Philanthropy Coordinator (Bequests) - Australia for UNHCR

• Join an ambitious, collaborative team to help build relationships with bequest supporters, by providing personalised stewardship and supporting them throughout their legacy-giving journey
• Coordinate multi-channel bequest campaigns across direct mail, email and digital, working closely with internal teams and external suppliers
• Full-time | Permanent | Based in Sydney CBD with hybrid working arrangements

Impact of the organisation

Australia for UNHCR and Aotearoa New Zealand for UNHCR are the UN Refugee Agency’s national partners in Australia and New Zealand, raising awareness and funds to support UNHCR’s global emergency response to humanitarian crises.

Since 2000, Australia for UNHCR has raised more than $500 million from individual donors, philanthropists and corporates to support some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Together with Aotearoa New Zealand for UNHCR, the organisation helps deliver emergency shelter, water, cash assistance, healthcare, education, and livelihood programs for displaced communities around the globe.

By mid-2025, there were an estimated 117 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. UNHCR provides protection and support to refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced communities globally.

At a time when the number of international emergencies continues to rise, Australia for UNHCR plays a critical role in mobilising support and funding to ensure refugees and displaced people receive urgent humanitarian assistance and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Impact you will have in this role

The Philanthropy Coordinator – Bequests will play an important role in the continued growth of Australia for UNHCR’s legacy giving program, supporting the Bequest Manager to build meaningful relationships with supporters leaving a future gift. Through thoughtful and personalised engagement, you will help supporters feel valued, connected and confident in the lasting impact their gift could have for refugees and displaced communities around the world.

Relationship building will be central to this role. You will regularly engage with supporters over the phone and through personalised communications, taking the time to understand their motivations and build meaningful relationships. With conversations often personal and sensitive, you will bring empathy and maturity while ensuring valuable supporter insights are accurately captured within the CRM to support ongoing stewardship.

Alongside supporter engagement, you will coordinate multi-channel campaigns across direct mail, email and digital, managing campaigns end to end and supporting the Manager on larger activity. Working collaboratively across fundraising, data, communications and digital teams, you will coordinate briefs, timelines and campaign delivery while helping strengthen the organisation’s approach to legacy giving and contributing to the continued growth of an ambitious bequest program.

You will thrive in this role if you enjoy working collaboratively, have strong attention to detail, can manage competing priorities, work effectively to deadlines, and are passionate about supporting people displaced by conflict and crisis.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate stewardship activities that build and maintain relationships with prospective, intending and confirmed bequest supporters
• Engage supporters through personalised phone, email and written communications, providing an empathetic and professional supporter experience
• Coordinate multi-channel bequest campaigns and supporter communications across direct mail, email and digital
• Maintain accurate supporter, campaign and pipeline information within the CRM
• Prepare reports and undertake analysis of supporter engagement, campaign activity and pipeline performance
• Coordinate the day-to-day administration of the Bequests program, including documentation, workflows, timelines and operational processes
• Support with planning and delivering supporter events, meetings and engagement activities, collaborating across teams to deliver a consistent and positive supporter experience
• Build strong internal relationships and contribute to the continued development of Australia for UNHCR’s legacy giving strategy

Skills and Experience

• Prior experience within fundraising, philanthropy or supporter engagement
• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence speaking directly with donors and supporters over the phone
• Ability to navigate personal and sensitive conversations appropriately
• Experience coordinating fundraising, marketing or supporter campaigns, ideally across multiple channels including direct mail, email and digital
• Strong project coordination skills, with the ability to manage timelines, stakeholders and multiple competing priorities
• Excellent administration and organisational skills with strong attention to detail
• Experience using CRM systems to maintain accurate supporter information and track engagement activity
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a genuine supporter-first approach
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of internal stakeholders, including data, communications, digital and fundraising teams
• A proactive attitude, willingness to learn and, enthusiasm for developing a career within legacy giving
• Comfortable working within a busy, high-performing environment and team
• A genuine interest in Australia for UNHCR’s mission and the opportunity to build sustainable, long-term support for refugees and people forced to flee

Applications

Please apply by uploading your resume. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with conversations progressing with suitable candidates throughout the recruitment process. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date, so we encourage early applications.

Please direct all enquiries to Kristina Baric at Impact Advising on ******************************

Impact Advising is committed to creating diverse and inclusive work environments that reflect the rich tapestry of our communities. We believe that diversity enriches organisations and fosters innovation. We are dedicated to building workforces that are representative of the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of our society. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds, including people with lived or living experience of refugee backgrounds. We value a range of experiences, perspectives and career pathways. We actively seek to foster inclusive workplaces where all employees can bring their whole selves to work, feel respected and valued, and have equal opportunities for growth and advancement. We are committed to providing a fair and unbiased recruitment process, and we strive to eliminate any barriers that may impede the inclusion and participation of underrepresented groups in the workforce.