Good with people? Turn it into a career.
We're Ignite, a face-to-face sales team hired by charities like Save the Children, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Fred Hollows Foundation to find them regular donors. The job: face-to-face charity fundraising. You get paid to talk for a living, weekdays plus optional Saturdays and public holidays once you're performing well, around Sydney. A lot of our team members came from hospitality, retail or uni, good with people and ready for more. This is where they found it.
- Face-to-face fundraiser for major Australian charities
- No pressure selling. No commission-only churn.
- 90-day structured training & 1-on-1 mentorship
- Prime Sydney sites: centres, events & public spaces
- Promotion criteria in writing, from day one
- Paid road trips around Australia, travel & accommodation covered
Under 21? You start on junior rates and move to the adult rate at your first promotion, whatever your age.
“Ignite Marketing Solutions are a key partner in our face-to-face fundraising program. Dan and the team have demonstrated a strong commitment to reliably deliver against targets and quality expectations, aligning closely with our values and objectives. Since 2023 they are a trusted strategic partner and we continue to see improved results in a competitive market.”
The role.
Charities like Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross hire us for one reason: nothing signs up more regular givers than face-to-face fundraising. They're brilliant at what they do, and they come to us to find the steady donors who fund it. So you'll be out at shopping centres, events and public spaces around Sydney, starting conversations with strangers about the charity you represent.
Some people walk past. That's fine. The ones who stop get a proper chat. You tell them what the charity does, and some of them sign up to give every month. A regular donor often keeps giving for years, so a single sign-up you get today can still be funding vaccines, rescue flights and school programs long after you've forgotten the conversation.
It's not always easy. Rainy Tuesdays exist. But you'll never be stuck in a cubicle watching a clock, and the skills you pick up here (talking to anyone, bouncing back, leading a team) stay with you for the rest of your life.
Pay, training and the team.
Plenty of face-to-face companies burn through people: commission-only pay, zero training, see you next week. We've been doing this since 2016 because we run it the opposite way.
You get paid properly
No commission-only games. You're paid from your first shift, your base is real, and when you do well, you earn more.
You get trained, actually
90 days of coaching from a mentor who's done the job themselves, with the heaviest support in your first month, when you need it most. You also get a company iPad with everything you need on the field, and real-time feedback so you can see what's working and get good fast, instead of being thrown in the deep end. People tell us it changed the way they talk to everyone in their life.
You won't get stuck
The promotion criteria are written down. Hit them and you move up: fundraiser, team leader, campaign manager. Nobody here is waiting around for a manager to quit.
The team is the best part
Ask anyone here. Morning huddles, mates on site with you, wins celebrated loudly. You'll know everyone's name by Friday.
Where this can take you.
People at Ignite have walked every stage of this path. Meet the criteria for the next stage and it's yours.
- The pitch still feels wooden in your mouth.
- Your first rainy Tuesday.
- Ten "no thanks" in a row.
- A voice saying this isn't working.
- You can open a conversation with anyone.
- You're coaching someone newer than you.
- You know your numbers, and they're climbing.
- That doubting voice is long gone.
The first month rewires how you talk to people.
Trainee
Learn how to open a conversation with a stranger and tell a charity's story well. Your 90-day program starts here, with a mentor beside you.
The first 90 daysProfessional Fundraiser
Training wheels off. You pitch solo, hold your own numbers and start building your case for the next step.
After your first 90 daysAdvanced Professional Fundraiser
Consistent results move you up a level, with a higher hourly base and bigger incentives.
When your numbers say soTeam Leader
Run the site, set the pace, and coach newer fundraisers on the floor. Your results now include your team's.
Typically 6–12 monthsCampaign Manager
Run a whole campaign: the team, the sites, the numbers. The results have your name on them. It's real: David got the chance to open our first international office in his mid-20s.
Year 1–2Coach & Mentor
Mentor the next generation of leaders, or go the whole way and run your own operation. Thanks to the leadership coaching Daniel runs, multiple Ignite alumni have gone on to build successful businesses of their own.
Your callAmbitious? Good. We're counting on it.
Ignite only grows when people step up into leadership. Every time you push for the next stage, the whole company grows with you. Daniel, Adi, David and Jonah all started as trainees, and none of them were naturals. They got good in their first couple of months, while others were still deciding it was too hard.
