At a Glance
- Tasks: Grow philanthropic support and build meaningful relationships with donors for impactful health research.
- Company: Join SAHMRI, a leader in innovative health and medical research.
- Benefits: Salary packaging options, flexible work environment, and professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and contribute to a culture of excellence and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in health research while connecting with passionate supporters.
- Qualifications: Experience in fundraising and relationship management, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 $ per year.
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.
To be considered for this position, applicants must hold relevant working rights within Australia at the time of application. 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. At SAHMRI, we live our commitment to equity and diversity every day: respecting people as individuals and valuing differences to create a working environment that is fair and flexible, promotes personal and professional growth and benefits from the capabilities of a diverse workforce.
SAHMRI is located on Kaurna Country. We pay respects to the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We are committed to embracing knowledge and culture as we continue our working journey to incorporate Aboriginal health research across all of our themes and further reconciliation.
Philanthropy Manager in Adelaide employer: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
At SAHMRI, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking clinical trials that can enhance patient care both locally and globally. Our flexible working arrangements, competitive remuneration, and supportive team environment foster professional growth and collaboration, making it an ideal place for General Practitioners and Specialists to thrive in their careers while making a meaningful impact in the field of medical research.
Contact Details:
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Recruitment Team
