Rugby Giving Lead Consultant - ChildFund Rugby

Application deadline: 14 August 2026

1. Organisational Context 

ChildFund Rugby partners to use rugby as a powerful tool for positive social impact, supporting children and young people to play, learn and lead. ChildFund Rugby is World Rugby’s global Social Impact Partner, a multi-year partnership that builds on previous partnerships across five consecutive Rugby World Cup events.

ChildFund Rugby’s partners use Pass It Back, a set of integrated rugby and life skills learning products, so that children and young people in vulnerable situations have opportunities to develop critical social and emotional skills, overcome challenges, inspire positive social change and take leadership roles in their lives.

ChildFund Rugby is establishing the Pass It Back Collective, a global community of rugby-connected supporters whose significant investment will help Pass It Back reach more children and young people. Launching with an inaugural group and growing over time, the Collective will be built through trusted introductions, individual relationship-building, meaningful engagement, major giving and long-term stewardship.

2. Purpose 

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop trusted relationships with a defined portfolio of rugby-connected prospective donors and progress those relationships towards significant charitable donations to Pass It Back and long-term membership of the Pass It Back Collective.

This is a relationship-based fundraising role. The Rugby Giving Lead will combine the credibility, relationships and lived experience of an elite rugby athlete with structured training and support in donor engagement and major giving.

3. Portfolio

The Rugby Giving Lead will own a defined regional portfolio of qualified prospective donors and cultivate relevant connectors who can provide trusted introductions and open doors.

The portfolio will generally comprise approximately 25–35 prospects at different stages of qualification and cultivation. Its final composition will reflect the agreed geographic focus, prospect readiness and level of effort.

4. Scope of Services

A. Portfolio Development and Relationship Management

• Own and actively manage an agreed portfolio of prospective supporters, maintaining clear relationship strategies, current records and next actions;
• Draw on their rugby experience, credibility and networks, and work with trusted connectors, to secure warm introductions to priority prospective donors;
• Build authentic relationships through individual meetings, small gatherings, rugby events, Pass It Back briefings, in-person visits and virtual experiences that enable prospective donors to understand Pass It Back’s work and impact firsthand;
• Progress relationships through qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, regularly reviewing priorities and addressing stalled or unsuitable prospects.

B. Major Giving and Collective Development

• Assess prospect readiness and work with the Co-Directors and fundraising advisers to develop appropriate gift strategies;
• Prepare for, participate in and, where appropriate, lead major-gift conversations and solicitations;
• Use selected rugby and supporter events to connect with prospective donors, facilitate introductions and progress relationships, with appropriate preparation and follow-up;
• Follow through on prospective commitments, documentation and agreed actions;
• Steward Collective members through meaningful communication and engagement, identifying opportunities for renewed giving, advocacy and introductions;
• Contribute to the Pass It Back Collective’s shared membership and revenue targets through a relationship-led approach.

C. Representation and Collaboration

• Represent ChildFund Rugby and the Pass It Back Collective confidently at selected meetings, events and supporter engagements;
• Communicate Pass It Back’s purpose and impact clearly, drawing appropriately on personal rugby experience to build trust and connection;
• Work closely with the Co-Directors, other Rugby Giving Leads, ChildFund Rugby Ambassadors, fundraising advisers and the Social Impact Administrator to coordinate introductions, relationship activity and supporter engagement;
• Provide timely information for portfolio management, planning and forecasting, and brief Ambassadors and senior representatives before their involvement in prospective donor relationships;
• Protect ChildFund Rugby’s credibility and reputation through informed, respectful and values-aligned representation.

5. Management and Reporting Arrangements 

The Rugby Giving Lead will report to the ChildFund Rugby Co-Directors.

Relationship ownership, geographic scope, portfolio size, approval thresholds and solicitation responsibilities will be agreed at commencement and reviewed regularly.

6. Confidentiality 

All discussions and documents relating to this ToR will be treated as confidential by the parties.  The role will have access to confidential organisational, personal, donor and stakeholder information.

The successful applicant must:

• Maintain strict confidentiality;
• Use information only for authorised purposes;
• Store and share records through approved systems;
• Comply with applicable privacy, data-protection and organisational requirements;
• Immediately report any actual or suspected loss, disclosure or misuse of information.

7. Child Safeguarding 

The Consultant will be required to comply with and sign a Code of Conduct that outlines safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment obligations. The Consultant will also be required to complete relevant background and/or criminal history checks.

