Donor Relations Officer

InsideHigherEd; Oshawa; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading higher education institution is seeking a Donor Relations Officer to enhance donor engagement and build relationships. The successful candidate will coordinate personalized stewardship plans, manage donor documentation, and advocate for the Faculty's mission while working under an associate director in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum four years in a fundraising or advancement environment.
• Experience with donor databases and student information systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate personalized stewardship plans for donors.
• Manage stewardship documentation and tracking using Arbor database.
• Liaise with stakeholders to promote a culture of philanthropy.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

Adobe programs

Arbor donor database

ROSI

Job description

Faculty / Division : Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Department : Office of Advancement

Campus : St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Position Number : 00045378

About us :

The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering is a world-renowned community of researchers and students dedicated to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges through collaborative and multidisciplinary research and experiential education. Through rigorous technical training, and unparalleled extracurricular and professional experience opportunities, we prepare the next generation of engineering leaders and change-makers to unlock the future's potential.

The Office of Advancement works to sustain and enhance the Faculty’s academic mission, leadership and worldwide impact by engaging alumni and private-sector stakeholders. As part of Defy Gravity : The Campaign for the University of Toronto, we seek to harness the talent, generosity, and compassion of our global community to strengthen the University’s commitment to inclusive excellence and accelerate work on the most complex issues facing our world today.

Your opportunity :

Under the direction of the Associate Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations and the Director of Operations, Advancement the incumbent will work closely with Prospect Managers to collaboratively develop and coordinate the execution of highly personalized Individual Stewardship Plans that define a tailored stewardship experience for each donor to the Faculty. The Donor Relations Officer will act as project manager for high value stewardship projects within the Advancement team ensuring that donors and volunteers feel more engaged with the Faculty.

Your responsibilities will include :

• Maintains positive and mutually rewarding relations among the Faculty and its donors, partners with development officers on stewardship strategies for key donors, and builds ongoing and active networking with campus and external constituents to promote a culture of philanthropy through the acknowledgment process and reporting on the impact of gifts.
• Manage and maintain all stewardship documentation and tracking, including leveraging the Arbor donor database.
• Recommend appropriate cultivation and solicitation strategies and timing for donor / prospect visits, debrief and manage follow up activity.
• Identify donors for specialized reporting and partner with Advancement team members to develop opportunities for stewardship of these donors throughout the year.
• Obtains and evaluates data needed for a tiered stewardship system and collaborates with Communications and Development teams to create customized stewardship collateral and tailored events.
• Liaises with Divisional University Advancement Stewardship teams to ensure compliance with stewardship policies and procedures.
• Seek ways to further engage existing donors and to inspire deeper levels of engagement, resulting in deeper donor relationships with the Faculty.
• Maintains a robust knowledge of University-wide funding priorities and a general knowledge of the Faculty and unit funding priorities.

Essential Qualifications :

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Minimum four years in a fundraising or advancement environment in a donor facing role.
• Experience with student information systems and donor databases such as ROSI and Arbor.
• Experience providing excellent customer service, and building and maintaining donor relationships that inspire confidence from donors.
• Demonstrated understanding of philanthropic funds management.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and good judgment, take initiative and respect the confidentiality of sensitive information and materials.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and work environment.
• Proficiency using MS Office Suite and Adobe programs at an advanced level.
• Ability to research and organize information and data with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to understand and interpret data.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team.

Assets (Nonessential) :

• Ability to think creatively and try new things.

To be successful in this role you will be :

• Approachable
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Team player

Work location : This role is currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement of 3 days per week in office, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline .

Closing Date : 07 / 11 / 2025, 11 : 59PM ET

Employee Group : USW

Appointment Type : Budget - Continuing

Schedule : Full-Time

USW Pay Band 11 $75,223. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $96,196. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation / Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.

Job Category : Communication / Media / Public Relations

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

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Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http : / / uoft.me / UP .

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail] .