Donor Stewardship and Community Relations Lead

Aberdeen Health Foundation; New Glasgow; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental

Relocation support

Job summary

Aberdeen Health Foundation in New Glasgow, NS, seeks a Donor Stewardship and Community Relations Lead to build long-term donor relationships, ensure timely acknowledgments, and clearly communicate the impact of gifts.

You will join a two-person team, report to the Executive Director, design a stewardship rhythm, manage donor records in the CRM, craft updates and board reports, and help plan recognition events as the program grows.

Qualifications

• Proven track record building donor relationships over years.
• Experience asking for gifts, sponsorships or commitments.
• Clear, warm writing for donor communications.
• Comfort with donor databases/CRM and translating records into plans.
• Good judgement and ability to work independently.
• Discretion with confidential donor information.
• Willingness to relocate to Pictou County or living there.

Responsibilities

• Stewardship: Personal thank-yous, timely follow-up and donor recognition.
• Donor retention strategy and steady rhythm of contact.
• Donor communications showing what their support makes possible.
• Donor records and systems used as planning tools, not just gift logs.
• Board reporting with a clear picture of donor relationships.
• Recognition and events to bring donors together.
• Community presence across Pictou County on behalf of the Foundation.
• Fundraising as it grows, with asks arising from real relationships.

Skills

Relationship building

Donor asks

Clear writing

CRM experience

Independent work

Discretion

Relocation willing

Local presence in Pictou County

Tools

Donor CRM

Job description

Donor Stewardship and Community Relations Lead

For 40 years, Pictou County has given to the Aberdeen Health Foundation. Now the Foundation wants to give more back to its donors. It is hiring its first dedicated donor role: the person who builds how donors are thanked, kept informed and recognized, and who makes the ask when a relationship is ready.

Hawthorne Recruitment is leading this search on behalf of the Aberdeen Health Foundation.

THE ROLE

You join a two-person team as a partner to the Executive Director, who leads strategy and health-system partnerships. You lead the Foundation's relationships with donors.

The first job is building. Donor records exist; the strategy, rhythm and reporting around them do not yet. Fundraising is a question of when, not if, and the board will set the timing. As relationships mature, asks become part of the work.

WHAT YOU BRING

• A track record of building and keeping relationships over years: donors, members, clients or community partners
• Comfort making the ask. You have asked people for gifts, sponsorships or commitments, and done it well
• Clear, warm writing: thank-you notes, donor updates and board reports people read
• Comfort with a donor database or CRM, and the discipline to turn records into a plan
• Judgment to work independently and own a function
• Discretion with confidential donor information
• Living in Pictou County, or willing to relocate

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Stewardship. Personal thank-yous, timely follow-up and recognition that fits each donor
• A donor retention strategy and the steady rhythm of contact behind it
• Donor communications that show people what their support makes possible
• Donor records and systems that work as a planning tool, not only a record of gifts
• Board reporting. A clear picture of donor relationships at the board table
• Recognition and events that bring donors together
• Community presence across Pictou County, on behalf of the Foundation
• Fundraising, as it grows. Asks that come out of real relationships, and open doors for the Executive Director and board

On background - Experience in health care or the charitable sector is an asset, not a requirement. You might be a development officer at a smaller charity, or come from credit union, alumni or community roles where asking was part of the job.

STRONG ASSETS

• Having built a stewardship program or donor function where little existed
• Major gift or campaign experience
• Roots or relationships in Pictou County or Northern Nova Scotia
• Planning donor recognition and community events
• Reporting to a board or committee

WHY THIS ROLE

• You build the function. There is no predecessor to follow.
• You set how the Foundation treats its donors for years to come.
• Your work connects people who give with the care their gifts make possible.
• Room to grow. Year three will look different from year one.

THE DETAILS

LOCATION: New Glasgow, NS. Office at the Aberdeen Regional Hospital

START: December 2026 or early 2027. Allowing for notice periods

COMPENSATION: $65,000 to $75,000 base. Relocation support available

WORK MODEL: In person, in community. In Pictou County, or willing to relocate

BENEFITS: Health and dental. With openness to additional benefits

REPORTS TO: Executive Director. A team of two, with a volunteer board

The Aberdeen Health Foundation is committed to inclusion and equity, and welcomes applicants of every identity, experience and background.

There is no department behind you. If you need established systems and a large team, this isn't it. If you want to build something that lasts, in a community that will notice, let's talk.