Development Officer, Gift & Estate Planning

BC Cancer Foundation; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in cancer research seeks a Development Officer for Gift & Estate Planning in Vancouver. This role focuses on cultivating relationships with donors, managing a portfolio of legacy gifts, and collaborating with various teams to enhance philanthropic engagement. The ideal candidate is empathetic, metrics-driven, and experienced in fundraising or client management. This position offers a hybrid work schedule and competitive benefits.

Benefits

Five weeks’ vacation

Comprehensive extended health and dental benefits

Professional development support

Culture committed to mental health and employee wellbeing

Qualifications

• Experience in fundraising, financial advising, or client relationship management.
• Proven track record of meeting performance targets and managing a portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of over 100 prospective and confirmed legacy donors.
• Initiate and advance conversations about future gifts through wills and estates.
• Cultivate and steward relationships to inspire long-term donor commitment.

Skills

Relationship Building

Strategic Communication

Initiative & Accountability

Results Orientation

Adaptability & Resourcefulness

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Awareness

Education

Experience in fundraising

Experience in financial advising

Familiarity with donor databases

Job description

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by BC Cancer Foundation. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

CA$60,000.00/yr - CA$78,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from BC Cancer Foundation

The BC Cancer Foundation is the fundraising partner of BC Cancer and the largest philanthropic funder of cancer research and care in British Columbia. Operating across five regional, the Foundation is driving a powerful shift in how philanthropy fuels innovation, accelerates discovery, and improves outcomes for every person facing cancer in BC. Following the success of its landmark $500 million Beyond Belief campaign, the Foundation is entering a bold new chapter—investing in business transformation, venture philanthropy, and a data-driven, donor-first strategy to expand its impact across the province.

The Position

The Development Officer, Gift & Estate Planning (Vancouver) is responsible for cultivating future gifts through a portfolio of active planned giving donors, with a regional focus on Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The primary goal of the position is to build strong relationships with donors and prospects, inspire engagement, and initiate gift and estate planning conversations that lead to future gift confirmations.

In addition to future-focused legacy giving, this role identifies, cultivates, and solicits current giving opportunities as part of a holistic donor strategy.

This position is supported by and works closely with the Gift & Estate Planning team. Regular collaboration with colleagues in Major Gifts, Discovery Circle, Community Giving, Donor Engagement, and other teams is a core part of the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of over 100 prospective and confirmed legacy donors.

• Initiate and advance conversations about future gifts through wills, estates, and blended giving vehicles.

• Cultivate and steward relationships to inspire long-term donor commitment and philanthropic engagement.

• Identify and solicit opportunities for current giving as part of broader donor cultivation strategies.

• Source and qualify new prospects through surveys, referrals, personal outreach, and event participation.

• Partner with Prospect Research and Development teams to uncover new opportunities and deepen engagement with aligned individuals.

• Represent BC Cancer Foundation at community events and gatherings across the Lower Mainland.

Internal Collaboration

• Participate in regular meetings and strategy sessions with the Gift & Estate Planning and Vancouver development teams.

• Collaborate with legal and administrative colleagues involved in gift realization and estate processing.

• Support Foundation-led initiatives and campaigns to raise awareness of legacy giving.

Reporting & Data Integrity

• Maintain accurate activity tracking and donor records in fundraising software.

• Deliver on annual metrics related to gift confirmations, portfolio activity, and blended giving opportunities.

• Contribute to quarterly reviews and strategic planning cycles.

Core Competencies

Relationship Building

Demonstrated empathy, maturity, and discretion in building trust with individuals navigating deeply personal decisions related to legacy giving.

Initiative & Accountability

Track record of working independently, managing a portfolio, and taking full ownership of outcomes without close supervision.

Strategic Communication

Proven ability to communicate clearly and professionally across formats, with messaging tailored to donor needs, emotional context, and giving stage.

Results Orientation

Comfortable operating in a performance-driven environment; consistently met or exceeded KPIs related to activity, cultivation, and confirmed gifts.

Adaptability & Resourcefulness

Shown ability to navigate change, shift gears as needed, and identify creative solutions in evolving or ambiguous circumstances.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Awareness

Experience collaborating within multi-functional teams and across reporting lines, while maintaining clarity of role and accountability.

Values Alignment

Demonstrated alignment with mission-driven work; brought care, purpose, and professionalism to roles supporting community, health, or public good.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an empathetic, metrics-driven relationship builder— comfortable navigating legacy conversations, inspired by purpose, and driven by results. Whether your experience is in fundraising, financial services, or client relationship management, you know how to build trust, make the ask, and steward relationships with care and professionalism.

You may be a strong fit if you have:

• Experience in fundraising, financial advising, wealth management, legal (estates), or another client-focused, relationship-driven role

• A proven track record of meeting performance targets and managing a portfolio • Familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge)

• The maturity and presence to engage with older donors and families navigating legacy decisions

• The ability to work independently in a hybrid role while collaborating with a distributed team

• Exposure to planned giving vehicles and philanthropic estate planning

• Community ties in Vancouver or experience working in an urban donor environment

• Based in Vancouver, with a hybrid schedule (minimum 3 days/week in the office)

• Travel within the Lower Mainland is expected for donor meetings and community engagement

• The compensation range is $60,000 to $78,000, depending on experience, alignment with the scope of the position, and if candidate is stepping into growth or bringing a proven track record • Five weeks’ vacation plus Foundation-wide closures including half day office closures before each statutory holiday

• Comprehensive extended health and dental benefits

• Professional development support and a culture committed to mental health and employee wellbeing

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The BC Cancer Foundation is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage those with lived experience connected to the cancer journey to apply.

To Apply

To express interest or learn more, please contact: Sue Sinclair | Ivy Group [e-mail]

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Associate

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Industries

  Philanthropic Fundraising Services and Non-profit Organizations

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