What a shift looks like.
The office mornings are optional and non-paid. Promotion here runs on results, not attendance. The paid work is on the field, and it's the same every day.
Optional Mon, Wed & Fri · the office morning, non-paid
Grow first
Our professional fundraisers sit down together and work on personal development, leadership and team building.
Sharpen your pitch
Role play, objection handling and charity knowledge. The better you get at this, the more you earn in incentives.
The huddle
We look at the KPIs, celebrate who did well and give credit where it's due.
Out the door
On office mornings everyone travels out together. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you meet your team straight on the field.
Paid On the field · every day
Make a difference
Raise money for amazing causes, one conversation at a time. Your team leader is right there with you, and this is where the paid on-the-job training happens.
Home time
That's the day. Your numbers climb week by week, and every week builds your case for promotion.
People who started exactly where you are.
Between them they've fundraised for the Fred Hollows Foundation, Save the Children and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Daniel, Adi and Jonah are still here, so ask them anything at your trial day.
I won a sales competition and got an all-expenses-paid trip to Cambodia to see the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation firsthand. Watching a patient see for the first time in years brought the whole thing full circle — it made every rejection on-field worth it.
David SmythePast team member · trainee → opened our first NZ officeDaniel started fundraising at 23, living in a backpacker hostel in Brisbane. He nearly quit. Then he won a national competition and a trip to Vanuatu with the Fred Hollows Foundation, and everything changed. He built a 15-person team in ten months and went on to found Ignite.
Daniel ShavinBackpacker hostel → Founder of IgniteAdi mixed road trips with building a sales career, became the company's highest earner, and is now our General Manager. His next step: launching his own face-to-face agency, with Ignite's backing.
Aditya AwasthiUni student → highest earner → General ManagerTen minutes into his first shift, with zero work experience and no idea what he was doing, Jonah got his first sign-up. Three months later he was an Advanced Professional Fundraiser with 17 sales in a week and his own team taking shape.
Jonah LeeFirst job ever → APF in 3 months4.6 stars on Google, PFRA accredited, running since 2016.
Among the best-reviewed face-to-face fundraising teams in Sydney, on platforms we can't edit.
"I genuinely had the best experience working at Ignite. The team is fabulous — everyone is so kind, encouraging and supportive. Team training was extremely thorough and well planned, and super easy to learn."
"The team was supportive, energetic, and very focused on helping people build confidence and real communication skills. I learned a lot about customer interaction, sales and teamwork in a short time."
"Such a diverse group of career-driven, unique, like-minded people. If you're eager to learn and achieve your goals while working in a fun and supportive environment, then Ignite is the place to be."
"When it comes to approaching strangers, Ignite helped me — not only with my confidence. Daniel also helped me build routines and systems that I use in my business's day-to-day management."
"Amazing company to work for, with a fun, family environment that opens up a world of opportunities."
"Love the family environment! Very professional and lovely team, highly recommend this company!"
Every quote above is a public review we can't edit or delete. See them for yourself on Google, Facebook and Indeed.
You don't need a CV full of experience.
We hire on attitude and teach everything else. If most of the first list sounds like you, we should talk. The second list just saves us both a phone call.
Full training provided · Start ASAP- Probably you, if…
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You like talking to peopleStrangers don't scare you. You'd rather chat than scroll.
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You don't give up easyYou can hear "no thanks" ten times and still smile at number eleven.
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You want work that means somethingYou'd like to care about what you do all day.
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You want to go somewhereYou're after a career, not just a payslip, and you'll put the work in for it.
- Not for you, if…
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You're under 18, or can't work in AustraliaThose two we can't budge on.
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You can't give it three weekdaysThe minimum is three weekdays a week, 10 to 5:30.
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You just want any jobPeople come to sales to move up, earn bonuses and make a contribution. It's not a job to float around in.
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You think it'll be easyThe first month takes real effort. People who expect easy money don't last.
Questions applicants ask us.
Do I need experience?
No, honestly. Most of our best people had never done anything like this before. We hire on attitude and train the rest. You'll need to be 18 or over, with the right to work in Australia.
How am I paid?
