Development Officer

Southlake Health Foundation; Newmarket; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Development Officer at Southlake Health Foundation is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of donors giving $5,000-$25,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission, advancing prospects toward major and planned gifts and strengthening long-term philanthropic relationships.

The Major Gifts & Campaigns Team drives growth by engaging donors from $5K+ to meet Southlake’s commitments and deliver leading edge care close to home.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree required.
• Minimum 3–5 years of fundraising experience; healthcare philanthropy is an asset.
• Proven success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with CRM systems, preferably Raiser's Edge.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150–200 donor prospects giving $5K–$25K.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors to grow giving.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, and touchpoints to deepen engagement.
• Collaborate with Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Donor Experience.
• Support donor events, tours, and recognition activities.
• Ensure donor interactions are recorded in the CRM.
• Lead Bridge Donor Program planning and evaluation with the Director.
• Represent the Foundation at community events and donor engagements.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Relationship building

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Post-secondary degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

The Development Officer is responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of donors giving $5,000-$25,000 in support of the Hospital Foundation’s mission. This role plays a key part in the donor pipeline by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership level donors, advancing prospects toward major and planned gift readiness, and strengthening long-term philanthropic relationships.

Team

The Major Gifts & Campaigns Team plays a critical role in cultivating and building relationships to drive sustainable growth from donors and prospects at $5K+ to enable the Foundation to meet granting commitments to Southlake Health to deliver leading edge care close to home.

ACCOUNTABILITIES & ACTIVITIES

Donor Portfolio

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150-200 gift prospects giving $5K-$25K.
• Develop, build and strengthen relationships with donors through individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, and touchpoints to deepen engagement, retention, and advance giving.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Donor Experience to ensure seamless donor movement through the pipeline.
• Support donor events, tours, and recognition activities as needed.
• Work with the Stewardship team to communicate donors’ impact of giving through the delivery of impact and stewardship reports and recognition opportunities.
• Ensure all donor interactions are recorded accurately and promptly in the CRM.

Bridge Donor Program

• In collaboration with the Director, lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of the Foundation’s Bridge Donor Program, designed to transition mid-level donors toward major gift readiness.
• Implement tailored engagement plans, including cultivation activities, solicitations, impact communications, recognition, stewardship. and targeted cultivation activities.
• Track donor movement and identify prospects with major or planned gift potential.

Foundations Program

• Manage relationships with private, family, corporate and community foundations up to investment levels of $250K.
• Research funding opportunities and in collaboration with Writer, Major Gifts, prepare compelling letters of inquiry and proposals.
• Maintain a calendar of deadlines, deliverables, and reporting requirements to ensure compliance and strong funder relationships.
• In collaboration with Donor Experience, deliver meaningful recognition and stewardship.
• Contribute to annual planning, revenue forecasting, and pipeline development.
• Represent the Foundation at community events and donor engagements.

Foundation Team

• Work as a team player actively promoting a positive and professional work environment and culture
• Conduct role with integrity and respect and with a focus on demonstrating the Foundation’s values
• Act as an ambassador throughout the community, positively representing the Hospital and the Foundation
• Maintain donor and Foundation confidentiality and privacy at all times
• Demonstrate a commitment to exceptional donor experience
• Abide by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and work in a manner that is safe, reporting incidents immediately to direct supervisor
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of Southlake Health and Southlake Health Foundation
• Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall goals and objectives of the Foundation
• Maintain and advance professional knowledge of and expertise in relevant fields
• Develop and be able to communicate a strong understanding of Southlake’s and the Foundation’s strategic priorities and exemplify Southlake’s shared values:
  • Serving with purpose
  • Always with compassion
  • Power of many
  • Every voice matters
  • Courage to think differently

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Post-secondary degree.
• Minimum 3-5 years of fundraising experience, previous experience in healthcare philanthropy an asset.
• Demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and rapport.
• Experience with CRM systems, Raiser’s Edge considered an asset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Proficient in the use of corporate productivity tools including Excel and Word
• Excellent problem solving, written and verbal communications and project management skills
• Positive attitude, ability to work effectively with multiple deadlines, and in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
• Excellent organizational, planning and time management skills
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong working relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders at all levels; capable of exercising independent judgment and flexibility
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends