Head of Foundation and Coteries

Introduction

The GIANTS are a club like no other.

Proudly representing Western Sydney and Canberra, we're bold in our ambitions, relentless in our pursuit of success and committed to creating a lasting impact on and off the field.

Our AFL and AFLW teams compete with courage, determination, and an unmistakable GIANTS spirit. Our players, coaches and staff challenge expectations, pursue growth and strive to perform at the highest level, while creating unforgettable moments for our members and fans.
Beyond football, we are deeply connected to the communities we represent. Through meaningful partnerships, community programs, and genuine engagement, we create opportunities for people to thrive and communities to grow.

Based at our elite training facility in Sydney Olympic Park, the GIANTS bring together passionate and talented people who share a commitment to teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement. Whether on the field, in the office or in the community, every member of our team plays a role in shaping the future of our club.

At the heart of our brand is the belief that there's a GIANT in all of us. By living our values and commitments, we will deliver on our purpose: to create a club like no other that provides outstanding family entertainment, wins premierships, and enriches the lives of people across Western Sydney, Canberra, and the broader community.

Position Purpose

The Head of Foundation and Coteries is responsible for leading and managing the GIANTS Foundation’s fundraising program and the club’s coterie groups – the M7, Captains Club/Territorians (Canberra) and GIANTS Wings/GIANTS Hearts (Canberra).

More broadly, the role is responsible for developing and executing the GIANTS Foundation’s fundraising and coterie strategy and adapting it as the club’s priorities evolve, growing the profile of the Foundation both within the club and externally, and ensuring the Foundation meets its governance and compliance obligations as a registered charity.

The GIANTS Foundation is the club’s charitable arm, investing in community programs across Western Sydney and Canberra, the GIANTS Academy pathway and a long-term Future Fund. It is how the club delivers on its promise to enrich the lives of people in its communities, and it gives supporters a way to leave a lasting legacy with the GIANTS.

Position Overview

Reports to:

• Executive General Manager, Commercial

Other Key Relationships

Internal

• GIANTS Foundation Board Members
• GIANTS Executive and Management team
• GIANTS Employees from Consumer, Events, Media, Community, Football, Facilities and Finance
• Both Playing Groups: AFL, AFLW

External

• Small to medium enterprises across NSW and the ACT
• Philanthropic networks - on both State and National basis
• Corporate Sponsors
• High Net Worth Individuals
• Coterie members - M7, Captains Club/Territorians and GIANTS Wings/GIANTS Hearts (existing and prospective)
• Foundation Circle members, lead donors and bequests/planned giving prospects.

Roles and Responsibilities

Responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

Strategy and Performance

• Develop, implement and regularly review the GIANTS Foundation fundraising and coterie strategy, aligned to the club’s strategic plan and in consultation with the EGM Commercial and Foundation Board.
• Establish clear measures of success and annual targets for the Foundation’s fundraising and coterie programs, and monitor and report performance against them.
• Identify new funding opportunities, revenue streams and supporter programs, adapting the Foundation’s approach as the club’s priorities and the philanthropic landscape change.
• The successful candidate will own the prospect pipeline, major donor asks, stewardship calendar and reporting. They will engage high net worth individuals (HNWIs) effectively, understand their philanthropic motivations, and move supporters through the coterie and donor recognition pathway. The role requires strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to mobilise the Board, Executive and club departments as part of a whole-of-club approach to fundraising.
• Reporting to and working closely with the Executive General Manager, Commercial, the Head of Foundation and Coteries will operate with integrity and collaborate to ensure effective communication and work practices across the club. As a key member of the GIANTS Management Team, this position will contribute to the strategic direction, cultural leadership and future development of the GIANTS.
  

Donation Campaigns

• Establish and manage a leadership donor program, initially the inaugural Foundation Circle – the club’s most passionate donors and giving advocates – as the bridge between hospitality-led coterie membership and a philanthropic partnership with the club.
• Develop donation campaign collateral and a compelling case for support that connects each of the Foundation’s giving priorities (currently the Academy, Western Sydney Impact and the Future Fund) to the club’s identity.
• Lead quiet-phase and feasibility conversations with M7 members, top corporates and lead donors, and secure multi-year pledges.
• Manage light-touch activity, including bequests, named scholarships, pathways and facilities gifts, and planned giving conversations.
• Lead the development of a long-term corpus campaign initiative through a Legacy / Future Fund, across each phase, from quiet phase through public launch, growth and completion.