Hourly base plus incentives, paid weekly. Adult rates start at $32.18 an hour on weekdays and go up on Saturdays and public holidays. A typical week of around 32.5 hours works out to about $1,045 in base pay, or roughly $1,170 with super. Incentives usually add another $100 to $400 a week on top. Junior rates apply under 21, for example $21.98 an hour at 18 on weekdays. Get promoted to Professional Fundraiser and you move to the adult rate straight away, whatever your age. Training on the job is paid, the optional morning training at the office isn't. We'll walk you through the exact numbers on the phone.
What are the hours?
Fundraising runs 10am to 5:30pm. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays there's optional (non-paid) training at the office first. We ask for at least three weekdays. Once you're performing well, Saturdays and public holidays open up too, both optional, both at increased rates. Depending on how many days you do, that's roughly 22 hours at the three-day minimum, up to about 45 hours across a full week.
Is there a minimum time commitment?
Yes. If you've done face-to-face fundraising before and can hit the ground running, we ask for a minimum of one month. If you're new to it, we ask for three months, since that's roughly how long it takes for the training to pay off and for you to find your feet.
What kind of contract is it?
A casual contract under the Miscellaneous Award, full-time or part-time hours. Super is paid on top, and pay lands weekly. The work is steady year-round, not seasonal, so your hours don't dry up between campaigns and you can count on a regular weekly schedule.
Do donations pay your wages?
No. The charity receives 100% of every donation. Ignite is paid a service fee from the charity's fundraising budget, the same budget that pays for their TV ads and online campaigns. Your wage comes from Ignite, never from donations. You'll be trained to answer this question yourself, because donors ask it too.
Is this door-to-door?
No. We work approved sites like shopping centres and events, under PFRA standards. There's no doorknocking. Every fundraiser carries photo ID, and any campaign can be verified with the charity.
Will I be pressuring or annoying people?
No, and pressure is the wrong way to do the job anyway. You never chase anyone or hide what you're there for. Some people walk past, and that's fine. The ones who stop choose to. They only sign up if they want to, they know exactly what they're agreeing to, and they can change or cancel their gift any time. You're giving people a way to help a cause they care about, not talking anyone into anything.
How soon can I start?
If you're a good fit, we usually get back to you within three days. From there, most successful applicants start within the week.
Do you take working holiday visas?
Yes. If you have the right to work in Australia, you can apply. We prefer at least three months of commitment in Sydney. Some of our best fundraisers were backpackers, and the job travels well. See the road trip question below.
What about student visas?
Yes. As long as you can work at least three full weekdays, 10am to 5:30pm, a student visa works fine.
Can I fit this around study or another job?
Usually, yes. The one thing we can't move is the three-full-weekdays minimum. Beyond that, we'll do our best to build your shifts around your classes or other commitments. Plenty of our team balance this role with uni or a second job.
What's a road trip?
A paid working trip to a different part of Australia, with your travel and accommodation covered by the company. The towns we visit are usually easier to fundraise in, so bonuses come faster, and you see the country while you earn. We run trips all around New South Wales and further out.
Where would I work?
Shopping centres, events and public spaces across Greater Sydney. Sites rotate, so you're not stuck in one spot.
How fast can I get promoted?
The criteria are written down and measured. Most people who push for it reach team leader responsibilities within their first year.
Which charities would I represent?
We choose our charity partners carefully and do our due diligence on every one. Most are household names in Australia with a strong track record of making the world better, across causes like humanitarian aid, health, the environment and education. Before you pitch anything, you'll know the cause inside out.
Takes a minute. You could start this week.
No cover letter, no seven rounds of interviews. Fill this in and one of us will call you for an honest chat.
- Apply. The short form on this page. That's it.
- Chat. A relaxed phone call where you can ask us anything.
- Interview. Face to face at our office, so we can get to know each other and make sure it's a good fit.
- Trial day. A few hours out with the team. We see your skills in action, and you see if the role is what you're after.
- Start. You're earning from your first shift.
"Every application from this site comes straight to me. If it matches what we're looking for, I'll be in touch. If you're on the fence, apply anyway. Worst case, you get an honest conversation about whether this is for you."
— Lina, RecruiterIf your application fits what we're looking for, we'll give you a call within three days.