the client is seeking a development officer to support its mission through major gifts fundraising. Reporting to the director of development and communications and working closely with the principal, the development officer will demonstrate respect for church structure and traditions in canada while helping equip leaders to advance the gospel. The role focuses on connecting with people and using relationship-building to identify new major donors and deepen engagement with current supporters, particularly as the client looks ahead to a future campaign.
Responsibilities include building and advancing a prospect-to-major-gift pipeline, identifying, researching, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting new major gift donors through existing and new networks. The development officer will collaborate with development and communications teams to create effective cultivation and solicitation materials, attend relevant events to strengthen relationships, and nurture alumni relationships through ongoing communication and support of events and programs. The role also involves participating in community opportunities to identify and grow relationships with prospective donors and stakeholders.
The development officer will manage a portfolio of major gift donors with strong donor stewardship and support the development committee by assisting trustees, volunteers, faculty, and senior staff in donor prospecting, cultivation, and solicitation. The position requires maintaining accurate constituent records and timely contact reporting in raiser’s edge and salesforce, using the databases for prospect research and for regular major-gift reporting and analysis toward revenue goals. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a cfre designation preferred, and fundraising training or certification (along with project management and marketing/communications experience) as an asset; the role expects a seasoned fundraising professional with demonstrated major gift experience, including securing and closing major gifts from new donors, plus capital campaign experience and an understanding of fundraising best practices and major gift vehicles such as planned giving and gifts of securities (with other in-kind gifts). A demonstrated understanding of the Christian culture in canada is also expected.