Position Title: Donor Relations Specialist – Major Gifts

Details: Permanent, full-time (40 Hours weekly), hybrid work environment requiring the ability to work from home, onsite at the GTHS Animal Centre and occasionally other in person meetings in the community.

The Georgian Triangle Humane Society (GTHS) envisions a community that is compassionate and caring towards pets and each other.

At the GTHS, we are passionate about solving the impossible until it becomes possible.  We support life-long learning in our team’s continued pursuit of information to empower them in their current role.

Our values direct our organization in all that we do, from the programs and services we create, to our policies and procedures, our team, and to how we ultimately care for our pets and community.  Our values include:

• Compassion for Pets and People
• Well-Being
• Perseverance
• Inclusivity
• Lifelong Learning

What are we looking for in this role: Reporting to the Senior Manager of Philanthropy, the Donor Relations Specialist will work to implement strategies for our Major Gifts Program, enhancing the donor experience with the GTHS and increasing fundraising revenue. This role will actively manage a portfolio of prospective major gift donors, collaborating with staff and volunteers to create cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that reach campaign targets and make a lasting impact on the wellbeing of pets and people. This individual understands how to work collaboratively in hybrid work environment, is detail oriented and goes above and beyond to support their team.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Build and manage prospect lists using identification and research strategies.
• Establish solicitation priorities, develop, and execute targeted cultivation plans/solicitation strategies for a range of prospects (including individuals, corporations, foundations, and government)
• Identify, write, and manage grant proposals.
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, Senior Manager of Philanthropy, and development team to cultivate identified prospects and coordinate capital and annual campaign solicitation.
• Together with other relevant team members, ensure that all data and communications related to prospects, donors and donor recognition is recorded, up to date and accurate.
• Ensure timely acknowledgement of all campaign gifts and pledges and preparation of pledge payment reminders and agreements.
• Maintain and execute Donor Recognition and Stewardship programs ensuring donors are thanked appropriately, and often.
• Design and coordinate communications campaigns for donor development and fundraising programs.
• Lead the public phase of the Capital Campaign to build the new Regional Centre for Pets and People including the “Equipment Campaign” and “Tile Campaign.”
• Help to maintain strong donor relations and improve donor retention by supporting donor stewardship, special events, communications plans, and other duties as assigned.

Who are you?

• Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of development experience, preferably with a large capital campaign, including management and oversight. CFRE designation would be ideal.
• Proven success at securing major gift support and multi-year commitments.
• Knowledge of and experience in the principles of effective donor cultivation, direct mail, digital campaigns, or social media with demonstrated ability to engage, cultivate and steward strong relationships.
• Ability to inspire a diverse array of stakeholders including donors, staff, and participants to act and give through strong communication and team building skills.
• Expertise managing donor software. Sumac experience would be an asset.
• High level of computer literacy with a solid knowledge of Microsoft office products including MS Word, Excel (create and manipulate spreadsheets including formulas and formatting) and PowerPoint in a highly proficient manner.  Experience using Canva is an asset.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, detail-oriented, creative, strategic, professional, and able to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Excellent communications skills including writing, analysis, and research are essential.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with all levels of staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and prospective donors.
• Self-motivated, high energy, results oriented with the drive to exceed expectations.
• Advanced time management skills with a high attention to detail.
• Work collaboratively in a hybrid work environment.
• Sensitivity to confidential information and commitment highest level of integrity when exercising discretionary judgment.
• Genuine interest in the welfare of animals and congruent values with the organization including a commitment to lifelong learning.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings, as required, as well as attend events.

Position Perks:

• Hybrid work-from-home environment as well as opportunities for regular in-person connections both on-site and in our community.
• Professional development/training opportunities.
• Regular interactions with adorable animals and a meaningful impact in daily work.
• Employee benefits package including medical, dental, veterinary, and retail.

If this position sounds like the right fit for you, please submit your resume and cover letter to humanresources@gths.ca. This position will remain open until filled, interviews will be scheduled as candidates are selected. A full job description is available on our website for those interested in further details.

Click here for full job description.