Development Officer, Philanthropy

Bissell Centre; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Vacation

Health Days

Healthcare coverage

Health Spending Account

Life Insurance

Maternity/Parental benefits

EAP

Staff events

Exclusive discounts

Optional holidays

Job summary

Bissell Centre is seeking a Development Officer, Philanthropy to join the Resource Development team. You will manage a portfolio focused on leadership gifts from individuals, engage with corporate relationships, and drive mid-level donor engagement while supporting capital campaigns and planned giving opportunities.

Responsibilities include developing donor strategies, soliciting gifts, and stewarding donor relationships through the full donor cycle.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in individual philanthropy or related fundraising role.
• Experience soliciting and closing significant gifts from individuals.
• Experience managing a donor/prospect portfolio through the full donor cycle.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and implement donor strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors.
• Manage an active donor portfolio with emphasis on leadership gifts from individuals and select corporate donors.
• Lead direct gift solicitations and discuss giving opportunities with donors.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships through meetings, calls, tours, events, and personalized engagement.

Skills

Donor relations

Major gifts solicitation

Portfolio management

Communication

Capital campaigns

Education

Post-secondary education

Job description

Driven by a vision to eliminate poverty in our community, Bissell Centre’s data-driven approach is rooted in a deep belief in the dignity, strength, and potential of every individual. Through compassion, optimism, and strong relationships, our prevention and stabilization strategy and programs empower people by supporting our community to secure housing and build sustainable livelihoods. Our community comes from all walks of life, and so does our team—united by a shared commitment to create real, lasting change. By joining Bissell Centre, you will become part of a fast-paced and dedicated team that works together to realize our vision.

Currently, Bissell Centre is looking for a Development Officer, Philanthropy to join our dedicated Resource Development team as we journey with the Community towards an elimination of poverty. If you’re ready to bring your heart to a fast-paced, collaborative environment, join us in making an impact in our community.

How You’ll Make an Impact?

The Development Officer, Philanthropy is ideal for a relationship-driven fundraising professional who is energized by meaningful donor conversations, confident in directly soliciting and closing gifts, and motivated to build strong, long-term relationships that inspire significant and transformational philanthropic support for Bissell Centre.

Under the guidance of the Manager of Development, the Development Officer, Philanthropy will manage a portfolio focused primarily on leadership giving from individuals, with select corporate relationships, alongside mid-level donor engagement and strategic and planned giving opportunities. The role will manage the full donor cycle—from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship—and contribute to capital campaign and other significant fundraising initiatives.

Strategic and planned giving responsibilities will focus particularly on gifts of securities, donor-advised funds (DAFs), and other giving vehicles that enable donors to maximize their philanthropic impact, while supporting legacy and estate giving opportunities as they arise.

• Plan, develop, and implement strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects.
• Manage an active portfolio of donors and prospects with emphasis on:
  • Leadership giving from individuals and select corporate donors (approximately 70%)
  • Mid-level donors with the potential to deepen their engagement and giving (approximately 15%)
  • Strategic and planned giving, with particular focus on gifts of securities, donor-advised funds, and other giving vehicles (approximately 15%)
• Develop individualized donor strategies and actively move relationships through the donor cycle toward meaningful philanthropic commitments.
• Confidently initiate and lead direct gift solicitations, including discussing giving opportunities and amounts, responding to donor questions, and asking for financial commitments.
• Build meaningful relationships with donors and prospects through regular meetings, calls, tours, events, and other personalized engagement opportunities.

What You’ll Bring?

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in individual philanthropy and securing significant gifts, or a related relationship-based fundraising role.
• Demonstrated experience personally soliciting and closing significant gifts from individual donors.
• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of donors and prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Experience participating in a capital campaign or other significant fundraising campaign is strongly preferred.
• Experience with gifts of securities, donor-advised funds, planned giving, or other strategic giving vehicles is considered a strong asset.
• Experience cultivating and soliciting corporate donors or partners is considered an asset.
• Post-secondary education in a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CFRE or other fundraising designations are considered a strong asset.

Why Choose Bissell Centre?

At Bissell Centre, we believe meaningful work starts with a supportive and inclusive culture. We value individuality, are guided by strong values, and are committed to supporting staff growth and wellbeing. We offer a competitive Total Rewards package that reflects our commitment, including:

• Paid Vacation of 3 weeks upon hire and 4 weeks after one-year continuous service with Bissell Centre.
• Health Maintenance Days (in addition to vacation)
• Extended health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
• Health Spending Account
• Life insurance and ADD for you and your dependents
• Benefits coverage during maternity/parental leave
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (supporting mental and physical wellbeing)
• Staff events, committees and celebrations
• Exclusive employee discounts, including TELUS and Bell mobility plans, recreation centre memberships, Costco membership, CIBC banking perks, Perkopolis, Fresh Prep, and more
• Paid time off for optional general holidays

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Bissell Centre is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to diversity within our community and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, or disability. Bissell Centre is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees, in accordance with provincially and federally legislated protected grounds.

Application Deadline: October 23rd, 2026