Donor Relations Officer (temporary 18 months, parental leave coverage)
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As part of the Donor Relations and Stewardship team, you’ll help to build a culture of gratitude, inspiration and accountability. You’ll do this by providing custom strategies and plans, impactful donor communications and meaningful experiences. In collaboration with the Associate Director, the Donor Relations Officer works on strategy, implementation and co-ordination of comprehensive donor relations and stewardship systems. You’ll help to develop and execute a range of integrated, consistent, and scalable programs and processes that appropriately contribute to best-in-class donor experiences. The Donor Relations Officer also collaborates with donors’ primary solicitors campus wide and/or project leads and teams in Central Advancement. With 5+ years of experience working in a fundraising environment and proven expertise with stewardship and donor relations responsibilities, you possess strong data literacy and content creation skills, and an ability to foster relationships with integrity and positivity.
Your experience:
- 5+ years of experience working in a fundraising environment with demonstrated emphasis on stewardship and donor relations responsibilities.
- Demonstrated experience in conceptualizing and executing donor cultivation and stewardship plans with the highest degree of care.
- Proven experience and track record in project management and execution, impact communications, event conceptualizing, and engagement strategies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with prior experience writing and creating a variety of donor correspondence, impact reports, and other stewardship collateral.
- Expertise with learning new online software platforms and packages with the ability to maximize functionality and manage/optimize workflows. High comfort level and experience with the utilization of technology and digital based solutions.
Your Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
- Demonstrated analytical, strategic-thinking, adaptability and relationship building skills are essential.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and prioritize multiple demands in a complex environment.
- Exceptional organizational skills with demonstrated ability for meticulous accuracy.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and experience writing and producing donor communications.
- Demonstrated ability to create, plan and execute creative content that successfully conveys impact and inspires action.
- High comfort level with data management, including list-management and sophisticated relational databases (e.g., Raisers Edge/BBCRM) and preferably other emerging donor-communications digital platforms (e.g., ThankView)
- High proficiency in all Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a strong sense of diplomacy and professional integrity.
- Demonstrated ability to build strong, collaborative relationships within and across teams in a large, dynamic and complex environment.
- Creative, positive, team-building approach with a strong donor and client-service mindset.
- Previous work in an academic environment is an asset. Familiarity and understanding of financial reporting procedures.
- Knowledge of federal and provincial legislation affecting charities, as well as donor relations best practices.