About this role
*Overview*
The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy is the largest Ontario-based charitable land trust. Since 1997, we have permanently protected more than 25,000 acres of ecologically significant forests, wetlands, alvars, shorelines, and Niagara Escarpment landscapes through acquisition, conservation easements, and long-term stewardship.
Our work is entering an exciting new phase. Through the Living Landscapes Campaign, we are seeking to protect 8,000 acres by 2030 while building the stewardship capacity needed to care for these lands forever.
We are looking for an exceptional fundraiser who wants to help shape one of Canada's fastest-growing conservation organizations.
*Employment type *Full-time, 37.5 hrs/week (hybrid), 3-year contract (renewal dependant on funding), reporting to the Chief Executive Officer
*Location *Hybrid (Ontario), with regular travel throughout the Niagara Escarpment including the Saugeen Peninsula and Manitoulin Island, and elsewhere in Ontario as required. A home office location in the Owen Sound/Grey County/Bruce County area is ideal but not mandatory.
*What We Offer*
· An annual salary of $80,000 - $90,000 depending on qualifications and experience
· A comprehensive health benefits package
· Flexible work arrangements
· Welcoming, uplifting and supportive staff colleagues, volunteers, board members and partners
· Professional development opportunities and a dedication to wellness of staff members
· Room to grow, with the potential to develop into a future Director of Philanthropy position as the Conservancy continues to expand, pending funding success
· The opportunity to see some of spectacular landscapes and make a lasting difference for conservation in Ontario
*The Opportunity*
This is not a traditional fundraising position.
We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable sitting across the table from a prospective major donor, planning a direct mail campaign, coordinating a fundraising event, researching foundations, helping prepare grant applications, and building systems that make fundraising more effective.
You will work closely with the CEO, who remains actively involved in major gift fundraising. Rather than replacing that role, you will help strengthen it by helping manage donor relationships, identifying opportunities, coordinating cultivation strategies, and ensuring that excellent ideas become well-executed fundraising initiatives.
The successful candidate will become one of the organization's key fundraising leaders and will have significant opportunity to shape the future of philanthropy at the Conservancy.
*Primary Responsibilities*
*Major Gifts*
* Work with the CEO to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major donors * Coordinate donor strategies, meetings and follow-up * Research prospective major donors and foundations * Prepare donor briefing notes and cultivation plans * Assist with gift agreements, recognition opportunities and stewardship reports * Build long-term relationships with donors and supporters
*Annual Giving*
* Coordinate annual fundraising campaigns * Assist in developing direct mail appeals * Support digital fundraising initiatives * Help expand monthly giving and recurring donations * Analyze campaign performance and recommend improvements
*Foundation and Corporate Giving*
* Identify prospective foundations and corporate partners * Prepare or coordinate grant applications, or assist other program staff with grant application as necessary * Maintain grant calendars and reporting requirements * Build relationships with institutional funders
*Campaign Coordination *
Support implementation of the Living Landscapes Campaign by:
* coordinating campaign communications * tracking fundraising progress * preparing campaign materials * helping organize donor events and recognition * ensuring excellent stewardship of campaign supporters
*Donor Stewardship*
* Ensure every donor receives outstanding stewardship * Coordinate acknowledgement