Senior Development Officer, Philanthropy

ABOUT US

Help Bring Back the Joy of Childhood

Since 1983, Campfire Circle has delivered healing through happiness to thousands of kids with cancer or serious illness and their families across Ontario. Our programs are offered in paediatric hospitals across Ontario, in local communities, and at our medically supported overnight camps, offering year-round experiences that provide life-changing moments of joy, connection, and resilience.

But we’re just getting started. Today, over 40,000 kids in Ontario face serious illness, many without access to the psychosocial support they urgently need. That’s why we have a bold vision: to grow from serving 3,000 campers a year to 10,000. We’re building a passionate, talented team to help make that vision a reality. When you join Campfire Circle, you become an integral part of a dynamic team helping to transform the lives of thousands of kids with serious illness, alongside our dedicated community of volunteers and donors.

Help us give back the joy of childhood to every kid with serious illness who needs it most.

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Join Campfire Circle as we embark on an exciting campaign to expand programs to serve thousands more children with serious illness in Ontario. As SDO, Philanthropy, you will play a key role in raising critical funds to bring joy, laughter, and support to medically complex children and their families during one of the most challenging times of their lives.

Reporting to the Director, Philanthropy, the Senior Development Officer (SDO) will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of donors contributing up to $50,000, with the opportunity to lead and support relationships with donors giving $100K and above. The role involves actively identifying, cultivating, and securing major gifts from new and existing donors through strategic, consistent, and personalized outreach efforts.

The ideal candidate is a goal-oriented self-starter who thrives on building a portfolio, working both independently and collaboratively with colleagues, and who brings a strong focus on process and organization.

 

Donor Portfolio Management:

            Donor Development

• Achieve individual fundraising targets by building a portfolio of donors and prospects, cultivating and soliciting gifts up to $50,000, with a goal to increase major gift revenue.
• Drive portfolio growth by securing new major gifts through identification, research, referrals, and targeted outreach.
• Act as a primary relationship manager to a portfolio of donors and prospective donors that include individuals and family foundations (as assigned by one’s supervisor).
• Cultivate and steward legacy donors and prospects through meaningful relationships and impactful experiences.
• Work collaboratively with and in support of volunteer and other Campfire Circle representatives in cultivating and soliciting gifts.
• Achieve fundraising goals through personalized cultivation and solicitation plans.
• Contribute to proactive research and participate in ongoing prospect identification, review, research and clearance to acquire new donors and grow major gift revenue.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews to ensure that relationships are advancing and donor development activities are on track.

 

            Retention and Renewal

• Build strong relationships to ensure donor retention and increased giving.
• Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to secure major gifts.
• Prepare fundraising materials including proposals, briefings, presentations, and reports.

 

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Work with the Donor Experience team to steward donor and volunteer relationships through personalized communications, recognition, and impactful engagement opportunities.
• Deliver exceptional donor care, balancing donors needs with organizational priorities.

• Participate in stakeholder meetings, events, public speaking and presentations.

 

Planning & Database Management

• Maintain accurate donor records in Raiser’s Edge to support tracking and reporting.
• Contribute to major gift forecasting and the planning, execution, and monitoring of strategic goals and metrics.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

1. A post-secondary degree, or equivalent experience.
2. 3 – 5 years’ progressive Major Gifts experience, with demonstrated success in soliciting annual and multi-year gifts.
3. Demonstrated track record in major gifts cultivation and solicitation of gifts $5,000 and over from individual donors.
4. Must possess the ability to think strategically, work independently and as a member of a team in driving new initiatives or enhancing existing programs.
5. Superior communication skills (both written and verbal) and well-developed interpersonal skills.
6. Ability to effectively use MS Office suite software at an intermediate level.
7. Strong and proven CRM skills and experience working with Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising databases.
8. Clear police reference check and vulnerable sector screening
9. Current G2 or G class driver’s license and the ability to be covered by camp’s insurance policy.

To support our commitment to a safe, caring environment for children with serious illnesses and their families, all staff must attest to having received their childhood vaccinations and confirm a negative result in a two-step Tuberculosis (“TB”) testing series. Seasonal boosters against Influenza and the most recent circulating strain of COVID are strongly encouraged. All staff must provide an updated criminal record check or Vulnerable Sector Screening and be currently eligible to work in Canada and for Campfire Circle.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is hybrid, working from our Toronto office 2-3 times per week in an open-concept working environment. Occasional evening and weekend commitments will be required and some physical labour while supporting events. In consideration of the population Campfire Circle serves, the incumbent is a non-smoker.

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

This position offers a competitive hiring range of $75,000 to $85,000, with the top end of the job grade being $92,500. Campfire Circle is invested in our staff’s health, wellness and career growth. As part of the total compensation package for this role, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including $4,000 annually for mental health practitioners (premiums fully paid by the organization with the exception of Long Term Disability), a wellness benefit up to $500 annually, an accelerated RRSP matching program up to 5% of base salary, paid vacation time plus a paid winter shutdown period up to eight days, flexible hybrid work arrangements, and on-going professional development.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a resume and salary expectations to careers@campfirecircle.org with the email subject reading 2025039 – SDO, Philanthropy.

Don’t meet every single requirement in this posting? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification or requirement, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate!

This posting will remain open until filled. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. For more information about Campfire Circle, please visit www.campfirecircle.org  – No phone calls please.

 

ACCESSIBILITY & DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Campfire Circle is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous People from North America and around the world, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and those who bring diverse perspectives and experiences. Our commitment is to provide equitable employment opportunities to all and to maintain a work environment free from discrimination and harassment.

We are equally committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. Applicants requiring accommodations to access our job postings and apply for roles with our organization are invited to reach out to our HR Team at careers@campfirecircle.org or in a manner that fits their accessibility needs, and can trust that their application will be considered equitably for our available roles. Contact information for our HR Team is located on our website at https://campfirecircle.org/work-at-campfire-circle/, and more information about our accessibility commitments can be found at https://campfirecircle.org/about-campfire-circle/accessibility-at-campfire-circle/.

 

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Campfire Circle acknowledges that we operate on the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

On this land, we are grateful to share the magic of camp with children and families, and we endeavour to create a community of joy, hope and healing. Acknowledging the land that we occupy is just one small step on the path towards Truth and Reconciliation.