MAJOR GIFTS & DONOR RELATIONS LEAD

YWCA Saskatoon; Saskatoon; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness membership

Comprehensive benefits package

Inclusive team

Job summary

The Major Gifts & Donor Relations Lead at YWCA Saskatoon will drive major gifts, annual giving, monthly giving and legacy giving programs. You will build and manage donor relationships, lead prospecting and stewardship, and work with the Development team to grow philanthropic revenue for the organization.

You will collaborate with Marketing & Communications, coordinate campaigns, and ensure donors receive timely updates on impact and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop and implement fundraising strategies.
• Experience cultivating and soliciting individual donors and managing portfolios.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, research and qualify prospective donors and manage an assigned portfolio.
• Develop and implement donor-specific cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans.
• Conduct donor meetings, build relationships and maintain accurate records of interactions.
• Assess donor engagement and identify opportunities to deepen relationships.
• Lead annual giving initiatives and monthly giving strategies.
• Coordinate donor communications and impact reporting with Marketing & Communications.
• Provide donor stories and impact information for annual reporting.

Skills

Donor relations

Major gifts fundraising

Relationship building

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Non-Profit Management, or related field

Tools

Donor management systems

CRM software

Job description

Fund Development Full Time FUND DEV & COMM Saskatoon, SK, CA

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1088

MAJOR GIFTS & DONOR RELATIONS LEAD

JOB POSTING

ABOUT YWCA SASKATOON:

The YWCA Saskatoon is a dynamic team dedicated to positively impacting the lives of women, their families, and the community. YWCA Saskatoon is a vibrant organization providing inclusive community services on Treaty Six territory and the homeland of the Métis peoples since 1910. We look forward tothe possibility of you joining our team.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT:

At the YWCA Saskatoon, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are dedicated to creating and cultivating an inclusive workspace and workforce that represents the communities we serve. We acknowledge that certain groups have been historically disadvantaged and continue to face barriers in the workforce. In collaboration with the Canadian Employment Equity Act, we have identified the following groups, which have experienced historical and/or current obstacles, as part of our equity priority group:

These include:

• Persons of colour
• Persons with disabilities
• Women
• 2SLGBTQ+ community
• Newcomers to Canada

We base our selection process on merit and encourage all diverse groups to participate fully. We acknowledge the barriers that affect equity groups, and we’re committed to addressing, mitigating and accommodating these barriers to strive for equity in the workplace.

If at any time during the application and selection process you require accommodation, please email Areesha Kansi at [e-mail] .

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Major Gifts & Donor Relations Lead is responsible for developing and strengthening individual donor relationships and implementing strategies to grow and sustain individual giving revenue for YWCA Saskatoon. The role leads donor prospecting, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship across major gifts, annual giving, monthly giving and planned or legacy giving programs.

The Lead also maintains relationships with capital campaign donors , supports outstanding pledge fulfilment and develops relationships with third-party fundraising partners. Working collaboratively with the Fund Development team, the Lead strengthens donor engagement, retention and long-term philanthropic support for YWCA Saskatoon.

POSITION REPORTING:

This position reports to the Director, Development and Engagement

HOURS OF WORK:

This is a permanent full-time position working 37.5 hours per week primarily Monday through Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Rewarding work; contribute to meaningful change for clients and our community
• An inclusive and supportive team
• Fitness membership at Fitness on 25 th and a discounted rate on eligible programs
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and more

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify, research and qualify prospective individual donors and manage an assigned donor portfolio.
• Develop and implement donor-specific cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans aligned with donor interests, giving history and philanthropic potential.
• Conduct donor meetings, build relationships, coordinate follow-up and maintain accurate records of donor interactions and relationship progress.
• Assess donor engagement and giving potential, identify opportunities to deepen relationships and recommend appropriate portfolio movement.
• Identify annual and monthly donors with major-gift potential and opportunities to increase individual giving.
• Develop strategies to strengthen donor participation, increase gift size and build long‑term donor loyalty.
• Maintain accurate donor records, portfolio information and engagement histories to support effective relationship management, fundraising planning and reporting.
• Individual Giving Programs
• Develop, implement and evaluate strategies for major gifts, annual giving, monthly giving and planned or legacy giving.
• Cultivate, solicit and steward mid-level and major donors through personalized engagement, proposals, follow-up and donor‑specific impact updates.
• Lead annual giving initiatives, including donor acquisition, renewal, reactivation and gift upgrade strategies.
• Develop and implement monthly giving strategies to acquire and retain recurring donors, convert existing donors to monthly giving, identify upgrade opportunities and support employee monthly giving initiatives.
• Identify and cultivate planned and legacy giving prospects, coordinate legacy giving conversations and maintain relationships with legacy donors.
• Monitor individual giving revenue, donor retention, upgrades and program performance, identifying opportunities to improve results and strengthen long‑term revenue.
• Coordinate donor‑facing communications, appeals and impact stories with Marketing & Communications to support giving objectives.
• Contribute to the implementation of individual giving plans, revenue targets and donor engagement priorities in collaboration with the Director, Development and Engagement and relevant team members.
• Provide donor stories, fundraising results and impact information for the Annual Report and other organizational impact and accountability communications, in collaboration with Marketing & Communications.
• Donor Stewardship & Recognition
• Develop and implement stewardship strategies that strengthen donor relationships, demonstrate impact and encourage continued support.
• Coordinate donor communications, impact reporting, recognition activities and fulfilment of donor commitments with relevant internal teams.
• Ensure donors receive timely, accurate and meaningful updates that demonstrate the impact of their contributions.
• Identify opportunities to deepen donor engagement, increase loyalty and transition donors into sustained YWCA supporters.
• Support a consistent, positive and relationship‑centred donor experience across individual giving programs.
• Capital Campaign Donor Relations
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with capital campaign donors through ongoing communication, stewardship and impact reporting.
• Coordinate follow‑up on outstanding pledge commitments in collaboration with the Development Coordinator.
• Coordinate fulfilment of donor recognition commitments with relevant internal teams and ensure stewardship obligations are appropriately documented and tracked.
• Identify opportunities to deepen engagement and transition capital campaign donors into ongoing YWCA supporters through annual giving, monthly giving, major gifts and other individual giving programs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with individuals, community groups and organizations conducting third‑party fundraisers in support of YWCA Saskatoon.
• Provide fundraising guidance, resources and support to help third‑party fundraisers plan and deliver successful initiatives.
• Steward community‑led fundraising partners and coordinate appropriate recognition with Marketing & Communications.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships, expand community participation and grow third‑party fundraising revenue.
• Monitor third‑party fundraising activity and performance in collaboration with the Development Coordinator, identifying opportunities for improvement and increased engagement.
• Community Engagement
• Serve as an ambassador and representative of the YWCA Saskatoon within the community.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships and identify opportunities with community organizations, businesses, government representatives, funders, donors, media, and other stakeholders.
• Support the planning and delivery of major fundraising and community engagement events, including Women of Distinction, with a focus on donor engagement, relationship development and fundraising opportunities.
• Evaluate event performance and make recommendations regarding future investment, direction, and sustainability.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Non-Profit Management, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in fund development, individual giving, major gifts, donor relations, or a related fundraising role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies, cultivating and soliciting individual donors, managing donor relationships, and developing personalized engagement and stewardship plans.
• Proven ability to achieve fundraising targets, grow individual giving revenue, and strengthen donor retention.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor proposals, impact communications, and stewardship materials.
• Strong research, analytical, organizational, and project management skills, with the ability to identify fundraising opportunities, manage multiple priorities, work independently and collaboratively, and meet deadlines.
• Experience using fundraising databases and donor management systems to maintain donor records, track engagement, manage portfolios, and monitor fundraising performance.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment when handling confidential donor information, with knowledge of charitable fundraising practices and donor stewardship.
• Experience working in the non‑profit or charitable sector, with an understanding of fundraising practices and the philanthropic landscape in Saskatchewan, is an asset.
• Knowledge of planned giving, legacy fundraising, capital campaigns, and third‑party fundraising initiatives is an asset.
• CFRE designation or working toward certification is an asset.
• Commitment to YWCA Saskatoon's mission, vision, and values, including equity, diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, and advancing the well‑being and empowerment of women and their families.

APLICATION METHOD:

Applications in the form of a resume and cover letter will be accepted until November 12 th , 2026 through the Career Centre website . For any questions regarding this posting, you can reach us via email through [e-mail] .