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Grants Trainee - social impact
Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF)
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Looking for an opportunity to kick-start your career in philanthropy and grant making?
Why us?
Help us drive impact in:
The opportunity:
Why you might love this opp:
This is a rare entry-level opportunity to kickstart your career in philanthropy in a nurturing environment, while making a meaningful impact on the lives of young Australians.
• Unique pathway into the philanthropy and not-for-profit sector
• Hands-on experience across grants, communications and stakeholder engagement
• Strong learning and networking opportunities
The Organisation
The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation is a purpose-driven philanthropic organisation committed to supporting opportunities that back young Australians. Through strategic grantmaking and partnerships, they work to deliver meaningful and lasting impact across communities, with a focus on rural and regional NSW and QLD.
Culture & Benefits
- Centrally located Sydney CBD office overlooking the Botanic Gardens
- Be part of a close-knit team within a broader family office environment
- Frequent team lunches and regular social and wellness events
- Inclusive, supportive culture that values learning, collaboration and personal growth
What's involved:
The Opportunity
The VFFF Grants Traineeship is an 18-month fixed-term opportunity designed to provide practical experience and develop your understanding of the philanthropy and not-for-profit sectors.
As the administrative hub of the organisation, you will support the end-to-end grants process while contributing to communications, research, reporting and engagement activities. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and broader team, you will gain valuable exposure to philanthropy, grantmaking and community impact initiatives.
This junior position is ideal for a proactive self-starter interested in pursuing a career in philanthropy or the for-purpose sector. Previous trainees have successfully transitioned into roles in other for-purpose organisations after gaining valuable experience in this traineeship.
This role is offered on a four-day work week (1 FTE equals four days, with Friday being a non-work day).
Key Responsibilities
- Providing administrative support for the grantmaking process, including applications, payments, reporting & analysis
- Maintaining and updating the Grant Management System
- Assisting with communications activities, including website content, newsletters, social media, annual report, stakeholder communication and grant correspondence
- Performing desktop research and assisting with the preparation of reports
- Contributing to Board and Committee papers, reports and presentations
- Providing administrative support, stakeholder engagement and assistance with grant seekers, recipients, events and sector activities
Key criteria:
This role would suit an early-career professional or someone looking to commence their career in the philanthropy and not-for-profit sectors.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong research, analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Strong IT skills across Microsoft Office, AI platforms, databases and digital platforms
- Collaborative team player with strong relationship-building skills
How to apply:
If you are passionate about creating positive social impact and want to build a career in the philanthropy or not-for-profit sector, we'd love to hear from you.
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter via Ripple Opportunities.
Applicants must have the right to work in Australia. People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
How to submit via Ripple Opportunities:
1. Create a profile (or complete yours if you already have one) on Ripple Opportunities.
2. Submit an application by clicking on the job listing and ‘Apply’.
3. Please submit your resume and a cover letter (ideally PDF) that briefly outlines what is motivating you to apply for the role and how your experience could be applied in this context.
For support with this, please contact hey@rippleopportunities.com
Oh look! A legend is here reading some fine print! At Ripple our mission is to democratise access to purpose-driven opportunities. As a small team that curates hundreds of opportunities each week we do our best to share all the key information and juicy details. We often link out to the original listing and can't guarantee all details are included on our page, or the full accuracy as application windows and role descriptions may be changed by companies with short notice. If you're unsure of any details or closing dates, it's best to reach out to the organisation directly.