Donor Relations Officer, Major Gifts

University of Victoria; Victoria; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Victoria seeks a Donor Relations Officer – Major Gifts to manage major gift donors and enhance philanthropic relationships. This role involves creating tailored stewardship plans and reports, working collaboratively within the Alumni & Development team, and requires experience in donor relations and exceptional report writing skills.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in working with major gift donors is essential.
• Demonstrated report writing and design experience needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage a stewardship portfolio of major gift donors.
• Create individualized stewardship plans and manage activities.
• Craft tailored stewardship reports and thank-you letters.

Skills

Diversity and inclusion

Major gift donor relations

Report writing and design

Project management

Relationship building

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Canva

Adobe InDesign

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Mandate

The Donor Relations Officer – Major Gifts will manage a stewardship portfolio of major gift donors, as well as work with major gift fundraisers to strategically steward donors through customized impact reporting and engagement. Major Gifts are an important aspect of UVic’s fundraising strategy and the Donor Relations Officer – Major Gifts will be an integral part of the team advancing major gift opportunities for the university.

Alumni & Development is the unit of the university responsible for creating strong relationships and building philanthropic commitment between the University of Victoria and its alumni and friends.

It comprises a committed team who work both centrally and in faculties and units to identify opportunities where faculty, staff, donors, and alumni can be instrumental to enhancing UVic’s programs, research, and student support.

Objectives

The Donor Relations Officer – Major Gifts will be responsible for fulfilling activities and duties that support the university’s major gift donor stewardship efforts. The incumbent will manage a stewardship portfolio of major gift donors in partnership with Faculty based fundraisers, Principal Gifts, and Corporate and Foundation Relations. They will work with key internal stakeholders (Development Officers, Deans, Chairs, etc.) to develop individualized stewardship plans for major gift donors. They will then be responsible for managing these plans, ensuring that various activities and milestones are implemented and met. Alongside these responsibilities, the incumbent will be responsible for creating tailored stewardship report writing and design for prioritized major gift, principal gift, and corporate and foundation donors. They will also be responsible for crafting custom thank you letters from the President’s office and other executive leaders for donors who give at specific levels.

This role will be required to work independently and demonstrate a high level of initiative while being in a dynamic team environment where flexibility and multi-tasking is essential.

This position requires a level of education, training, and experience equivalent to Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Include

• Commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive and respectful working and learning environment.
• Demonstrated experience in working with major gift donors.
• Demonstrated report writing and design experience.
• Ability to apply project management best practices to achieve project goals on time.
• Ability to collaborate, build and maintain positive relationships with diverse individuals and work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to identify and analyze issues, develop solutions, and implement effective strategies to achieve desired outcomes.
  
  

Assets

• Experience with design products such as Canva and Adobe InDesign.
• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM.
• Understanding of fundraising and donor relations best practices and principles.
• Experience with higher education and/or a complex organization.
• Attention to detail is a key asset.