Manager, Development

Manager, Development

Department: Development
Reports To: Director, Development
Direct Reports: None
Salary: $55,000-60,000

Ideal start date: March 2022
Application Deadline: March 11, 2022 or until the position is filled

About Writers’ Trust of Canada 

Writers’ Trust of Canada is a charitable organization that seeks to advance, nurture, and celebrate Canadian writers and writing through a portfolio of programs, including 11 national literary awards, financial grants, career development initiatives for emerging writers, and a writers’ retreat. Writers’ Trust programming is designed to support writers financially and champion writing in Canada. Canada’s writers receive more financial support from Writers’ Trust than from any other non-governmental organization or foundation in the country. The organization operates in a highly collaborative fashion with a small but dedicated staff. Additional information is available at writerstrust.com.

Writers’ Trust staff are currently working remotely during the pandemic, with a plan to return to a hybrid model in the future.

Opportunity

The development manager plays a key role in the success of Writers’ Trust by providing critical support on fundraising initiatives. In recent years, the fundraising strategy for WT has included two large fundraising galas, two annual giving campaigns, major gifts, corporate sponsorships and donations, private foundation support, government funding, and in-kind resources.

This role is about excellent relationship management, project management, and event management to ensure WT’s most discerning constituents — our donors and prospects — have a smooth and high-quality experience whenever they interact with Writers’ Trust.

Working from strategies developed with the director, executive director, and board members, the development manager will take the lead on WT fundraising galas, and other fundraising events, managing the planning, logistics, day-of execution, and the event wrap-up.

The development manager also supports the development director on non-event initiatives like campaigns, major gifts, and sponsorships. In this role, a professional fundraiser will develop a suite of skills for prospecting, planning, research, stewardship, and renewal.

The development manager will be introduced to the highest level of discussion and strategy at Writers’ Trust. Confidentiality is essential.

Responsibilities

Events (50% of time):

• With the support of the director, plan and execute two large-scale fundraising events (the Writers’ Trust Gala in Toronto and Politics and the Pen Gala in Ottawa), including but not limited to the successful management and implementation of:
  – Revenue and expense budgets
  – Table sales and sponsorships
  – Guest/RSVP lists
  – Onsite fundraisers and donations
  – Venue and vendor relations
  – Front of house and registration
  – Design and communications
  – Content and show flow
  – Supplementary events (e.g. VIP reception)
  – Volunteers
• Oversee event committees including recruitment, administration, and stewardship
• Plan and execute ad hoc development events including third-party fundraisers and donor appreciation events
• Identify and execute on all in-kind partnerships
• Support the programming department staff by managing donors and sponsors, and all of their related logistics, for programming events (non-fundraising events)

Fundraising (25% of time):

• Collaborate on the creation of fundraising materials and donor communications including proposals, campaigns, stewardship pieces, and annual reports
• Support the moves management process including prospect identification and cultivation, research, and communications tracking
• Collaborate on the development of new giving opportunities and donor programs (community level and leadership gifts)
• Support senior staff and development committee on quarterly board reports
• Support senior staff on annual budgeting process
• Provide additional administrative support as needed

Administration (25% of time):

General administration

• Provide administrative support to the director and the executive director as necessary to support fundraising efforts
• Manage and maintain the master schedule for fund development projects, events, campaigns, and appeals
• Work with programming and communications departments to coordinate efforts and ensure maximum efficiency of resources
• Manage an up-to-date list of committee members and their contact information as needed
• Manage travel, accommodation, and logistics as needed
• Work with senior staff to ensure board and committees are kept up to date and engaged
• Maintain complete confidentiality

Database administration

• Oversight of donor database to track and cultivate donors and prospects
• Track all donations on donor database, manage online donation platforms, ensure donor database records are up to date
• Ensure tax receipting for all donations
• Ensure that the appropriate donor recognition is done in a timely fashion for all donations
• Work with WT financial staff on monthly reconciliation between fundraising and bookkeeping databases

Qualifications

• 5+ years of event management and/or fundraising experience, ideally within an arts or not-for-profit organization
• Superb at building relationships and connecting with individuals
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion
• Passionate about books and reading
• Demonstrate an affinity for WT mission and familiarity with WT programs
• Ability to prioritize and strategize to achieve objectives, with a focus on action and problem-solving
• Ability to see the big picture and attend to the underlying details simultaneously
• Excellent writing and grammar skills
• Experience with donor database systems, Sumac preferred
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign (e.g. creating and exporting print reports and web assets, image cropping, file conversion.)

How to Apply

Writers’ Trust of Canada is committed to the values of equity and inclusion. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented or marginalized. We will make accommodations to enable applicants with disabilities to participate in the interview process.

Applications should include a cover letter and resume and be submitted no later than midnight PT on March 11 , 2022 to development director Leslie Belzak at lbelzak@writerstrust.com

The ideal start date for this position is March 2022. While we appreciate all expressions of interest, only those individuals being seriously considered will be contacted.

For more information about Writers’ Trust of Canada, please follow @writerstrust on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook and visit writerstrust.com