Philanthropy Manager

Full-Time | 2-Year Contract

At the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), we are committed to achieving innovative, ground-breaking health and medical research that fundamentally improves the quality of life for all people.

This is an exciting opportunity for a relationship-led fundraising professional to grow philanthropic support for SAHMRI’s world-class health and medical research. As Philanthropy Manager, you will identify, engage and steward mid- to high-value donors, building meaningful relationships that translate generosity into lasting impact.

Working closely with senior leaders, researchers, volunteers and committees, you will bring SAHMRI’s work to life for donors through tailored engagement, compelling proposals, events, presentations and site visits. With a strong focus on donor experience, recognition and communication, you will help supporters feel informed, valued and connected to the research they make possible.

About the Role

In this role, you will:

• Grow mid- to high-value philanthropic support from individuals, trusts and foundations to help achieve SAHMRI’s strategic fundraising objectives

• Build trusted, long-term relationships with donors, prospects and internal stakeholders to create sustainable philanthropic partnerships

• Design and deliver personalised donor engagement and recognition strategies that strengthen loyalty and long-term commitment

• Partner with executive leaders, researchers and internal teams to develop compelling cases for support, proposals and engagement opportunities

• Manage donor portfolios, CRM data, reporting and compliance to support informed decision-making and sound fundraising practice

• Contribute to projects that improve fundraising processes, systems, tools and the overall donor experience

About You

You will be a confident, values-aligned fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, opening doors and creating donor experiences that inspire long-term support. You will bring:

• A tertiary qualification, relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience

• Proven fundraising, philanthropy or supporter engagement experience with demonstrated income growth outcomes

• Experience designing, implementing and evaluating philanthropy or engagement strategies

• A track record of securing significant philanthropic gifts, ideally in a not-for-profit or purpose-led environment

• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to engage donors, community partners and internal stakeholders

• The ability to manage projects independently and collaboratively, balancing competing priorities and deadlines

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling donor communications

• Experience using CRM systems, with Salesforce experience desirable, to track donor activity, pipeline progress and performance

• Strong attention to detail and a thoughtful approach to engaging, acknowledging and recognising supporters

Special Requirements

• Some out of hours work may be required.

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values, and our institute is dedicated to building a culture that pursues, enables and demands research excellence. We are proud of the work we do and the positive difference we make for the community. Our values of excellence, innovation, courage, integrity and teamwork guide how we work and what we achieve. If these values align with your own, we encourage you to apply.

As a not-for-profit organisation, SAHMRI employees can access salary packaging options up to $15,900. Salary packaging lets you pay for things like the everyday costs of living with money from your salary before tax. This reduces your taxable income, meaning you could pay less tax and take home more of what you earn. For more information on salary packaging please see the Maxxia website.

To be considered for this position, applicants must hold relevant working rights within Australia at the time of application. 

For a copy of the position description, please click here.

For more information please contact Hazel Jourdin at hazel.jourdin@sahmri.com

Applications close: Sunday 30th August 2026

Applications may close earlier than advertised if a suitable candidate is identified.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply