ROLE STATEMENT
Bequest Manager
Enabling Women in Africa to Give Birth Safely
- Globally, every day, 786 women die trying to have a 70% occur in Africa, the vast majority avoidable.
- For every death, about 20 other women suffer an injury, the most feared being an obstetric Left untreated, a woman suffering a fistula will live a life of incontinence, misery, shame, and ostracism. 40% will plan or attempt suicide.
- Deaths and obstetric fistulas occur in Africa simply because many women do not have access to safe medical care. Obstetric fistulas occur very rarely in well-resourced countries simply because comprehensive obstetric emergency care (including a caesarean) is normally available to women.
Motivated by Jesus Christ’s call to love and serve the poor, Barbara May Foundation has responded to this need by facilitating free and safe care for poor and vulnerable women during childbirth and for those already suffering from complications arising from childbirth. We seek to honour women’s dignity and restore their agency by facilitating the repair of obstetric fistulas caused by obstructed labour, and by working to eliminate obstetric fistulas and prevent women dying in childbirth.
About Barbara May Foundation
Barbara May Foundation is an Australian registered charity with tax deductibility status established in 2009 by Medical Director, Dr Andrew Browning AM, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, as well as being one of the world’s leading fistula surgeons.
Barbara May Foundation supports hospitals in Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Northern Uganda via our implementing partners. We receive no government funding, and our donors, from all over the world, support the provision of maternal healthcare in East Africa.
Our Vision
A world where all women can face giving birth with dignity and confidence.
Our Mission
To serve vulnerable women, honour their dignity, restore their agency, strengthen their families by facilitating safe and caring maternal healthcare and the repair of obstetric fistula.
Our Values
- Compassion: Hearts moved by loving kindness, serving the best for
- Integrity: Accountability as a neighbour, acting with moral
- Respect: The tireless recognition and honouring of the dignity of
About the Role
The Bequest Manager is responsible for leading and growing the Foundation’s bequest portfolio. This role focuses on developing long-term, trust-based relationships with generous individuals, families, and advisers, ensuring they are inspired by and connected to the Foundation’s mission.
Key to the role is identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding bequest donors, and developing tailored engagement strategies that build lasting commitment to the Foundation’s long-term sustainability. The position requires a combination of strong relational skills, strategic fundraising expertise, and the ability to convey the impact of giving on maternal health outcomes in Africa.
Part time and location: this is a 3 day a week role, Wednesday through Friday and is work from home, although regular meetings will be required with the General Manager and team so preference will be given for someone located in north/northern Sydney suburbs. The team meets regularly in Gordon NSW 2072.
Key Accountabilities
Bequests
The Board has approved a bequest strategy, “Friends of Barbara May Foundation”. Our Five-Year Strategy (FY 2026-2030) includes bequests as a key component of future growth for the Foundation. An Operational Plan tracks the team’s success, including Bequests.
- Lead the development and implementation of our bequest strategy, “Friends of Barbara May Foundation”.
- Manage and grow a portfolio of confirmed and prospective bequest
- Steward bequest donors with personalised engagement, updates, and
- Work on estate administration including liaising with executors and solicitors regarding settlement of
- Track and produce reports on the state of pending estates and settlements and conversion of estates pending to
- Build and maintain relationships with legal, financial, and estate planning professionals to raise awareness of the Foundation as a charitable option for their clients.
- Maintain accurate, confidential records of future supporters and prospects in the CRM
- Ensure compliance with all relevant Privacy and Fundraising
- Keep up to date with best practices and current
You will be an integral part of the team through the following:
- Living the mission – embodying the values of Compassion, Integrity and Respect in all donor and stakeholder
- Collaborating across the Foundation – working closely with the General Manager, Medical Director, Board, and colleagues in Australia and East Africa to align fundraising with program needs and
- Championing donors and future supporters– ensuring their generosity is acknowledged, their intent respected, and their connection to the Foundation strengthened.
