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Grants & Fundraising Executive

Part-time (32 hours per week)
Wellington

Make your mark in Aotearoa New Zealand’s arts sector. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is looking for an experienced, relationship-driven Grants and Fundraising Executive to help grow philanthropic and grant income and secure vital support for our mahi. We are seeking a creative writer who can write compelling funding proposals and build partnerships that deliver impact across a variety of revenue streams, and we’d love to hear from you.

About the role

 In this pivotal role at the NZSO, you’ll lead our grants programme end-to-end—researching opportunities, developing persuasive applications, managing funder relationships, and ensuring reporting is accurate and on time. You’ll work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation to align funding proposals with strategic priorities, grow income, and diversify revenue streams.

Your strong creative writing skills will support other proposals and outward facing communications for the NZSO to drive revenue and engage our supporters. 

 Key responsibilities

  •  Identify and pursue funding opportunities across trusts and foundations.

  • Develop high-quality grant applications and proposals, meeting deadlines and delivering strong success rates.

  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with funders, trustees and foundation representatives.

  • Develop stewardship plans to support long-term engagement and donor satisfaction.

  • Monitor philanthropic and funding trends to inform strategy and future approaches.

  • Maintain accurate, up-to-date records and pipelines in Tessitura CRM, ensuring data integrity.

  • Provide clear reporting and insights on performance, pipeline and outcomes to senior leadership.

  • Support bequest strategy implementation and fundraising activity as required.

  • Represent the organisation at meetings, networking events, concerts and presentations when needed as a visible and highly engaged ambassador for the NZSO

What you’ll bring

  •  Proven experience in fundraising, grant writing or a closely related field.

  • Exceptional written communication—able to write creatively, craft clear, persuasive narratives for a range of audiences.

  • Strong verbal communication and relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders.

  • Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.

  • High level of computer literacy; experience with Tessitura (or a similar CRM) is an advantage.

 Why join us?

 You’ll be part of the Development team working to secure resources that enable outstanding work for audiences across Aotearoa. This is an opportunity to take ownership of a meaningful funding portfolio, work with passionate colleagues, and build partnerships that create lasting impact.

 How to apply

 Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you’re interested in this role. Applications close Friday 29th May. For a confidential discussion, contact carleen.ebbs@nzso.co.nz.