programs and cohorts.
- Retain and grow our existing donor base and individual giving, with a focus on major donors and regular givers.
- Engage ECF alumni, including former scholarship recipients, as a targeted group of supporters, advocates and future donors.
- Build partnerships with institutional funders, including universities and other higher education providers, trusts and foundations.
- Prepare tailored funding proposals, partnership pitches and grant applications, and negotiate agreements.
- Lead donor and partner stewardship, ensuring supporters understand the impact of their contribution and are encouraged to deepen their support.
- Work with the General Manager, Executive Team and Board to open doors through their networks.
- Develop and execute a practical fundraising and partnerships plan with clear targets.
- Maintain accurate records of relationships, opportunities and income, and report regularly on progress.

Time commitment

This is a 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) of approximately 19 hours per week, including:

- A fortnightly meeting (approx. 1 hour) with the General Manager and a member of our Executive Team (Chairperson, Deputy Chair or Secretary).
- Attendance at bi-monthly Board meetings (approx. 1 hour).
- Flexibility to attend occasional events and meetings outside regular office hours, such as donor, partner and community functions.

About you

We are looking for someone with drive, resilience and a real talent for building relationships.

You may come from fundraising, philanthropy, partnerships, business development, corporate affairs, community engagement or a related field. Most importantly,



you will be a self-starter who is energised by making things happen: someone who creates opportunities rather than waits for them, builds trust quickly and turns conversations into lasting support.

You will bring:

- Demonstrated success in securing funding or partnerships through direct relationship building.
- A proactive, hands-on approach and a track record of execution: initiating contact, following up persistently and delivering results.
- The confidence to approach and engage senior leaders, business owners, philanthropists, alumni, higher education institutions and community stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare compelling proposals and pitch in person.
- Strong commercial and strategic thinking, balanced with a focus on practical delivery.
- Strong organisational skills and the discipline to manage a pipeline of opportunities.
- The ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with a small team and volunteer Board.
- A genuine commitment to educational opportunity, inclusion and supporting young people experiencing disadvantage.
- Experience in the not-for-profit, education, community or philanthropic sectors would be highly regarded, and experience building a fundraising program from an early stage would be a strong advantage.

Why join Education CHANCES?

This is an opportunity to make a direct and visible contribution to the lives of young people in your local community.

You will join a purpose-driven organisation with a strong track record and an engaged Board. You will have significant scope to shape how ECF approaches fundraising and partnerships, and the satisfaction of building something that lasts.

If you are motivated by building relationships, making things happen and helping young people reach their potential, we would love to hear from you.

Education CHANCES Foundation is committed to creating an inclusive environment and welcomes applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

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📌 Fundraising and Partnerships Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Education CHANCES Foundation
📍 Melbourne