Director Of Development Childrens Foundation Of Guelph And Wellington Job In Guelph

Job Description

Director of Development – CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION OF GUELPH AND WELLINGTON

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development assumes a critical leadership position, overseeing fund development and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, including donor stewardship. This role is integral in cultivating donor relationships, driving revenue growth, and elevating the foundation’s presence and influence within the community. Salary Range: $60,000 – $78,000

The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington (CFGW) envisions a community where every child and youth has the opportunity to participate, learn, and grow to build a brighter future. We are passionately committed to enhancing the well-being of children and youth by connecting them to experiences and supports that contribute to their sense of belonging and help them to reach their full potential.

With a 30+ year history as a community leader and champion for vulnerable children and youth, the Children’s Foundation has an unwavering belief that every child and youth should have what they need to be healthy, happy, and engaged in personal development opportunities that foster belonging, self-respect, confidence, hope, and empower life-long change.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• You are passionate about helping children and youth have the opportunities they need to develop and thrive.
• As a senior leader on our team, you will have both a macro and micro perspective from developing high-level strategy to hands-on implementation.
• You have a passion for creating strategic partnerships, building and fostering long-lasting donor relationships, and securing major gifts.
• You have a personal and professional commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• You demonstrate collaborative leadership skills to motivate and guide effective teams toward a common vision where not only goals are met, but everyone feels respected and a part of the success.
• You are a storyteller and love to communicate the impact of donor support.

KEY DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Fund Development and Major Gifts

• Develop annual and multi-year fundraising plans and manage their implementation in collaboration with our team.
• Ensure that objectives, timelines, and critical paths for all fundraising programs are being met and tracked.
• Develop and execute a donor acquisition strategy including prospect identification and qualification, engagement, cultivation, and solicitation.
• Evaluate and evolve the current annual giving program with a focus on retention and growth within the corporate, foundation, and individual donor streams.
• Oversee and expand stewardship and recognition programs to build affinity and relationships between donors and the foundation.
• Build and manage personal pipeline of mid-level and major donors.
• Work in partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications to craft philanthropy-specific communications and marketing pieces such as customized solicitations, monthly newsletters, and impact reports to support donor engagement and giving.
• Ensure that all fundraising programs and activities fall within ethical, fiscal, and legal standards and the foundation’s policies and procedures for gift acceptance, donor recognition, giving programs, and gift agreements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with philanthropy professionals, staying current with the philanthropy landscape, fundraising trends, and best practices that support the benchmarking of the foundation’s performance in fund development.

Leadership and Strategy

• Supervise a fundraising team of two (2), providing coaching, performance management, and opportunities for professional development.
• Provide strategic guidance and advice for events, offering expertise in securing sponsorships, maximizing fundraising opportunities, and ensuring alignment with the overall fundraising strategy. Collaborate closely with the events staff to optimize event outcomes without direct managerial responsibilities.
• Contribute to the Senior Leadership team and ensure that the organization is progressing towards meeting strategic goals and priorities outlined in the foundation’s Strategic Plan and annual business plan.
• Support the Executive Director in enhancing Board member involvement with prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy organization-wide by developing and implementing strategies to communicate the importance of fundraising, providing guidance and resources to empower staff in effectively aligning program impacts with fundraising objectives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to promote EDI values within fundraising strategies and advocate for a more inclusive and diverse philanthropic landscape.

Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Build and manage the fundraising department budget, report on progress towards KPI goals, and present those reports at board and committee meetings as needed to discuss.
• Working with the Data Coordinator, develop and launch a philanthropy scorecard to support quarterly reporting to the Executive Director, staff, and board.
• Across all fundraising events and campaigns, assist ROI tracking and reporting and provide input for on-going fundraising optimization and growth.

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY COMPETENCIES

• Education: Post-secondary education, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in a relevant field. A CFRE designation would be an asset.
• Fundraising & Financial Acumen: Minimum of five (5) years experience in a fundraising role with a proven track record of planning successful execution of fundraising programs and events, along with an understanding of financial management within a nonprofit context.
• Leadership & Management Experience: Exceptional leadership abilities with a demonstrated aptitude for strategic planning, inspiring teams, and fostering creative, forward-thinking approaches. Ability to lead collaboratively, fostering teamwork and cooperation across diverse teams and departments within the organization.
• Donor-Centered and Storytelling Communications: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with an ability to communicate professionally and engagingly in a donor-centered manner, effectively conveying stories of impact, emotions, and compelling action.
• Interpersonal Skills: Superior ability to collaborate and work effectively in a team environment with staff, volunteers, donors, and the public, demonstrating strong interpersonal communication and relationship-building skills.
• Networking Skills: Strong networking skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Championing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles within fundraising: Demonstrated cultural competency by engaging effectively with diverse communities and donors, fostering inclusive approaches, and advocating for social justice causes, aligning fundraising strategies with the organization’s commitment to EDI.
• Organizational Skills: Ability to prioritize and organize effectively with keen attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards of excellence.
• Technological Proficiency: Advanced computer skills including Office 365, along with strong proficiency in technological tools and platforms including donor database systems. Experience with DonorPerfect or similar CRM system would be considered an asset.
• Fundraising and Nonprofit Trends: Knowledge of and passion for staying abreast of current trends in the fundraising and nonprofit sector, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
• Confidence and Persistence: Self-assuredness, confidence, persistence, and focus in achieving fundraising and organizational goals.
• Innovative Thinking: Capacity for innovative thinking and adaptability to evolving fundraising strategies and technologies.

POSITION DETAILS

• A full-time (37.5 hours/week) permanent position. Flexibility is required as this position may require working some evenings and weekends for events and meetings. May work a flexible schedule to accommodate these activities outside of our regular office hours as long as 37.5 hours are worked in a
• Salary range of $60,000 – $78,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• This position will be working primarily at the Children’s Foundation office, however there is the option for working remote one day per week.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable automobile a
• Employee Health & Dental benefits package.
• Three (3) weeks paid vacation plus four (4) float days to celebrate and observe holidays and special occasions of personal significance.
• Ten (10) paid days of personal time off to support the full scope of employee’s physical and mental well-being.
• Opportunities for training & development.
• The opportunity to be part of a dynamic team where innovation is celebrated, collaboration is cherished, and every voice is valued. Experience a workplace that fosters creativity, embraces diversity, and encourages professional growth within a supportive and positive atmosphere.

HOW TO APPLY

As an organization committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington welcomes and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, especially those who identify with systemically excluded identities including but not limited to women, individuals living in poverty, persons with disabilities, Black and Indigenous peoples, individuals of diverse gender and/or sexual orientations, racial minorities, and all groups protected by the Human Rights Code.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment. We adhere to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment, and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations when requested. All private information received in relation to an accommodation request will be kept confidential, only information required to facilitate the accommodation will be shared with those involved in the recruitment process.

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume by emailing HR@childrensfoundation.org with the subject line: Director of Development. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and are encouraged by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024.