Fund Development Officer, Coast Mental Health Foundation
Gerard Search, Canada
Job Description
This is a 12-month parental leave replacement.
The Organization
Coast Mental Health (Coast) is one of the largest mental health non-profit societies in Canada and operates a large array of innovative housing and community-based rehabilitation services for people with mental illness. Coast operates in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, providing approximately 1100 people with supportive housing and 5000 clients living in the community with a wide range of programs and services.
Coast fosters a client-driven, recovery-oriented environment that promotes restoring health, personal growth, and a return to society for individuals with a mental illness through advocacy and providing direct programs and services.
Coast Mental Health Foundation raises funds to support innovative and enhanced recovery programs at Coast Mental Health. We are a small team of dedicated individuals who believe that recovery and achieving one’s potential, despite a mental illness diagnosis, are possible. We are seeking a highly motivated, experienced Philanthropy Officer to help us continue to build a comprehensive fundraising program, primarily with a focus on mid-level and major gifts.
Job Summary
The Fund Development Officer will be responsible for working with donors and prospects to maximize support and secure philanthropic commitments that meet the strategic priorities of Coast Mental Health Foundation. Reporting directly to the Foundation’s Director of Fund Development, the Fund Development Officer will have the opportunity to design and develop plans and will execute high-touch activities to advance Coast’s fundraising programs. The successful candidate will be managing a portfolio of 100-125 mid-level donors and 20-30 major gifts donors, and will be contributing to the development and implementation of plans for prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and recognition, and moving fundraising accounts through the donor cycle. As a member of the team, the successful candidate will be responsible for utilizing a broad range of activities, including direct response strategies, personal cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, tours and speaking engagements before interested groups. The Foundation has in place strong database and prospect research capacity, administrative support, and legacy giving mentorship to assist this role, as well as a committed group of donors.
Key Areas of Responsibility
- What do you bring? • Experience in the fundraising field as a major gift fundraiser, and direct fundraising: Implement a diversified fundraising strategy focused on building relationships with individuals, foundations, and service clubs; use identification, cultivation, and qualification practices to draw donors from direct mail, mid-level and annual giving to build a robust major gifts and legacy giving pipeline.
- Personally manage a portfolio of key prospects and existing donors with the capability of securing donations of $10,000 or more, including identifying and qualifying leads and organizing cultivation, solicitation and stewardship meetings; develop plans for donor engagement, with a clear focus on building personal relationships through face-to-face meetings, tours and other personalized interactions; represent Coast by speaking before interested groups; expand the existing legacy giving program through the cultivation and stewardship of individual legacy prospects and donors;
- Coordinates fundraising activities, including identifying opportunities for increasing donor engagement across events, annual, mid-level, legacy, and major gifts program boundaries.
- Engages the Executive Director in cultivation and stewardship activities, when appropriate, and assists with identifying and developing strategic partnerships.
- Evaluates performance against established targets and adjusts plans and strategies accordingly to meet or exceed goals.
- Keeps current with new legislation and regulations affecting charitable gifts, as well as with fundraising trends, and brings best practices methodology to all aspects of the fundraising function.
Requirements
Experience, Skills, Knowledge, and Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess a degree or diploma from a recognized post secondary institution in a related field and a minimum of 3-5 years of direct fundraising experience with a proven track record in closing gifts and managing donor relationships at all giving levels. Demonstrated knowledge and successful experience securing legacy gifts is an asset. Equivalent combinations of education and related experience will be considered.
Excellent knowledge of fundraising strategy, trends, techniques, and strategic communications practices for charitable organizations is required, as is enthusiasm for work