Development Officer

Rise People; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Life & Disability

RRSP Employer Matching

AFP Membership & professional dev

Discounted pet food/services

Paid vacation & holidays

Job summary

AARCS in Calgary, Alberta seeks a permanent full-time Development Officer to lead major gift fundraising and donor stewardship. You will grow relationships with a portfolio of donors and prospects, driving capital campaign support and strategic moves management.

Collaborating with the development team and executives, you will implement personalized cultivation plans, track fundraising metrics, and engage volunteers in fundraising efforts. The role is hybrid in Calgary.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of major gift fundraising and donor stewardship.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant area.
• CFRE designation is preferred but not required.
• Experience securing six-figure gifts and managing a portfolio of major donors.
• Proficiency with CRMs, especially Blackbaud Raiser's Edge.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects with personalized engagement.
• Lead donor conversations and meetings to elevate gifts for capital campaigns.
• Conduct prospect research, data analysis, and streamline fundraising operations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and board to track fundraising metrics.
• Coordinate donor communications, proposals, digital campaigns, and annual reports.
• Support volunteers, boards, and campaign champions in fundraising activities.

Skills

Relationship building

Phone outreach

CRM proficiency

Communication

Research skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

CFRE designation (preferred)

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Job description

ABOUT US:Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) is a registered non-profit charity located in Calgary, Alberta helping over 6,000 animals each year. Our mission is to rescue and rehome animals in need and provide community support programs that help people and their pets.

TITLE: Development Officer
Imagine starting your workday knowing the impact of your efforts helps someone find companionship, whether that’s a kitten, a dog, or even a small pet like a rabbit or hamster. Or knowing that a senior’s pet got the veterinary care they needed so they can stay together, or a family in need are provided with pet food to get them through tough times. Today, AARCS needs a committed fund development professional who is ready to tell the story of impact at AARCS, across our community, helping identify and grow relationships with those who believe in our cause.

If you value the profound role animals play in people’s lives and want to channel that passion into meaningful fundraising work, this role may be for you. We invite you to read on and learn more.

AARCS is seeking an out-the-door, relationship-driven fundraiser who is passionate about animal welfare and committed to advancing our mission, and what is possible for our future, thanks to the thousands of donors who believe in the importance of our work.

As the Development Officer, you will join a dynamic, supportive and mission-driven development team. Building on the exceptional donor engagement work of the current team, you will cultivate meaningful relationships with a committed and growing network of supporters and volunteers while championing a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

In this role, you will develop and strengthen relationships with donors at the major gift level, elevating their sights to what is possible through their support of AARCS. To prioritize efforts, you will play a key role in qualification of prospects and pipeline development, employing a strategic moves management program for timely progression of each prospect/donor.

You will invite donors to provide transformational support to a capital campaign, bringing a creative mindset and approach to personalized strategy development. In addition to campaign specific opportunities, you will help refine and implement processes, systems, and strategies for long-term fund development success guided by the Director of Development.

If you are a dynamic, creative, and strategic leader eager to transform the lives of animals and the people who love them, we’d love to meet you.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Officer will:

Activate

An elevated donor engagement practice focused on personalized, meaningful, and trust-building engagement.

Donor conversations and meetings with confidence and authenticity, identifying opportunities to elevate donors’ sights for the capital campaign.

Prospect research, donor data analysis, database management, and processes to strengthen fund development operations.

A culture of philanthropy, expanding ways in which philanthropy can be part of everyday experiences at AARCS.

Develop

Meaningful relationships with a portfolio of donors and prospects, building on current momentum and identifying new opportunities.

Targeted engagement strategies for key donors and prospects, highlighting both operational and campaign giving opportunities.

Qualification strategies and a pipeline of prospects to focus efforts.

Personalized and authentic cultivation and stewardship plans.

Support

The Director of Development and Executive Director in managing key donor relationships.

The Director of Development in reporting and tracking key fundraising metrics.

The development of major gift strategies at AARCS.

Volunteers, board members, and campaign champions; equipping them with the guidance and tools to meaningfully participate in fundraising efforts.

Communicate

The impact of philanthropy on animals’ lives and AARCS’ future growth; through funding appeals, proposals, donor correspondence, digital campaigns, website and annual reports.

Collaborate with the communications team to elevate the donor voice across the organization’s various communications platforms.

Celebrate

Donors, volunteers, adopters, and staff, and the countless animal lives they save each and every day.

Other tasks as assigned.

What We Are Looking For

Experience

A driven, adaptable, and “pick-up-the-phone” style fundraiser with 3-5 years of experience in major gift fundraising and donor stewardship. Campaign experience is an asset but not required.

Bachelor’s degree or higher education level in a relevant area.

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation (or working towards designation) preferred but not required.

Experience engaging other staff and volunteers in donor conversations, including supporting executive staff and board members in fundraising activity.

Demonstrated success in securing six figure gifts and managing a portfolio of major donors.

Skills

Thrive in connecting with others, cultivating and maintaining relationships – you love picking up the phone and booking meetings!

Strong ability to collaborate with peers and support donor-facing leadership.

Proficiency in and an understanding of the strategic use of CRMs, preferably with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge and donor management systems.

Understanding of the full donor-ask cycle, from identification through to stewardship.

Exceptional written and verbal communication, organizational, and research skills.

Characteristics

Self-driven, thriving in a dynamicworking environment – frequent interruptions for puppy cuddles.

Appreciation for the role pets play in people’s lives, and the ripple effect of animal welfare within the family unit and in the broader community.

Welcoming and inclusive nature, ability to connect with people from all walks of life and invite them into the AARCS community.

Working Conditions

Office environment within a busy animal shelter with a moderate to loud noise level.

May involve exposure to dangerous or diseased animals.

Ability to sit/type for extended periods of time.

What We Offer

A permanent full-time(37.5 hour work week), hybrid Development Officer role in Calgary.

A collaborative, mission-driven, dynamic work environment.

Compensation ranging from $70,000-$80,000, depending on experience and skill alignment.

Paid vacation, statutory holidays, sick and wellness time.

Health, Dental and Life and Disability Benefits.

RRSP Employer Matching Plan.

Continuing education and professional development opportunities, including AFP Membership.

Discounted pet food, services, and supplies.

AARCS is an equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please notify us at [e-mail] as soon as possible. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.