Director of Major and Planned Gifts

Director Major and Planned Gifts

Direct report: Associate Director of Philanthropy

Collaborating teams: Director Partnerships (Corporate Partnerships), Director Stakeholder Engagement (Marketing and Communications – public, volunteer and donor relations, Volunteer Training and Engagement, Volunteer and Association Development)

WHO WE ARE

Up With Women / Exponenti’elles is a national charity dedicated to helping women and gender diverse individuals experiencing low income build a sustainable pathway out of poverty and realize their full potential. Currently serving in 5 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia) and growing, Up With Women/Exponenti’elles is committed to serving our clients in the official language of their choice, anywhere within our service areas.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER

We are a team of passionate, innovative professionals, many with lived experience of the intersecting issues of poverty. We are flexible, pro-parent, pro-mental health, and pro-human. Together, we take pride in cultivating a thriving and enjoyable workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Click here to hear directly from our employees about what it`s like to work with us.

Benefits: Health Plan (Paramedical and Dental), Health Spending Account, group insurance (Life, Dependent Life, AD&D), Peace of Mind plan (i.e. prescription drugs, accidental dental, hospital care, etc.), birthday off, internal psycho-social resources, access to one on one coaching as available, and a positive and innovative office culture grounded in our core values of humanity, integrity, humour and purpose.

WHO YOU ARE

Reporting to the CEO, you are a results-oriented, a strategic communicator, and a highly organized leader.

As we are a growing organization this Director will also have a roll-up-your-sleeves mentality so they can not only lead, but also be directly involved in tactical activities, where needed, as we continue to grow the organization and thus the team within the department.

As a key member of the leadership team, you will collaborate with partnerships, programs, experience/engagement and finance departments to develop a strategy annual plan and budget to ensure your portfolio of accountabilities grow in order to achieve the goals of the strategic plan. As such you will ensure Major Gifts and Planned Giving activities are aligned with the organization's strategic priorities.

You will ensure the alignment of funding opportunities and program goals and objectives for major donors and prospects, as well as manage the creation of compelling and customized proposals and reports that align with Up With Women’s/Exponenti’elles' strategic priorities. This role is also responsible for the oversight and execution of successful stewardship  of major donors on a national basis and helps ensure re-engagement of past and existing donors. As we work cross-functionally, stewardship activities and strategy will also leverage the co-creative skills of the Stakeholder Experience team and the Partnerships team.

Additionally, you will provide leadership to a direct report, ensuring effective performance and professional development and foster a collaborative environment and offer ongoing mentoring to enhance team capabilities.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Responsibilities:
The Director, Major and Planned Gifts will join a dynamic, diversified, talented team of professionals. This role’s primary responsibility will be to provide fundraising leadership and execution for the following key priorities:

Strategy and Fundraising
Advance the mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities of Up With Women / Exponenti’elles in partnership with the CEO, Philanthropy and Marketing colleagues and the Senior Leadership Team

• Sustainably grow the current revenue stream through effective stewardship of existing donors, by strengthening development strategies, and by implementing comprehensive plans to engage new donors through innovative fundraising approaches
• Personally develop and manage a portfolio of prospects with a variety of gift interests ranging from personal gifts, bequests and insurance to trusts, annuities and complex deferred giving structures
• Strengthen Up With Women/Exponenti’elles’ geographic scope of support and sustainably expands into under accessed markets, including Western Canada, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec.
• Oversee acceptance of all in-life structured gifts, such as insurance policies, gifts of residual interest and trusts
• Work with the CEO and other colleagues to identify, cultivate and solicit new gift opportunities in the six and seven-figure range
• Lead a team of key volunteers and Up With Women/Exponenti’elles’ senior staff to develop and build linkages between donor prospects and Up With Women/Exponenti’elles
• Diversify the donor base of Up With Women/Exponenti’elles to reach our future goals
  Alongside the Leadership Team, lead the development of annual and multi-year operational and financial plans for
• Major Gifts and Gift Planning that align with Up With Women/Exponenti’elles’ overall business strategy
• Collaborate with internal departments to understand and co-create opportunities for corporate partnerships and annual giving
• Work to ensure that all donors in our portfolio have a personalized donor experience that reflects their specific interests, aspirations and accountability requirements, delighting each donor in their experience with Up With Women/Exponenti’elles
• Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall strategic goals and objectives of Up With Women/Exponenti’elles

Planning and Budgeting
With the finance team, develops annual plans & budgets to support strategic vision for the department

Develops tactics for annual plans and uses metrics to monitor plans

Reports on plan results, develops alternate plans to address business conditions or requirements

Donor Acquisition and Donor Management

• Creates and delivers compelling, customized proposals that align the objectives of major donors/prospects with Up With Women/Exponenti’elles funding priorities and opportunities.

• Directly solicits donations, including upgrades and multiple year commitments

• Ensures timely and accurate maintenance of all gift, solicitation and donor information in the Salesforce (or NXT) database
  Donor Stewardship

• Ensures that major donors and prospects are stewarded in accordance with organizational recognition program and/or the program identified in the proposal/agreement

• Develops and oversee the execution of the donor agreement

• Collaborates with the stewardship lead to create recognition and engagement plans that are aligned with partnership agreements and growth objectives

Leadership Activities:

• Working alongside the Corporate partnerships team, lead the annual fundraising plan and measurable goals and strategies to maximize major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Act as an Ambassador throughout the Community, positively representing Up With Women/Exponenti’elles
• Work as a team player promoting a positive and professional work environment and conduct role with integrity and respect.
• Promote a workplace environment that fosters collaboration, respect, and the pursuit of excellence.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Required

• Exceptional verbal and written communication, strategic and creative thinker, strong analytical skills, exceptional interpersonal skills, customer service focus and strong negotiation and persuasive skills
• Demonstrated success in achieving fundraising/sales targets and deadlines within established budgets
• Demonstrated success in securing multi-year financial gifts from new partners and in upgrading and renewing existing donor commitments
• Proven track record in developing, writing and presenting compelling partnership proposals
• Must have a minimum of 10 years of experience actively working in fundraising or equivalent experience in major gift fundraising with a proven track record in cultivation and solicitation
• Demonstrated leadership and the ability to successfully manage multiple priorities and diverse areas
• Ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and alter strategic fundraising and stewardship plans
• Ability to communicate in a compelling manner with a variety of audiences (individuals, small groups, and larger events and presentations)

Assets

• Experience collaborating with senior volunteers and volunteer committees/boards in a wide range of capacities
• Ability to work with senior leaders and other stakeholders effectively and collaboratively
• Exemplary attention to detail with excellent planning, organizational and time management skills
• bility to work independently using an above average level of initiative
• Enjoys working in a fast paced, dynamic organization with the ability to relate to a variety of personality and communication styles
• Willingness to work flexible hours and travel to different cities in Canada as needed
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Planner, To Do, Loop, Teams and others
• CFRE designation an asset
• Bilingualism in French and English an asset
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT or Salesforce an asset
• Sense of humour, purpose or even better, both

We are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying. With the limitations of time, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Application deadline by 5pm EST on March 2nd, 2025

SDG Impact