Major Gifts & Individual Giving Specialist
Are you passionate about working with Albertans with disabilities and supporting your local community? Do you have what it takes to champion our Vision to Inspire Potential, Build Community and Enrich Lives?
Easter Seals Alberta is a provincial not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for 70 years. Our mission is to provide services that foster inclusion, independence and recreation for individuals with disabilities and medical conditions. We strive to ensure that the resources Albertans need for an independent and full life are available.
Easter Seals fosters a work environment that’s inclusive as well as diverse, where our people can be themselves. Every idea and perspective is valued to reflect the people we serve.
Reporting to the Fund Development Manager, the Major Gifts & Individual Giving Specialist is responsible for developing major giving strategies while successfully cultivating community partners, foundations, and individual donors. The successful candidate will be a highly skilled relationship manager who is committed to inclusivity, collaboration, and sustainability.
As Major Gifts & Individual Giving Specialist, you will:
• Embrace a culture of continuous learning and development to ensure all individuals, families, professionals, and the ESA team have access to the most current information and resources
• Provide individuals, families, and professionals with family centered care through empathy, compassion, and understanding. Consistently ensuring a high degree of service and support
• Communicate appropriately and effectively with all team members. Encourage, support, and empower all team members to be the best version of themselves.
• Respect and follow office procedures, policies, and protocol
• Support diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice practices and principles into the organization.
• The ability to adapt individual behavior and go above and beyond to support emergent needs internally with colleagues and externally with families.
• Build organizational excellence, a collaborative working environment and a positive culture.
Responsibilities:
• Accountable for strategic development and execution of major gift donor support to Easter Seals Alberta through identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual and corporate and foundation partnerships.
• Identify, develop and maintain a portfolio of 100 – 125 qualified prospects from across the province.
• Personally conduct introductory calls, cultivation visits, solicitations and stewardship activities to meet revenue targets. Actively participate and host cultivation events as required.
• Working collaboratively to prepare tailored and personalized proposals and impact reports.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow individual giving, including mid-level donors and prospects.
• Analyze donor data to identify trends and opportunities for growth in individual giving.
• Develop and manage donor recognition programs to acknowledge and thank individual donors. Provide regular updates to donors on the impact of their contributions.
• Record, maintain and report on information about prospects and donors in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Remain up-to-date on current resource development programs, practices and procedures in the not-for-profit sector.
• Strengthen fundraising processes, policies, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with the development team to ensure coordinated and effective fundraising efforts.
• Work with the marketing and communications team to develop materials that support major gifts and individual giving initiatives.
• Participate in development team meetings and contribute to the overall fundraising strategy.
• Stay informed about industry trends and best practices in major gifts and individual giving.
• Maintains a calendar to ensure timely submission of letters of inquiry, proposal deadlines and reports.
• Prepare budgets for proposals, including reviewing multiple quotes for services to inform business planning. Lead on relationship building with partners to include charitable element from vendors.
• Represent the organization and its mission to external stakeholders, including government agencies, community partners, funders, and the media. Advocate for the organization's mission and policy priorities, and engage in public speaking and media outreach.
• Build strategic alliances and partnerships to enhance the organization's visibility and influence.
• Organize and maintain government relations contacts and materials in internal management systems.
• Remain informed of federal and provincial government policy and budget decisions, including analyzing impacts to people with disabilities and recommending action plans for organizational response.
• Provide tours of Easter Seals Camp Horizon as needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Fundraising, Non-profit Management, Communications, Marketing, or a related field. CFRE is considered an asset.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising, individual giving, or related roles within the non-profit sector.
• Proven track record of successfully securing major gifts and cultivating long-term donor relationships.
• Experience in developing and implementing major gifts strategies and individual giving campaigns.
• Familiarity with fundraising software and donor management systems, preferably Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Exceptional relationship management skills, with the ability to engage and inspire donors, community partners, and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze donor data, identify trends, and develop targeted fundraising strategies.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills, with the ability to represent the organization to external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of current trends and best practices in major gifts fundraising and individual giving within the non-profit sector.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and support team members effectively.
• High level of integrity and ethical standards, with a commitment to maintaining donor confidentiality and complying with regulatory requirements.
Other:
• The Major Gifts & Individual Giving Specialist is 35 hours/week and reports to the Fund Development Manager.
• This position will require a mix of remote work and in office, or at our camp property.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Valid Driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle is a requirement for this position.
• A Police Information Check and a Vulnerable Sector Search are conditions of employment.
What we have to offer:
• Full Benefits
• Employer Matched RRSP Plan
• Fun, dynamic team culture
• An opportunity to continually grow and learn
• Ability to make a difference into the lives of others