At Very Special Kids, we believe that every child and young person with a life-limiting condition deserves the best possible quality of life, no matter how long or short that life may be. We also know that supporting a child means supporting their entire family.

We are seeking a passionate and motivated Trust and Foundations Coordinator to join our Fundraising and Marketing team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a critical role in securing philanthropic support that enables Very Special Kids to continue delivering essential services to children, young people and families across Victoria. Working closely with the Philanthropy Manager and Philanthropy Specialist, you will help identify and secure funding opportunities, develop compelling grant applications, and build strong relationships with trusts, foundations and philanthropic partners

If you are a strong writer, enjoy building meaningful relationships, and are passionate about making a tangible impact in the not-for-profit sector, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role The Trust and Foundations Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and strengthening Very Special Kids' trusts, foundations and grant funding portfolio.

You will proactively identify funding opportunities, manage grant application processes, steward funder relationships and support the delivery of high-quality impact reporting that demonstrates the value of philanthropic investment.

Key responsibilities include

- Researching and identifying trusts, foundations and grant opportunities.

- Developing compelling grant applications, funding proposals and expressions of interest.

- Coordinating acquittal and impact reporting for funders.

- Building and maintaining relationships with philanthropic partners and supporters.

- Maintaining grant pipelines, funding calendars and prospect tracking systems.

- Monitoring funding rounds, philanthropic trends and emerging opportunities.

- Collaborating with internal stakeholders to gather project information,



outcomes data and budgets.

- Maintaining accurate records within Salesforce and grant management systems.

- Supporting donor stewardship and engagement activities.

- Assisting with small fundraising and recognition events for philanthropic supporters.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking an organised and relationship-focused professional who is passionate about connecting donors with opportunities to create meaningful impact.

You will bring

- Experience in fundraising, philanthropy, grants, partnerships or relationship management.

- Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to develop persuasive funding applications, reports and supporter communications.

- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

- High attention to detail and accuracy.

- Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building capabilities.

- Strong initiative and the ability to work independently.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM systems, ideally Salesforce.

- A genuine passion for the purpose and mission of Very Special Kids

Highly regarded
- Understanding of the Australian philanthropic and grant-making environment.

- Experience preparing grant applications and acquittal reports.

- Qualifications in fundraising, business, marketing or a related field.

About Very Special Kids

Very Special Kids supports more than 800 families across Victoria who have a child with a life-limiting condition.

We provide specialist family support services from diagnosis through to bereavement, including counselling, sibling support, advocacy,



volunteer support and specialist paediatric palliative care.

Our hospice, Very Special Kids House, is Victoria's only children's hospice, providing planned and emergency respite, symptom management and end-of-life care in a warm, welcoming and home-like environment.

Why Join Very Special Kids?

At Very Special Kids, you'll join a passionate and supportive team dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families. We offer salary packaging benefits, adaptable working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and the chance to build meaningful partnerships that create lasting impact across Victoria.

At Very Special Kids, we nurture a culture where every team member feels empowered, supported, and protected as they care for children, young people, and their families. We are deeply committed to the safety, wellbeing, and inclusion of children.

Our Child Safety and Wellbeing Framework, Rights of the Child and Young Person Charters, and Charter of Rights outline our unwavering commitment to child safety and set clear expectations for all staff, volunteers and contractors working with children and young people.

Ready to Apply?

If you're passionate about philanthropy, relationship building and creating meaningful impact for children and families, we'd love to hear from you.

At Very Special Kids, our goal is for our workforce to reflect the diverse community we serve. We continually seek to employ people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, with a disability, Aboriginal Australians and varied cultural backgrounds. If this sounds like you, please take a look at the position description on our website www.vsk.org.au.

Please include a cover letter outlining your experience and how it aligns with the requirements of the role, along with an up-to-date resume.

We review and progress applications as they are received, so don’t wait, apply now.

📌 Trusts and Foundations Coordinator (Malvern)
🏢 Very Special Kids
📍 Malvern