Leadership Giving and Donor Stewardship

• Own the prospect pipeline, actively managing a prioritised portfolio of major donor prospects and securing multi-year commitments.
• Build a deeper understanding of HNWI donors’ philanthropic motivations, with a listening phase.
• Implement, manage and evolve the Foundation’s cumulative donor recognition framework, recognising supporters appropriately for their lifetime giving.
• Deliver a disciplined stewardship cadence, including quarterly updates, project updates, impact summaries, thank-you calls and personalised recognition, including for bequestors.

Coterie Growth and Enagagement

• Lead the M7, Captains Club/Territorians and GIANTS Wings/GIANTS Hearts (and any future coterie or supporter groups), ensuring the value of membership is clearly articulated and consistently delivered, and regularly review each group’s offering so it remains relevant and competitive.
• Develop and deliver a recruitment and retention strategy for each group to grow membership in line with agreed targets.
• Use Board and CEO introductions, member referrals, corporate peer networks, the corporate partner pipeline, and AFLW and women in business networks to recruit new members.
• Leverage own network and contacts to recruit new members outside of pre-existing GIANTS’ networks.
• Create upgrade pathways that move members up the investment pathway, such as Captains Club members progressing to the M7, and connect each group to the corpus campaign story.
• Support the coterie and hospitality sales function and build relationships with key investors in the GIANTS.

Fundraising Program and Events

• Deliver the Foundation’s annual fundraising program (currently leadership giving, a flagship Foundation Dinner, a matched giving day and Legacy / Future Fund activity), keeping products focused, repeatable and easy to explain, and reviewing the mix as the strategy evolves.
• Partner with the Events team to deliver Foundation fundraising events.
• Work with Programs and Community leads to develop storytelling and content plans across the Foundation’s funds (currently the Western Sydney Impact Fund, Pathways Fund (Academy) and Legacy / Future Fund), including impact stories, site visits and donor updates.

Revenue, Operations and Governance - GIANTS Foundation

• In consultation with the EGM Commercial and Foundation Board, develop and deliver the annual Foundation budget, including revenue and associated costs.
• Engage and support the Foundation Board and senior executives in their defined fundraising roles – opening doors, supporting major asks, hosting cultivation touchpoints and making thank-you calls.
• Be highly experienced in CRM strategy, marketing and website management and development.
• Provide regular reporting to the EGM Commercial, Executive and Foundation Board on the pipeline, campaign progress, coterie growth, income against budget, and governance, risk and compliance matters.
• Ensure the GIANTS Foundation meets its obligations as a registered charity, including the ACNC Governance Standards, Annual Information Statement and financial reporting requirements, any Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) and tax concession requirements, and NSW and ACT fundraising legislation.
• Support the Foundation Board’s governance function, including preparing board papers and reports, maintaining the governance calendar and conflict of interest and related party registers, and notifying the ACNC of changes to responsible persons and governing documents.
• Develop, maintain and apply Foundation policies and procedures – including gift acceptance, donation receipting, privacy and donor data management, restricted and tied gifts, and fundraising conduct – so that donations are applied in line with donor intent and the Foundation’s charitable purpose.
• Identify, manage and report on fundraising and compliance risks, and keep the Foundation’s practices aligned with sector standards, including the Fundraising Institute Australia Code.
• Analyse data and maintain a good working knowledge of fundraising theory, data trends, governance and compliance, and a solid understanding of the NFP sector to inform strategy and operational activity.
• Work closely with the Partnership and Community Managers to grow awareness of fundraising and bequests and increase donations to the club.
• Collaborate effectively across GIANTS’ internal teams to activate the business towards achieving Foundation objectives. Ensure the Foundation enjoys a positive reputation internally and cross department collaboration is optimised.

Skills and Knowledge

Engage

• We entertain in all that we do
• We enrich ourselves and others by being open and accessible
• We communicate and collaborate

Grow

• We will build our club and our people
• We strive for greatness
• We celebrate our wins.

Challenge

• We hold ourselves and others accountable to the highest standards
• We will innovate, create and lead
• We are resilient.

Respect

• We celebrate our diversity and promote inclusion
• We own our story to enhance our legacy
• We are authentic and act with integrity in all we do.

The GIANTS are proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a flexible and safe working environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant because of race, colour, national origin, sex, gender, disability, religion, marital status, parental status, nor any other protected personal characteristic.