Head of Donor Engagement - Australia Climate Impact Initiative

Devise strategies and experiences to bring new donors to climate and environment, as a foundational team member at a new philanthropic advisory seeking to catalise $1.1 billion in additional climate funding across Australia and the Asia-Pacific by 2031, through bespoke philanthropic advising

- Build and lead the pipeline strategy to identify,engage and advise Australia’s next generation of major climate philanthropists
- Shape the systems, intelligence, experiences and relationships that enable multi-million-dollar philanthropic commitments to high-impact climate solutions
- Sydney or Melbourne-based with flexible hybrid working; full-time or flexible working arrangements considered

Impact of the organisation

Australia Climate Impact Initiative is a new philanthropic advisory working to accelerate high-impact climate giving across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

The Initiative works alongside an established network of leading climate philanthropists, providing the intelligence, connections and guidance that enable major donors to give with confidence and at the scale the climate crisis demands. Importantly, this is not a traditional fundraising organisation as it is fully funded by experienced climate philanthropists and does not fundraise for itself.

Instead, the organisation acts as an impartial guide to philanthropy, helping current and emerging philanthropists understand the climate challenge, identify high-impact opportunities and shape giving strategies that align with their philanthropic interests and values.

Australia Climate Impact Initiative is incubated by the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) during its founding phase and works in close partnership with Climate Lead,



the global leader in climate philanthropic advising. Climate Lead has catalysed more than US$6 billion for climate since launching in 2019.

The Australian initiative has an ambitious goal: to catalyse AUD $1.1 billion in additional climate funding for Australia, the Asia-Pacific and beyond by 2031. With only 4% of Australian giving currently directed to environmental causes, there is significant opportunity to shift the scale and ambition of climate philanthropy.

This is a small, ambitious organisation in its founding phase. You will be joining at a pivotal moment, helping build the strategy, systems and infrastructure required to turn an ambitious vision into a functioning philanthropic advisory practice.

The Impact you will have in this role

This is an opportunity for a sophisticated philanthropy skilled to become the strategic and operational right hand to the Founding Executive Director and help build something genuinely new.

As Head of Donor Engagement, you will be the architect of Australia Climate Impact Initiative’s donor pipeline. Working closely with the Executive Director, you will identify and profile prospective major philanthropists, develop engagement strategies, coordinate high-touch donor experiences and ensure every relationship is thoughtfully progressed.

You will create the intelligence, strategy,



systems and experiences that enable the Executive Director to have highly effective conversations with prospective donors. This is not initially envisaged as a front-facing role with advisees, instead your core focus will be enabling the advisory practice to grow.

You will also play a critical thought-partner role to the Founding Executive Director, bringing structure, challenge, curiosity and ideas as the organisation evolves.

The ambition is significant. The organisation is working with a small network of highly committed climate philanthropists, including founding funders and ambassadors who can help open doors to new donors. The opportunity is to turn those relationships and networks into a sophisticated, scalable donor pipeline capable of supporting multi-million-dollar climate commitments.

There is no comparable organisation in Australia, and this role is an opportunity to combine philanthropy, strategy, research, relationship management and start-up building, with the potential to influence the flow of significant private capital towards high-impact climate solutions.

Key Responsibilities

- Partner closely with the Founding Executive Director to build and maintain a sophisticated pipeline of prospective climate philanthropists.
- Design and facilitate regular pipeline reviews, prioritising relationships and ensuring agreed engagement strategies are progressed with rigour and follow-through.
- Develop donor profiles, relationship maps and engagement strategies that identify motivations, interests, networks and potential pathways into climate philanthropy.
- Lead prospect research strategy, profiling and qualification, developing detailed intelligence that informs donor en

📌 Head of Donor Engagement (Melbourne)
🏢 Impact Advising
📍 Melbourne