Philanthropy Manager, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation
Gerard Search, Canada
Job Description
Are you a mid-career fundraising professional looking for an opportunity to manage a diverse fundraising portfolio? Do you enjoy building relationships with donors, have a commitment to donor stewardship, and a vision for creating the best possible donor journey? Do you thrive in a small team environment that engages in a wide range of activities? Does protecting nature and connecting people with the great outdoors inspire you? If so, you may be the perfect fit for our next Philanthropy Manager.
About Us:
The Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation was established over 20 years ago with the singular goal of supporting Metro Vancouver Regional Parks in reaching their full potential. As the only registered charity exclusively dedicated to regional parks, we collaborate closely with Metro Vancouver to identify projects and programs with the highest impact for both people and nature.
Over the last four years, the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation has experienced rapid change and growth. Highlights include:
- A 265% increase in the number of active donors.
- Doubling of fundraising revenue.
- Grants to our partners have grown by over 175%.
- Launching new Indigenous projects, including Indigenous-led summer camps and increasing the visibility of First Nations' history in regional parks.
- Expanding partnerships, such as the Reel Earth Day Challenge with the BC motion picture industry, Seak the Peek with Grouse Mountain Resorts, and matching campaigns with our park partners.
The role of the Philanthropy Manager also includes leading revenue development for our program partner, CTS Youth Society. CTS Youth Society is a free summer camp program that aims to connect every youth in Metro Vancouver with their natural environment, their community, and each other through life-changing outdoor experiences. For youth and by youth, CTS provides free and accessible community education through environmental stewardship, youth leadership programs, and public service. In the last four years, enrollment in CTS Youth programs has grown by 258%, with waiting lists for all programs.
Over the next three years, the Philanthropy Manager will focus on donor retention, enhance our legacy giving program, grant applications and increasing revenue for CTS Youth Society.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this position works closely with the Board of Directors and a dedicated team at MVRP Foundation and CTS Youth Society. This position will also build close working relationships with our partners at Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and our park partners.
Responsibilities may include and will not be limited to:
- Working in cooperation with the Executive Director and the board to create an annual fundraising plan setting goals for activities and key performance indicators.
- Developing and executing a major gifts strategy for individuals, foundations, and corporations.
- Managing our database, ensuring our donation policies and receipt processes are compliant with CRA and other legislation.
- Demonstrating a commitment to donor stewardship, including the use of technology to improve the quality of the donor journey.
- Being responsible for stewardship activities, including donor thank-you calls, in-person visits with donors, impact reports, and ensuring all grant obligations are fulfilled.
- Actively managing and reporting on a pipeline of corporate, government, and foundation granting opportunities, including researching prospective donors and programs.
- Representing the Foundation through public presentations and reports.
- Supporting the Foundation’s legacy giving initiatives by leveraging the Foundation’s membership with Will Power, responding to planned giving inquiries, and stewarding legacy and commemorative donors.
- Managing the Commemorative Program in regional parks. This position will be the primary contact for responding to donor inquiries, liaising with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks to identify available locations, and working with suppliers to provide plaques, tables, and benches.
- Working with Metro Vancouver to create strategies and identify opportunities to enhance the Commemorative Program, including linking commemorative donors to Legacy Giving.
- Directing the Foundation’s involvement in park events, including online and on-site donations, sponsorship requests, representing the Foundation at events, including setting up and taking down booths and displays.
- One-third of this position will be committed to fundraising for CTS Youth Society, with an emphasis on grant writing and building long-term funding relationships.
- Other projects and tasks as assigned.
Requirements
- University Degree or equivalent in fundraising, communications, or nonprofit management.
- 3+ years of successful experien