Who We Are

Are you a Development Officer ready to make a meaningful impact in your community? Are you eager to inspire generosity and create lasting change?

At Bissell Centre, we are driven by a powerful vision: to eliminate poverty and uplift individuals with dignity and compassion. Our work is grounded in building relationships, fostering hope, and strengthening trust. Just as our community reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences, so does our team.

Bissell Centre's programs empower individuals to meet their basic needs, achieve sustainable livelihoods, secure stable housing, and build a hopeful, prosperous future. Joining our team means becoming part of a dynamic, dedicated group that collaborates to bring this vision to life.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and optimistic Development Officer who will engage our community and develop opportunities that support and expand the vital work we do.

Role Summary:

The Development Officer, Individual Giving, plays a vital role in advancing Bissell Centre's mission by managing and growing the annual giving program. This role focuses on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, particularly those contributing under $500. Under the guidance of the Manager of Community Engagement, the Development Officer will execute strategies to enhance donor engagement, increase retention, and drive revenue growth through targeted appeals and special initiatives, all while managing budgets and tracking return on investment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Annual Fund Strategy and Execution

• Develop and implement an annual giving plan that includes direct mail, digital campaigns, and donor engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Community Engagement to set and achieve annual revenue goals.
• Manage segmented donor communication to optimize engagement and giving across multiple channels (email, social media, direct mail, phone).
• Coordinate Direct Response campaigns with external partners using the organization's project management tool.
• Work within the allocated budget for annual giving activities, tracking expenses and ensuring cost-effective campaign execution.
• Ensure compliance with FIPPA, CRA, and other applicable legislation.

Donor Stewardship and Cultivation

• Build relationships with current and prospective donors through personalized communications (emails, phone calls, videos, thank-you notes).
• Implement strategies to retain and upgrade donors through targeted stewardship and appreciation events.
• Support the execution of donor appreciation initiatives to enhance long-term engagement.

Data, Reporting, and Budget Management

• Collaborate with data entry staff to ensure data accuracy and integrity in donor records.
• Review donor segmentation before campaign launches to optimize results.
• Analyze donor trends and provide regular reports on campaign performance, donor retention, revenue metrics, and return on investment (ROI).
• Track and report on campaign expenses, ensuring that activities remain within budget and assessing ROI for continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities for growth based on data insights and donor behavior.

Collaboration and Special Projects

• Work with Development Officers to identify opportunities for cross-departmental donor engagement.
• Collaborate with program staff to find impactful stories that resonate with donors.
• Support other fundraising campaigns and initiatives as needed.

General and Administrative Responsibilities

• Stay current with annual fundraising trends and technologies.
• Represent Bissell Centre at internal and external events.
• Lead campaign meetings, participate in team meetings, and conduct presentations and agency tours as required
• Participate in safety walks around Bissell Centre's downtown buildings

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in annual giving, fundraising, or related roles in a nonprofit setting.
• Proven ability to manage donor segmentation, direct mail, and digital fundraising efforts.
• Experience with donor databases, such as Raiser's Edge, and strong data analysis skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a focus on donor-centric messaging.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Donor Relations & Communication: Ability to foster strong relationships with donors through thoughtful, strategic communication without frequent direct contact.
• Fundraising Strategy: Knowledge of best practices in annual giving, donor segmentation, and retention strategies.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to analyze donor data to inform strategy and improve results.
• Budget Management: Competence in working within budget constraints, tracking expenses, and reporting on ROI.
• Collaboration: Effective team player capable of working across departments to achieve shared goals.
• Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders with shifting expectations.

Conditions of Work

• The role involves both remote work and time at Bissell Centre's East building, where individuals facing complex life situations are present.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required for donor events and stewardship activities.

Expectations and Accountability

• The duties may evolve over time to align with the department's broader long-term goals and strategic planning.
• The position requires balancing diverse responsibilities and solving problems creatively to meet the demands of a competitive fundraising environment.
• The incumbent's contributions are vital to the success of the philanthropic funds raised for Bissell Centre.

Personal Characteristics

The Development Officer should demonstrate competence in all of the following:

Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure own behavior is consistent with these standards and aligns with the mission and core values of Bissell Centre.

Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.

Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.

Focus on Participant Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of participants and the community to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.

Foster Teamwork: Foster, sustain and role model productive team management practices, and contribute to a positive team environment. Share expertise and knowledge to support, coach and develop others.

Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions that are timely and in the best interests of the organization.

Organizational Skills: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details/data/information/activities.

Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement action plans, and evaluate the process and results.

Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Screening Requirements

• Criminal Record Check
• CWIS Check
• Driver's Abstract

Training Requirements

• Conflict into Calm Training
• Other required training may be identified as required

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter to:

Michelle Reid - Manager, Community Engagement

E-mail: mreid@bissellcentre.org

Wage: $58,710.00/yr - $59,297.00/yr

Deadline: November 19, 2024