Come and join us to build your skills and expertise in fundraising!

You will have the opportunity to hone your skills whilst helping to build business capacity for our amazing network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres.

This incredible opportunity will support you to:

• Develop your skills and expertise across all areas of fundraising including completing an online fundraising course.
• Learn about Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centre model
• Opportunity to travel to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair in August 2025!

*Note that this is an Australian Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander identified position.

About the Internship

This six-month internship program is designed to offer a holistic understanding of the not-for-profit sector and the intricacies of fundraising and philanthropy activities. Through a combination of education and hands-on experience, the successful intern will gain valuable insights into various aspects of fundraising, including donor and philanthropic engagement, writing and implementing a fundraising strategy, grant writing and strategic campaign development, and more.

The program recognises the importance of cultural competence and safety in fundraising efforts, emphasising the incorporation of traditional knowledge and community values into contemporary philanthropic practices. By doing so, it seeks to ensure that fundraising initiatives align authentically with the diverse needs and aspirations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This initiative represents a significant step towards fostering inclusivity, diversity and sustainability within the Australian fundraising sector.

The primary objective of this Internship is to cultivate skilled and experienced individuals within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community who can navigate the complexities of fundraising with cultural sensitivity and community-focused perspectives.

At the heart of this internship program is a commitment to providing practical experience, fostering skills development, and ultimately creating tangible pathways into fundraising careers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. By doing so, the project aims to empower individuals within these communities to actively contribute to the sustainability and growth of First Nations not-for-profit organisations.

This internship is an initiative of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, delivered by Balanced Effect, and is proudly supported by Creative Australia.

Duration and Contact Hours

• Duration: 6 months at 0.6FTE - 22.5 hours per week,
• 26 weeks, including 2 weeks annual leave.
• Location: Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country
• Balanced Effect, Waterman, Suite 2, Level 1/793 Burke Rd, Camberwell VIC 3124,
• 2 days per week at Balanced Effect, 1 day per week study time remote
• Some travel required

Description of Internship

The successful intern will work as a paid employee of the host organisation Balanced Effect Pty Ltd, an organisation that provides fundraising and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) support to the not-for-profit sector.

In addition to supporting an exciting fundraising campaign with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres in remote communities, the internship will also provide support for Art Centre clients and gain insight into non-Indigenous-led clients to gain a comprehensive understanding of the many fundraising roles available to them.

The successful intern will participate in a comprehensive 16-module online fundraising course as an integral part of the program. This course is designed to provide a strong foundation in fundraising principles, donor engagement strategies, campaign management, and ethical fundraising practices. Each module will cover key topics such as grant writing, digital fundraising, donor stewardship, and CRM. By completing the course, the intern will gain valuable industry knowledge and practical skills that can be applied throughout the internship and beyond, preparing them for a successful career in the nonprofit sector.

The intern will cover fundraising areas such as:

• The not-for-profit sector
• Fundraising strategy creation and implementation
• Individual giving
• Campaigns and appeals
• Community Fundraising
• Gifts in Will
• Major donors
• Regular giving
• Philanthropic trusts and foundations
• Digital fundraising
• Marketing & communications
• A variety of fundraising software products
• The importance of data
• Data collection and privacy
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and software

About the Intern

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:

First Nations Fundraising Internship candidates should be passionate about the for-purpose and arts sector and want to pursue a career in fundraising

The ideal candidate for the First Nations Fundraising Internship position should possess the following qualifications, skills and experience.

Required skills:

NOTE: The filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity measure under section 8 (1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) and s57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1995 (NT). The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants.

• 4+ years of work experience in any industry or sector
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of fundraising and/or marketing and the not-for-profit sector
• Demonstrated interest in the national and global arts scene.
• Highly developed administration capabilities, with great organisational skills, attention to detail and time management
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a cooperative approach and genuine intention to nurture strong stakeholder relationships and an optimal team environment.
• Sound computer literacy skills.

Personal capabilities:

• Ability to work independently as well as with a local and remote team to achieve required outcomes
• Understanding of how to create culturally safe spaces with sensitivity and humility – recognising the importance of Indigenous perspectives, histories and experiences.

Nice to have skills & experience:

• A degree or experience in Marketing or Communications (but this is NOT essential)
• Keen interest or experience in the visual arts sector
• Experience working in remote Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes:

• Time Management and Efficiency: Possess good time management skills and efficient work practices .
• Proactive Attitude: Display a proactive approach to all client challenges, constantly seeking ways to solve problems.
• Continued Personal/Professional Development: Show enthusiasm for continuous personal and professional growth, have an inquisitive nature and actively seek opportunities to learn.

About Balanced Effect and DAAF Foundation

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAF Foundation) and Balanced Effect values passion, commitment and achieving real outcomes for First Nations Art Centres and their artists, fashion and textile designers.

Balanced Effect is a team of specialists dedicated to supporting purpose driven organisations in achieving their goals and making a positive impact. Our team's range of expertise in fundraising, marketing, communications and CRM provides valuable support to organisations that may not have such skills in-house.

Balanced Effect offers consulting and mentoring services to our growing list of clients. The team's experience and expertise in the NFP sector, especially with leading fundraisers who have decades of experience, has proven to be invaluable when creating effective fundraising campaigns and strategies.

We are passionate about the work our clients do, and we are looking for a person who is equally passionate. As the name suggests, we believe in a balanced life and pride ourselves on being a supportive workplace.

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAF Foundation) is a not-for-profit Indigenous organisation representing over 85 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres and Peak Bodies. We celebrate the rich cultural and artistic diversity of Indigenous Australia through art, fashion, and textiles.

The vision of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation is to provide vibrant and exciting platforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, design, and culture with a reputation for innovation, diversity and cultural integrity.

Our flagship events all happen across six days in August each year - the renowned Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (in Darwin and online), the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) and Country to Couture runways.

A range of associated events include the DAAF Opening Ceremony, the Public Program of artists talks, masterclasses and performances, and the Cultural Keepers Program for Indigenous curators. Throughout the year, our Indigenous Fashion Projects also include grass-roots sector development and showcases at Australian Fashion Week.

We value passion, commitment and achieving real outcomes for First Nations Art Centres and their artists, and fashion and textiles designers.

More about us: daaf.com.au, www.ifp.org.au and indigenousartshub.com.au

This internship is due to begin in February 2025.

If you are excited about this opportunity, you feel that you have most of the skills and experience required, you are passionate about creating change in the world, and you are a dedicated learner, please apply!

We will actively be contacting people throughout the application period, so please do not delay your application.

Balanced Effect and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.

A position description is attached.