Development Officer

WISH Drop-In Centre Society; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 43,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

WISH is seeking a part-time Development Officer for Individual Giving & Communications. This independent contractor role, reporting to the Executive Director, focuses on growing WISH’s donor base through monthly giving and targeted campaigns while managing social media and supporter emails. The position emphasizes strong writing, data fluency in DonorPerfect, and a commitment to WISH’s mission.

Approx. 16 hours/week, hybrid remote work with some in-person activity at Vancouver location, and

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years in individual giving or donor relations.
• Strong writing for donor communications and campaigns.
• Experience managing social media for nonprofits.
• Proficiency with DonorPerfect database and reporting.
• Ability to evaluate AI-assisted content critically.

Responsibilities

• Oversee donor cultivation, monthly giving, and mid-level prospects.
• Lead annual fundraising campaigns with strategy, copy, and segmentation.
• Draft donor communications and acknowledge gifts with care.
• Maintain accurate donor records in DonorPerfect.
• Support communications for fundraising including social and email.

Tools

DonorPerfect

Constant Contact

Asana

Microsoft 365

Canva

Job description

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Individual Giving & Communications

POSITION TYPE

Independent Contractor

TEAM

Development & Communications

LOCATION

Remote/Hybrid (334 Alexander St, Vancouver)

REPORTS TO

Executive Director

HOURS

Approximately 16 hours per week

CONTRACT RATE

$31–$33 per hour, commensurate withexperience

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

October 9, 2026, 5pm PT

ABOUT WISH

WISH is the largest sex worker support organization in Canada and is located on the unceded, stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəýəm (Musqueam), SỷwX̲ wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh) First Nations. For 40 years, WISH has been a refuge and an essential point of contact for street-based sex workers in Vancouver. Based in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), WISH’s connection to the land is central to the work we do and our efforts to decolonize that work.

WISH is a non-judgemental place of compassion and trust where all participants are valued. Many of those who walk through our doors have experienced targeted, gender-based, and sexualised violence and are often dehumanized and stigmatized because of the work they do. They have been impacted by the criminalised nature of Canada’s laws surrounding sex work, and face significant discrimination due to systemic inequities.

For more information about WISH and our programs and services, please visit our website: wish‑vancouver.net

JOB SUMMARY

The Development Officer, Individual Giving & Communications is a part‑time contract‑for‑service role reporting to the Executive Director. The position is responsible for the day‑to‑day tasks associated with WISH’s individual donor program, including the monthly donor program. The role also carries key communications responsibilities in direct support of fundraising, including managing WISH’s social media presence and supporter email communications. The ideal candidate combines genuine enthusiasm for building relationships with supporters, with strong writing and communications skills, data fluency in DonorPerfect, and a deep commitment to WISH’s mission.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Individual Giving

• Contribute to the annual development plan and provide regular progress reporting against goals to the Executive Director.
• Partner with the Executive Director and other team members to co‑develop and refine campaigns and communications.
• As appropriate, support strategic research, draft strategy documents, and prepare briefing notes and reports for the Executive Director.
• Execute strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, including monthly donors and mid‑level prospects.
• Lead annual fundraising campaigns in collaboration with the Executive Director and team members, contributing to strategy, writing copy, developing segmentation, and conducting post‑campaign evaluations.
• As appropriate, use Claude to draft personalized donor correspondence, gift acknowledgement letters, stewardship updates, and campaign copy; review and finalize all AI‑assisted drafts before sending.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date donor records in DonorPerfect, including contact information, communication history, and giving records.
• Review and update DonorPerfect coding structures (e.g. funds, campaigns, appeals, constituent codes) to ensure data integrity and consistent reporting; recommend and implement improvements in consultation with the Executive Director, Grant Specialist and Director of Finance.
• Conduct regular analyses of individual giving data — including donor retention, lapse, upgrade, and revenue trends — and use findings to inform strategy and stewardship priorities.
• Support third‑party fundraisers as needed.
• Build and maintain relationships with foundations (non‑grant) through coordinating meetings, tours, thank you messaging etc. as needed.

Communications in Support of Fundraising

• Manage WISH’s social media presence (core channels: Instagram and Facebook). Plan, create and schedule a calendar of content that engages supporters, raises awareness of WISH’s mission, and supports fundraising campaigns.
• Monitor social media channels, respond to comments and inquiries, and track engagement metrics.
• Research, write, and produce WISH’s regular e‑newsletters, coordinating with program staff for stories, impact data, and program updates; co‑develop WISH’s Annual Report including leading on design and layout.
• Support the creation of other development‑related communications materials (e.g. event promotion) as capacity allows.
• Ensure all donor‑facing communications are consistent with WISH's brand voice, values, and equity commitments.

General

• Participate in biweekly team check‑ins and relevant staff meetings.
• Contribute to short and long‑term departmental goals and planning.
• Uphold the highest standards of donor confidentiality and data privacy, including responsible use of AI tools.
• Support other development and communications activities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Experience & Skills

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in individual giving, donor relations.
• Demonstrated track record of managing donor relationships and meeting or exceeding fundraising targets.
• Experience contributing to annual fundraising plans or strategies.
• Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to craft warm, authentic, and persuasive donor correspondence and campaign copy.
• Experience managing organizational social media accounts in a professional capacity, including content creation, scheduling, and analytics.
• Experience writing newsletters, appeals, or similar donor‑facing publications.

Technical

• High proficiency with DonorPerfect is required, including data entry, list management, creating and running queries and reports, updating coding structures to maintain data integrity, data analyses and translating analyses to campaign actions.
• Experience with CRM/Email marketing tool (Constant Contact preferred).
• Experience with social media scheduling and analytics tools.
• Proficiency with Asana for project and task management is an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint) is essential.
• Comfort with AI writing and research tools, specifically Claude (Anthropic); ability to critically evaluate, edit, and take full responsibility for AI‑assisted content before it is sent or published.
• Basic graphic design skills and familiarity with Canva or similar program is required.
• Comfort with Slack and other virtual collaboration platforms.
• Knowledge of Canada Helps is an asset.

Values & Equity

• Alignment with the WISH mission, vision, and core values.
• A strong understanding of and commitment to a sex workers’ rights framework.
• A strong intersectional feminist analysis.
• Significant understanding and knowledge of systemic barriers and oppression rooted in colonization, racism, transphobia, classism, misogyny, moralism, ableism and how they impact sex workers.
• Comprehensive understanding of harm reduction principles and models, trauma‑informed practice, gender diversity and the role of gendered and sexualized violence in relation to sex work.
• Sex work experience is a considerable asset.

WISH is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourages applications from people with lived expertise in the sex trade, Indigenous people, Black people, people of colour, and people with disabilities.