8. Counter-Terrorism 

ChildFund acknowledges its obligation under the Australian laws relating to counter-terrorism. In order to meet its obligation, the Consultant will be reviewed against the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and National Security Australia lists at the onset of any financial relationship.

9. Acknowledgement and Disclaimer 

ChildFund, its Board, and staff make no express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, reliability, or completeness of the information contained in this ToR. Nothing in this ToR should be construed to give rise to any contractual obligations or rights, expressed or implied, by the issue of this ToR. No contract would be created until a formal written contract is executed between ChildFund and a selected Consultant.

10. Requirements

Previous fundraising or major-giving experience is not required. ChildFund Rugby will provide structured induction, training, practical resources and ongoing mentoring.

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

• Experience as a current or former professional or elite rugby athlete, with credibility and relevant relationships within the rugby community;
• The ability to build authentic relationships with people from different professional, cultural and personal backgrounds;
• Strong communication, listening and storytelling skills;
• Confidence initiating conversations and maintaining relationships through consistent personal follow-up;
• Strong personal organisation and sound judgement, with the ability to work independently and asynchronously, use shared digital platforms effectively, and maintain timely records and follow-up;
• Openness to learning about relationship-based fundraising and participating in significant gift conversations;
• An authentic commitment to Pass It Back, gender equality and rugby’s potential to create positive social impact.

The following will be advantageous but are not required:

• Established networks, additional languages or cross-cultural experience relevant to the geographic market;
• Experience representing rugby through leadership, media, ambassador, community, governance or commercial roles;
• Experience in relationship development, business development, partnerships or senior stakeholder engagement.

Success Criteria

Success will be demonstrated by:

• The assigned portfolio being actively managed and progressed, with clear strategies and timely next actions;
• Trusted introductions, meaningful conversations and appropriate major-gift opportunities being developed;
• A material contribution to the Pass It Back Collective’s shared membership and revenue targets;
• Collective members receiving thoughtful stewardship that supports continued engagement, renewed giving and introductions;
• Strong collaboration, accurate reporting and consistent follow-through;
• ChildFund Rugby and the Pass It Back Collective being represented credibly and confidently.

Portfolio-specific targets will be agreed at commencement and reviewed regularly.

11. Role Boundaries

The Rugby Giving Lead is responsible for the development, progression and stewardship of assigned relationships.

The Co-Directors retain overall responsibility for campaign strategy, organisational commitments, gift acceptance and sensitive or high-value decisions. They may participate in or lead selected solicitations.

The Social Impact Administrator will support scheduling, records, briefing materials, communications coordination and portfolio visibility. Administrative support does not replace the Rugby Giving Lead’s accountability for relationship strategy, personal follow-up and portfolio progress.

12. Other Information

Location: Remote. Initial appointments are expected to focus on North America and Europe.

Employment type: Consultancy contract.

Working arrangements: This is a part-time consultancy expected to require approximately 10–12 hours per week. Performance will be assessed primarily against agreed portfolio deliverables and relationship progress rather than fixed working hours. The Consultant will need to work flexibly, including occasional early-morning or evening meetings, to accommodate prospective donors, events and colleagues across time zones.

Travel: Domestic and international travel may be required for selected meetings, rugby events and Pass It Back experiences.

Contract term: Fixed-term consultancy, with the initial term and potential extension agreed based on availability, performance, programme requirements and funding.

13. Application Instructions

Please apply through this link, completing all requested fields and sharing a cover letter that responds to this ToR.

Applicants should submit:

• A current CV;
• A cover letter outlining their suitability and interest in the role;
• A brief description of relevant rugby, professional, community or stakeholder networks;
• Examples of relationship-building, representation, partnership or comparable experience;
• Availability and ability to commit approximately 10–12 hours per week;
• Proposed monthly consultancy fee for this level of commitment.

Shortlisted applicants may be asked to complete a short practical exercise involving preparation for a prospective-supporter meeting or drafting a follow-up communication. No previous fundraising knowledge will be required.

Application deadline: 14 August 2026

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In line with ChildFund’s values, diversity of people and ideas is critical to our work and success.  We strive for a team culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive. ChildFund is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and strongly encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply for vacancies.

For applications from businesses, we encourage those headed by women and people with disabilities, as well as those active in promoting inclusion in the workplace, to apply.