Join the country’s most trusted environmental organization and become a force for good.

ABOUT US

We find solutions for living within the limits of nature. Through a combination of evidence-based science and active public engagement, we seek to motivate Canadians to take action on the pressing environmental challenges we face. With headquarters in Vancouver and regional offices in Toronto and Montreal, we address issues from coast to coast to coast, in both official languages. With the support of scientists, academics, progressive businesses, governments, non-governmental organizations and hundreds of thousands of Canadians we aim to achieve this vision: “That within a generation Canadians act on the understanding that we are interconnected and interdependent with nature, and with each other.”

To find out more please go to www.davidsuzuki.org

About you

You are an experienced fundraiser, with a proven track record of securing grants and identifying and building strong strategic relationships with philanthropic foundations. You are a team player who can work effectively with fundraising and program colleagues to identify funding needs and collaboratively develop fundraising strategies and compelling program proposals. Along with relationship-building and writing skills, you are also adept with finances, budgeting and reporting on program impact. You enjoy translating ambitious and complex program plans into proposals, case statements and budgets that attract investment. You are passionate about making a difference through your work and care about sustainability.

Position title:

Foundations Officer

Terms:

Permanent, full-time position, based at our Vancouver office

Reporting:

This position reports to the Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships

Description

This position is part of the Leadership Giving team, which raises restricted and unrestricted funds from major donors. Leadership Giving income accounts for about half of DSF’s annual budget (the other half comes from monthly and single-gift donors). The Foundations Officer works to help meet income targets by managing a portfolio of assigned major donors, and proactively grows donor numbers and income through identification, research, cultivation, solicitation (including written applications) and stewardship.

The Foundations Officer works primarily with grant-making philanthropic foundations, but also manages and solicits support from some individual philanthropists and corporate partners. They also support other team members in Leadership Giving by assisting with proposals, donor research, financial forecasting, and program planning.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising

• Meets a personal income target from a portfolio of primarily philanthropic foundations
• Manages a prospect pipeline with relationships at all stages: identification/qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Researches major donor prospects and identifies opportunities for increased and new gifts
• Stewards relationships with assigned mid-level and major donors to maintain or increase giving
• Speaks and meets with donors and prospects
• Facilitates project colleagues’ involvement in donor relationships

Writing and research

• Writes letters of inquiry and full grant applications to family and institutional foundations
• Supports Leadership Giving team members in writing donor reports for current major funders
• Works closely with program teams to gather project and budget information for written applications and reports
• Works across departments and collaborates with program managers to develop work plans specific to grant proposals as well as grant budgets
• Co-ordinates with the Manager of Strategic Planning to ensure that grant proposals reflect annual and strategic plans
• Researches potential major donors by analyzing our database and using external online research tools
• Researches, adapts and/or develops methods for assessing major gifts income and trends
• Generates reports and queries to measure goals, donor pipeline and other related information

Co-ordination and support

• Manages the execution of grant agreements and works with program managers to track grant activities, ensuring timelines are followed and proposed activities and funded deliverables are on track
• Proactively works with the Finance Director and program managers to ensure grant spending is on track
• Supports other Leadership Giving team members in donor prospecting, cultivation, proposals and stewardship
• Participates in strategy development with the national Leadership Giving team
• Enters and analyzes donor and prospect information on a Salesforce database
• Helps with the organizing and budgeting of fundraising events
• Organizes and updates national Leadership Giving team information in a clear and assessable format

Knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience in a fundraising or grant-writing role working with donors/grantors
• Experience in project management and budgeting an asset
• Strong communicator with excellent writing skills
• Experience writing successful funding applications to grant-making organizations an asset
• Committed to helping achieve ambitious goals by building relationships with donors, seeking out new supporters and finding the right fit between organizational needs and donor interests
• Excellent organizing skills, an ability to prioritize multiple commitments and a keen attention to detail
• Confident in phone and face-to-face communications with donors
• Excellent computer skills and experience using databases — Salesforce experience an asset
• Fluency in written and spoken French an asset
• Able to work effectively in a dynamic team environment, in a flexible office environment with periods of high-pressure activity

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please submit your cover letter and resume explaining why you are interested in this opportunity by going online to: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/about/employment/ and clicking on the "I'm Interested" link.

The position will remain open until it is filled.

We recognize the importance of a diverse workforce and encourage applications from Aboriginal people, members of a visible minority and people with a disability.