Introduction

In a world of intersecting crises—climate disasters, conflict, and deepening inequality—the need for reliable, predictable funding to deliver life-saving aid and long-term development programs has never been more critical. For ambitious fundraising professionals, mastering the art and science of building a loyal, committed donor base is the cornerstone of a resilient nonprofit. The announcement of the Regular Giving Manager position at CARE Australia in Melbourne for 2026 represents a high-impact leadership opportunity to own and grow the financial engine that funds CARE’s emergency responses and women-led community programs across the globe. This is not just a manager role; it is the stewardship of the most vital and sustainable income stream, turning monthly commitments into lasting transformation for the world’s most vulnerable communities.

CARE Australia is seeking a strategic, data-driven, and creatively bold leader to head its Regular Giving program. This Regular Giving Manager will be responsible for the entire donor journey—from acquisition and onboarding to retention, loyalty, and value optimization. Based in Melbourne, you will lead a team to innovate across digital, face-to-face, telemarketing, and direct mail channels, ensuring that every supporter feels deeply connected to the impact of their recurring gift. In the wake of increasing donor sophistication and competition, this role is about building a community, not just a database.

The position offers a competitive salary within the Australian NGO sector, a comprehensive benefits package reflective of CARE’s values, and the profound professional satisfaction of leading a function with direct, measurable impact. What distinguishes this role is its dual focus on heart and data. You will craft emotive stories that inspire new donors to join, while using predictive analytics to prevent attrition and increase lifetime value. For a manager who thrives on blending creative campaigning with rigorous performance metrics, this is the ultimate platform to advance a career in humanitarian leadership while calling Melbourne home.

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Background & Job Description

CARE Australia is part of CARE International, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and social injustice, with a special focus on empowering women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. CARE Australia supports long-term development projects and provides lifesaving assistance in emergencies across Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

This Regular Giving Manager position for 2026 is a senior role within the Fundraising and Marketing Directorate at CARE Australia’s national office in Melbourne. The role purpose is to develop and execute the strategic vision for the Regular Giving program, driving growth in donor numbers and net revenue to meet ambitious annual targets. The manager holds full accountability for the program’s P&L, leading a team of specialists in acquisition, retention, and donor care to cultivate a passionate, financially committed supporter base that provides a predictable, sustainable income stream.

The manager’s success is fundamental to CARE Australia’s financial health and programmatic agility. A robust regular giving program provides the unrestricted, reliable funding that allows CARE to respond rapidly to emergencies like the Afghanistan crisis or the Pacific tsunami, and to invest in long-term women’s empowerment projects. This role is the critical link between the generosity of Australians and tangible change on the ground, requiring a leader who can inspire both their team and tens of thousands of supporters.

Key Responsibilities

The Regular Giving Manager will have end-to-end accountability for the program’s strategy, execution, and growth.

Strategic Leadership & Financial Management: Develop and own the multi-year Regular Giving strategy and annual operational plan. Hold full P&L responsibility, setting and managing a multi-million-dollar budget. Forecast income and expenditure meticulously, making data-driven investment decisions to optimise ROI across all channels. This sets the course for sustainable growth.
Integrated Channel Management & Innovation: Lead the performance and innovation across all regular giving channels. This includes Digital Acquisition (paid social, search, display), Face-to-Face (F2F) and Telemarketing for acquisition and retention, Direct Mail appeals, and donor care/engagement communications. Test new approaches, technologies, and messaging to maximize conversion and minimize cost per acquired donor (CPAD).
Donor Journey & Retention Optimization: Architect and manage the end-to-end donor experience, from the first gift through to long-term loyalty. Implement sophisticated retention strategies, including welcome series, regular impact reporting, tailored upgrade asks, and win-back campaigns. Use segmentation and predictive modelling to reduce attrition and increase donor lifetime value (LTV).
Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of executives and officers. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Manage agency and supplier relationships (e.g., F2F agencies, call centres, creative agencies) to ensure excellence in execution and value for money.
Data, Analytics & Reporting: Champion a data-first culture. Work closely with the Insights team to analyse performance, derive actionable insights, and report on KPIs to the Director and Executive. Use the CRM (likely Salesforce) to its full potential to understand donor behaviour and personalise communications.
Collaboration & Organisational Engagement: Work seamlessly with other fundraising teams (Major Gifts, Community) and the Communications/Programs teams to ensure regular giving messaging is powerful, accurate, and aligns with CARE’s brand and campaign priorities. Be the internal champion for the regular giving donor.