- Driving growth – leading initiatives that expand sustainable revenue through bequests and major
- Sharing knowledge – contributing insights, data, and best practice to help shape the Foundation’s fundraising
- Supporting team culture – contributing to a supportive, purpose-driven team environment where successes are celebrated and challenges are shared.
As the Bequest Manager you will:
- Build, nurture, and steward meaningful relationships with our donors and future supporters, ensuring they feel valued and connected to the Foundation’s mission.
- Design and implement strategies to grow confirmed and prospective bequests, working collaboratively with other fundraising managers.
- Engage directly with donors, prospects, and their advisers with warmth, empathy, and
- Prepare tailored proposals, reports, and updates that demonstrate the impact of donor
- Maintain accurate, confidential records and manage donor pipelines in the
- Contribute to the overall Fundraising Strategy and Operational Plan, delivering income targets and building long-term
- Represent the Foundation at donor meetings, events, and community engagement
- Work collaboratively as part of a values-driven team, supporting the Foundation’s mission of safe motherhood in
- Keep up with developments across the internal team to ensure the General Manager can be provided with timely and relevant advice and information.
Role Reporting
This role reports to the General Manager. You will also work closely with the Medical Director, Senior Finance Manager and Database and Donor Administration Manager.
Your Key Capabilities
- Relationship building – the ability to develop and sustain trusted, long-term connections with donors, future supporters, and professional advisers.
- Communication – excellent written and verbal skills, with the capacity to engage and inspire diverse
- Fundraising expertise – experience in major giving, bequests, or transferable high-value relationship
- Stewardship and care – sensitivity, empathy, and discretion when working with donors on personal matters such as wills and estates.
- Strategic thinking – ability to plan, implement, and evaluate donor engagement and income growth
- Organisation and follow-through – strong project management and CRM skills to track, report, and deliver
- Collaboration – a team player who contributes to a positive, supportive culture across the
- Values alignment – deep commitment to the Foundation’s mission and values of compassion, dignity, and
Individual leadership:
- Owning the job - Take ownership for all responsibilities and honour commitments within your own role and strive to achieve goals with a "can-do" attitude to levels of excellence.
- Perseverance - Remain committed to completing the job in the face of obstacles and
- Timeliness of work – Set achievable timeframes and work to complete projects, tasks and duties on
- Improving performance - Work with others and offer suggestions to find ways of doing the job more
Business Acumen
- Organisational operation - display awareness of the Foundation’s goals and understand how personal objectives relate to those goals.
- Organisational objectives – Understand how organisational vision and values apply to issues in the
- Develop and grow the support of the Foundation – Understand team and organisational goals and collaborate with the General Manager and other team members to achieve them.
- Make sound decisions – Analyse problems, seek input from relevant people, and then take appropriate action to implement the most effective solution in a timely manner.
- Handle confidential and sensitive information with
Qualifications and Experience
Bachelor’s degree qualification in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in bequest and/or major gift
- Strong understanding of philanthropy, wills and estate
- Demonstrated track record of securing bequests and major gifts and building long-term donor
- Understanding of estate planning and the motivations of bequest giving (experience liaising with legal/financial advisers desirable).
- Proven ability to engage with, and steward, donors, clients, or stakeholders at a senior
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing proposals, reports, and donor
- Experience using CRM systems and managing donor or client
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders, board members, and high-net-worth
- Strong organisational and project management skills, able to prioritise competing
- Experience in not-for-profit fundraising, preferably in international aid or health, will be highly
- Alignment with the mission and values of the Barbara May
You will be organised, systematic, thorough, disciplined and friendly and professional when dealing with Barbara May Foundation staff, board members, donors, staff, and suppliers. You will be self-motivated and expected to provide innovative ideas to solve problems. It is expected that you will be developing good skills navigating a small but complex not-for-profit.
Compliance
- A National Police Check
- A current Australian Driver’s License
Apply Now
Enquiries: please direct all questions via info@barbaramayfoundation.com
Applications: please submit an up-to-date CV and a cover letter (2–3 pages max) outlining your primary skills and experiences relevant to this role and send to the above email address.
Closing date: Friday 27th February 2026 |
