Foundation Manager

Richmond Football Club; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Awards recognition

Flexible work options

Diversity & inclusion focus

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Richmond Football Club Foundation seeks a Foundation Manager to drive philanthropic growth and deepen donor relationships. Reporting to the Head of Foundation and Commercial Growth, you will design fundraising strategies, manage major gifts and bequests, and lead flagship events to maximise long-term impact.

You will cultivate partners across the Club and community, oversee Bequest programs, and report on fundraising performance to guide strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years in fundraising or donor development with proven revenue growth.
• Ability to secure major gifts and manage bequest programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication across stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen donor relationships and identify opportunities to increase engagement and investment.
• Lead Bequest Program growth and key giving initiatives with donor-centred strategies.
• Collaborate with internal teams to communicate impact and fundraising collateral.
• Coordinate donor events and campaigns throughout the year.
• Maintain donor records in CRM and deliver regular fundraising reports.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Event management

CRM systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Donor management software

CRM systems

Job description

The Foundation Manager plays a key role in driving philanthropic growth and building lasting relationships for the Richmond Football Club Foundation. In this dynamic position, reporting to the Head of Foundation and Commercial Growth to design and execute high-impact fundraising strategies. You will focus on expanding revenue streams, cultivating meaningful partnerships, stewarding major donor and bequest portfolios, delivering flagship events, and supporting key capital campaign initiatives to maximise the Foundation’s long-term impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

As the Foundation Manager, you will play a key role in strengthening donor relationships, growing fundraising opportunities and supporting the long-term impact of the Foundation.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, supporters and key stakeholders, delivering exceptional stewardship and identifying opportunities to increase engagement and investment.
• Develop and implement tailored donor recognition and stewardship initiatives, including engagement opportunities connected to the Club and Foundation.
• Lead the growth and delivery of the Foundation's Bequest Program and key giving initiatives, ensuring meaningful donor experiences, effective communication and ongoing relationship management.
• Collaborate with internal teams to gather and communicate the impact of Foundation programs through donor updates, reports and fundraising collateral.
• Identify, cultivate and secure new donors, funding partners and fundraising opportunities to support the Foundation's strategic objectives.
• Explore and implement new fundraising initiatives and revenue streams that contribute to the Foundation's long-term sustainability.
• Manage relationships with key funding partners, including the Australian Sports Foundation, and oversee associated reporting requirements.
• Coordinate and deliver fundraising campaigns, donor events and community engagement activities throughout the year.
• Support Foundation activations at AFL and AFLW matches, Club events and other community initiatives.
• Maintain accurate donor records and CRM data, ensuring effective tracking, reporting and donor management.
• Prepare regular fundraising, donor pipeline and performance reports to support planning and decision-making.

ABOUT YOU:

You are an experienced fundraising professional with a proven ability to build meaningful relationships, drive revenue growth and develop successful fundraising strategies.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• At least 4 years' experience in fundraising, philanthropy, major gifts, bequests or donor development, with proven success in developing donor relationships, securing funding and delivering sustainable revenue growth.
• Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen, with the ability to identify opportunities, influence stakeholders and deliver sustainable growth.
• Exceptional relationship management skills and a proven ability to engage, negotiate and build trust with donors, partners, executives and community stakeholders.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing donor proposals, impact reports, stewardship communications and funding submissions.
• Experience leading fundraising campaigns, donor programs, events and stakeholder engagement initiatives from strategy through to execution.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Proficiency in CRM systems, donor databases and fundraising reporting.
• A proactive, collaborative and results-driven approach, with the ability to work autonomously while contributing positively to a broader team culture.
• Flexibility to attend occasional evening, weekend and match-day events.

ABOUT US:

Richmond Football Club is one of the largest clubs in the Australian Football League, proudly rooted in our rich history and tradition. As we honour our past, we’re focused on building a Strong & Bold future – both on and off the field– through living our purpose of Belonging, Thriving and Winning.

We understand the power of sport to connect people, and at the heart of the Club’s purpose is being involved with our community. At Richmond, culture is paramount, and the Club is committed to developing its people in a supportive environment. Belonging, Thriving and Winning is not just about connecting with fans and members, but about staff, players and coaches connecting with each other with humour and care, through storytelling and authenticity, to build genuine relationships.

WHY WORK FOR US:

• Award-Winning Culture: Join an organisation that is an Australian HR Employer of Choice finalist and a Flexible Work Champion.
• Flexibility #: Enjoy a flexible work environment with options like flexible hours, work-from-home options, a relaxed dress code and the ability to observe public holidays that align with your cultural beliefs.
• Inclusive & Belonging: We are deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected, no matter their background or abilities
• Work-Life Balance: We believe in a ‘people first’ culture, where your personal and professional life can thrive together.
• Growth & Development: Your growth is our priority with professional development opportunities tailored to suit your goals.
• Wellbeing & Fun: We work hard but know how to have fun, fostering a high-performance, caring culture that values holistic wellbeing.
• Community Connection: Make a positive impact in the wider community and engage with our charity partners by supporting the Alannah and Madeline Foundation or get involved in one of our community programs across Korin Gamadji or the Bachar Houli Foundation.
• Perks & Benefits: Enjoy money can’t buy experiences, a range of perks, including discounts through our sponsors!

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

The Richmond Football Club is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people. We exclusively hire individuals committed to fostering a child safe culture, irrespective of their role, and it is essential that all our staff understand their responsibility in relation to child safety. Individuals will require pre-employment checks, including a valid Working with Children Check for this role.