Regular Giving Manager at CARE Australia (Melbourne) 2026: Lead the Sustained Support That Powers Global Change

Qualifications

Education & Certification

A tertiary qualification in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field is required.
Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., MBA) or professional certifications in Fundraising (FAIF), Digital Marketing, or Data Analytics are highly regarded and demonstrate a commitment to professional excellence.

Experience

A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in a dedicated regular giving/mass fundraising role, with at least 3 years in a managerial capacity leading a team and holding budgetary accountability.
Non-negotiable, hands-on experience managing integrated regular giving programs, with a proven track record in:
- Digital donor acquisition and conversion optimisation.
- Face-to-Face (F2F) and/or telemarketing channel management.
- Developing and executing donor retention and development strategies.
Specific Experience Must Include:
- Full P&L management and forecasting for a program of significant scale (>$5M income).
- Agency and supplier management.
- Using a CRM (e.g., Salesforce, ThankQ) for segmentation and journey management.
- Working in a complex, matrixed organisational structure.
Core Competencies:
- Strategic & Commercial Acumen: Ability to think strategically while delivering operationally. Strong financial and analytical skills.
- Exceptional Leadership & Communication: Inspiring leader able to motivate a team and communicate vision to stakeholders.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into strategy.
- Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, target-driven environment within the humanitarian sector.

Why Apply for This Position

Securing the Regular Giving Manager role at CARE Australia in 2026 is a career-defining move into a leadership position within one of the world’s most respected humanitarian brands. The opportunity to shape and grow a multi-million-dollar program offers unparalleled scope for professional impact and visibility. You will gain experience managing a complex mix of traditional and digital channels at scale, a skillset in high demand across the nonprofit and for-purpose sectors.

The professional development within CARE’s global network is significant, with opportunities to collaborate with international fundraising counterparts and contribute to global strategies. The networking potential in Melbourne’s vibrant nonprofit and philanthropic community is exceptional.

The impact of your leadership is direct and quantifiable. The growth you drive in regular giving revenue directly translates into more emergency kits distributed, more girls kept in school, and more women supported to start businesses. The organisational culture at CARE is values-driven, focused on empowerment and impact, offering a supportive yet challenging environment where your commercial skills are harnessed for profound humanitarian purpose.

Application Tips & Insights

CARE Australia will seek a candidate who demonstrates a balance of strategic vision, commercial rigour, and authentic passion for the mission.

Tailor Your Application with Metrics and Outcomes: Your resume and cover letter must be quantified. Use statements like: “Grew a regular giving program from $4M to $6.5M net revenue over 3 years through optimising F2F conversion and reducing attrition by 5%,” or “Increased digital acquisition by 40% year-on-year through refined audience targeting and landing page optimisation.” Frame your achievements in terms of net income growth, donor lifetime value, and retention rates.
Demonstrate Integrated Channel Expertise: Clearly outline your hands-on experience with each key channel: digital, F2F, telemarketing, and direct mail. Show how you’ve managed them in an integrated way. Highlight any experience with supporter journeys, CRM segmentation, and testing methodologies.
Avoid Common Mistakes: Do not submit a generic fundraising application. Avoid focusing solely on acquisition; demonstrate deep understanding of donor retention and value maximisation as the core of a sustainable program. Failing to show P&L and budget management experience will be a critical gap. Your cover letter should articulate a clear vision for what a best-in-class regular giving program at CARE could achieve.
Timeline & Process Expectations: The process will be thorough. Expect an initial screening, followed by a practical task (e.g., analysing a dataset or reviewing a campaign plan). Subsequent interviews will involve the Head of Fundraising, the Director, potentially the CEO, and a panel interview with peers. The process may take 6-8 weeks from application to offer.
Interview Preparation: Prepare to present your strategic approach to regular giving at CARE. Be ready to discuss channel investment trade-offs, your views on the future of F2F fundraising, and how you would tackle donor attrition. Expect behavioural questions on team leadership through change and stakeholder management. Research CARE Australia’s current emergency responses and long-term programs to speak knowledgeably about where funds go.

