Five locally based State Manager Development and Partnerships deliver one-on-one coaching and advice to artists and organisations at any stage of their fundraising and development journey. The free service is available to those working across all art forms, throughout remote, regional and metropolitan Australia.
We work in a facilitative style to equip you with the tools, knowledge and opportunities to improve your fundraising and secure private sector support from philanthropic and business partners.
Appointments can take place in-person, over the phone or via digital communication channels. To arrange an appointment please submit an enquiry through the booking form and your State Manager Development and Partnerships will be in touch.
Contact a State Manager Development and Partnerships
NSW & ACT – Michelle Boyle
QLD – Matthew Higgins
SA & NT – Hannah Kothe
VIC & TAS – Steven Richardson
WA – James Boyd
By accessing these services, you agree to be bound State Manager Development and Partnerships Terms of Service.
Coaching and Advice Service FAQs
Learn more about the free services offered by our State Managers Development and Partnerships.
What does the coaching and advice service involve?
Creative Australia’s State Manager Development and Partnerships provide a free coaching and advice service aimed at building the fundraising capacity of individuals and organisations within the cultural and creative industries.
We support artists and creatives as well as arts and cultural organisations at any stage of their fundraising and development journey, across all art forms, throughout remote, regional, and metropolitan Australia.
We work in a facilitative style to equip you with the tools, knowledge and opportunities to improve your fundraising.
One-on-one sessions provide tailored advice and support short and long-term growth. Group workshops and advice sessions can help provide boards and not-for-profit teams to foster a whole of organisation approach to fundraising.
Guided by your needs, we can explore fundraising theory and methodology, discuss options to address specific challenges, and share tools and resources to help build your understanding of fundraising best practice.
The areas of fundraising and methodology we can explore include:
- Philanthropy
- Business partnerships
- How to make your organisation fundraising ready
- Building a case for support
- Fundraising strategies
- How to develop a fundraising plan
- Stewardship
- Board engagement
- Building a whole of organisation approach to fundraising
Whether you choose to engage individually or as a group, our service is client responsive with appointments available on a one-off or regular basis.
Appointments can take place in-person, over the phone or via digital communication channels.
What is coaching?
Coaching is a process of working usually one on one in a facilitative style to equip you with the tools, knowledge, andm opportunities to improve your capability. We can’t do the work for you, but we can help you develop the tools to grow your capacity.
Coaching differs from both teaching (more concrete, instructive and directive) and mentoring (usually more relational).
Will I be introduced to philanthropists, trusts and foundations or business partners who can support my work?
No. We don’t offer introductions or broker relationships with potential funders. However, we can offer some guidance as to what trusts or foundations may be interested in your work.
We work in a facilitative style to equip you with the tools to seek out partnerships, build and maintain relationships and secure supporters yourself.
Will I receive help to write grant applications to access either Creative Australia arts investment or grant funding from other sources?
No. We can’t do the work for you. We also can’t provide coaching or advice around seeking funding from government sources. We can provide coaching and advice around how to develop your Case for Support to secure private investment.
If you need technical or accessibility support to submit a Creative Australia application or advice on preparing applications in line with Creative Australia published guidelines contact the Creative Australia Artists Services team.
Will I receive advice on applying to Creative Australia grants and opportunities?
No. For more information on Creative Australia grants and opportunities:
- Look at the Investment and Development page on our website
- Sign up to our newsletter to receive updates
- Contact our Artists Services team.
How often and for how long can I engage in the coaching and advice service?
The service is client responsive and flexible based on your needs. Some clients choose to have a regular monthly coaching and advice session, others may engage with us several times throughout the year as they need to, and others may seek one off coaching and advice.
Are there any costs involved in the service?
Our services are available at no cost to you.
Who can access the coaching and advice service?
Coaching and advice sessions are available to independent artists and creative workers as well as arts and cultural organisations. Within arts organisations we regularly work with fundraising, marketing, philanthropy and development staff as well as CEOs, Chairs and board members.
We support those working across all genres and art forms and across remote, regional, and metropolitan Australia. State Manager Development and Partnerships service each state and territory, working from offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth with regular visits to all capital cities and rotating visits to the regions.
Does my organisation need to have received, or currently be receiving, project or Multi Year Investment funding from Creative Australia to access the service?
No. Our service is available to all arts organisations irrespective of their current sources of funding.
Can I access the service if I am fundraising for a cause not related to the cultural and creative industries such as sport, medical research or education?
No. Our work supports arts and creativity. We aren’t able to offer coaching and advice to those working outside the cultural and creative industries.
What if my organisation doesn’t have a role specifically focused on fundraising. Can we still access the service?
Yes. We regularly work with organisations with no dedicated fundraiser or development staff.
We are able to work with CEOs, Chair, other board members, volunteers or anyone else within the organisation who has a role to play in securing private investment and support for the organisation.
My organisation is national, who should I contact for advice and coaching?
We work as a team, so please reach out to any of the State Manager Development and Partnerships, that has relevance to the project or campaign you are working on, and we can refer you to other team members, as needed.
I’m an independent artist and/or producer, can I still access the service?
Yes. We regularly provide coaching and advice to independent artists and producers.
We are also able to provide coaching and advice around fundraising through The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF), an online fundraising platform for Australian artists. Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate with 100% of donations going directly towards artists’ creative projects.
I’m new to fundraising, how can I learn more?
We can provide coaching and advice to those starting out on their fundraising journey (as well as seasoned professionals). We also regularly deliver a full-day Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop in each state and territory each year.
The Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop is ideal for arts organisations and artists looking for the know-how, confidence and inspiration to kickstart or grow income from philanthropy, donors, and business partners.
The workshop includes insights into national trends; fundraising theory; what it means to be fundraising ready; and strategic insights into crowdfunding, annual giving, donor circles, applying to trusts & foundations and bequests.
Can boards and board members receive coaching and advice regarding their role in fundraising and development?
Yes (this is highly recommended!). We can work with boards or sub-committees of the board, or any other volunteers associated with the organisation who has a role to play in securing private investment and support for the organisation. We regularly present to boards on the state of play regarding private sector support and the role they can play in raising it.
Where can the sessions take place?
Appointments can place in-person, over the phone or via digital communication channels. State Manager Development and Partnerships service each state and territory, working from offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, with regular visits to all capital cities and rotating visits to the regions.
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Training and professional development
We offer targeted training and professional development programs to build the skills and capabilities of artists and arts organisations.
Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising workshop, Melbourne 2025. Credit: Mark Gambino.
Peer learning networks
Our peer learning networks help to foster a collaborative and supportive environment for artists and creative workers to share knowledge and skills.
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HOSSEI, THUNDERBLOOM THE MUSICAL, performance, West Space, Collingwood Yards, 2023. Photography by Kenneth Suico.
Matched funding programs
We offer matched funding programs to maximise your fundraising efforts, boost your revenue and help you to create meaningful connections with your audiences.
A Light Shade of Red feta. Peter Goodbourn, Jessica Rouse
