Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship

Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship

Hull Services has an organizational commitment to pursuing truth and reconciliation, decolonization and anti-oppression.

About us:

Hull Services has long had a reputation for providing leading edge child, youth, and family mental health services. We work with children, youth and families who have experienced mental health struggles, behavioural problems, developmental delay, neglect, abuse and trauma. Hull offers them an opportunity to seek well-being and happiness, with a focus on mental health. Hull’s vision is for resilient young people and families to thrive within communities that support their mental health and well-being. Hull’s programs and services include prevention and early intervention, family-based treatment, school-based services, community group care, campus-based care, adult services and education and training. Located in Calgary, we have been serving Alberta’s young people and families for 60 years, and support over 8,000 young people and families each year.

We are looking for a Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship. This position is part of the Philanthropy & External Relations team who aims to sustain and enhance Hull Services mission and vision, leadership, and impact, by engaging donors and partners meaningfully in the mission of Hull Services.

Reporting to the Senior Director, the Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship is responsible for the strategic direction and management of all donor relations programming and donor stewardship activities on behalf of Hull Services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• In consultation with the Senior Director, develops a clear vision and plan for Donor Relations, and directly leads efforts to acknowledge donors and demonstrate the impact of their philanthropy at Hull and beyond.
• Provide expert advice, guidance, and service to the Development and Community Engagement team at Hull Services, enabling them to implement best-in-class donor experiences and develop loyal relationships with donors.
• Develops, delivers, and oversees a Donor Relations program designed to foster and enhance long-term relationships with donors.
• Develops metrics, evaluates strategies, and introduces new programs as necessary to improve the donor experience.
• Analyzes data, develops, and prepares annual budget documents, and manages the operating budget for Donor Relations.
• In partnership with External Communications Manager, supports the development of key organizational external marketing materials including the annual report and comparable publications.
• Working with the External Communications Manager, develops donor-focused communications and leverages storytelling to produce compelling communications that secure funds, deepen trust and connection, and demonstrate donor impact, encouraging repeat giving and building long-term relationships between donors and Hull Services.
• Provides oversight of signature and donor stewardship, fundraising and recognition events. Working directly with the Events Coordinator, leads the conception, planning, execution and evaluation.
• Develops and maintains a strong partnership with colleagues across Hull and maintain a working knowledge of Hull’s activities, funding priorities and needs. Applies this knowledge in matching the interests and needs of prospective donors with the strategic needs of the organization.
• Reviews and identifies opportunities to improve gift acknowledgment and processing. Supports the development and implementation of solutions to improve gift processing, including the utilization of customer relationship management (CRM) software, driving outcomes that improve efficiencies and benefit donors and the organization.
• Leads, coaches and develops direct reports, including an Event Coordinator, ensuring consistent, meaningful, and purpose-driven donor experiences and engagement.
• Keeps abreast of emerging trends and best practices in donor behaviour and philanthropy to be able to design innovative and sophisticated donor relations strategies and programs which cultivate the life-long involvement of donors with the organization.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Working towards or recognized professional fundraising designation (CFRE or equivalent) an asset.
• Minimum seven years of progressive experience and demonstrated success managing fundraising and donor relations programs, with a focus on donor engagement, stewardship, or a related field.
• Proven track record in successfully developing and implementing strategic plans, project planning, budget and revenue forecasting, program analysis, and meeting objectives.
• Recognized leader in managing long-term and productive relationships with donors, volunteers, colleagues, and organizational leaders.
• Proven management experience demonstrating effective “hands on” skills in organizing, motivating, and directing staff and volunteers to achieve shared priorities.
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and interpersonal skills. Comfortable interacting with many different individuals in a variety of contexts (staff, students, donors, corporate and foundation partners).
• Planning skills to propose new initiatives and to improve efficiency of current services or operation.
• Proven ability to effectively work across multiple departments and portfolios within an organization.
• Proven experience drafting, editing, and revising policies and procedures, preferably in the field of donor recognition, gift acceptance and acknowledgement.
• Clear understanding of and strict adherence to ethical fundraising standards.
• Result-oriented with a desire to deliver high-quality solutions under demanding timelines.
• Experience working as part of a campaign effort with a view towards satisfying the future campaign needs of the organization.
• A clear police check, which includes a vulnerable sector search, is required (or is in process of being completed) prior to employment.

The application deadline is Monday, April 21, 2025.

At Hull, one of our core values is Inclusion and we seek to understand people’s lived experience, holding a deep respect for their unique backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, cultures and identities. It is our desire to humbly build trust and mutual respect with the people we serve who have often been marginalized and oppressed for their differences. To achieve this, Hull seeks open, self-aware individuals who reflect the diversity of those we serve and can help us build a safe, healthy, inclusive culture. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, or sexual orientation.