Additional Information

Salary Range: CARE Australia offers competitive remuneration under its Enterprise Agreement. For a senior manager role in 2026 in Melbourne, the total annual package (including superannuation) could be in the range of $110,000 – $130,000 AUD, dependent on experience.
Benefits Package: CARE offers a comprehensive package for its staff, typically including:
- Flexible working arrangements (hybrid model from Melbourne office).
- Professional development opportunities and study assistance.
- Additional paid leave (including gifted leave between Christmas and New Year).
- Salary packaging (up to $15,900 tax-free) to increase take-home pay.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for wellbeing support.
Work Arrangement: This is a full-time, permanent position based in CARE Australia’s National Office in Melbourne (likely in the CBD or inner suburbs), with a hybrid work model.
Application Deadline: Adhere strictly to the closing date advertised. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and early submission is advantageous.
Equal Opportunity Statement: CARE Australia is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. It encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and LGBTIQ+ individuals. CARE has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse, and all staff are vetted against this policy.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online via CARE Australia’s careers portal.

Find the Vacancy: Search for “Regular Giving Manager” or filter by Melbourne-based roles.
Review the Information Pack: Download and thoroughly review any candidate information pack attached to the listing.
Prepare Required Documents:
- A current Resume/CV tailored to the selection criteria.
- A Cover Letter (addressing the key competencies outlined in the position description).
Complete Online Application: Follow the instructions on the careers portal to submit your application and documents.
Official Application Page: Apply only via the link provided on the official care.org.au/careers website.
Deadline: Ensure your application is submitted before the closing time on the specified date.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the size and scale of the Regular Giving program I would be managing?
While exact figures are dynamic, you can expect to be managing a program generating several million dollars in net annual revenue from tens of thousands of active regular givers. The team likely comprises several direct reports managing different channels. The new manager will be expected to set and deliver on ambitious growth targets from this substantial base.

2. How does CARE Australia view the balance between traditional channels (like Face-to-Face) and digital innovation?
CARE likely sees this as a “both/and” strategy, not an “either/or.” Traditional channels like F2F and direct mail remain highly effective for acquisition and retention in the Australian market, especially for older demographics. Digital is critical for reaching new audiences and creating efficient, scalable journeys. The manager’s role is to optimally allocate budget across the mix, ensuring each channel plays to its strengths while innovating within all of them.

3. What are the biggest challenges facing regular giving in the current Australian fundraising landscape?
Key challenges include: High cost of acquisition and attrition rates in channels like F2F; Increasing media costs in digital; Donor fatigue amid frequent emergencies and economic pressure on households; and the need for hyper-personalisation in a crowded charity market. The successful manager will need a sophisticated toolkit to address these head-on.

4. Is there international collaboration with other CARE members on regular giving?
Yes. CARE International has a Global Regular Giving Community of Practice. The manager would be expected to engage with this network, sharing learnings, insights, and potentially collaborating on global testing or creative initiatives, offering a valuable international perspective.

5. What is the career progression path from this role?
This is a senior management role within fundraising. Successful performance could lead to promotion to Head of Individual Giving, Head of Fundraising, or Director of Engagement. The experience also provides an excellent springboard to National Fundraising Director roles at other major Australian or international NGOs.

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