Manager, Development & Corporate Partnerships

Collage; Toronto; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

GEM is seeking a growth-focused Manager, Development & Corporate Partnerships to drive revenue through major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and foundations. You will build and close partnerships, steward donors, and align fundraising with GEM's strategy.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will manage the fundraising plan, track pipeline metrics, and work with volunteers to expand philanthropy. The role demands relationship-building, negotiation, and strategic planning.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in fundraising or business development with five- to six-figure gifts or sponsorships.
• Proven ability to build a new donor/partner pipeline from prospecting to close.
• Strong negotiation, presentation to executives, and donor stewardship skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with discretion and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Manage major donor and corporate pipelines through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Support the Executive Director in implementing fundraising plans and meeting targets.
• Identify and pursue new corporate partnerships, craft sponsorship proposals, and negotiate terms.
• Manage donor and partner relationships, ensuring reporting and renewal/upgrade cycles.
• Maintain accurate donor records and assist board/fundraising committees as needed.
• Collaborate with diverse communities and volunteers to meet fundraising goals.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor management

Relationship building

Negotiation

Proposal development

Executive communication

Prospect research

Pipeline management

Strategic planning

Project management

Tools

eTapestry

Job description

Manager, Development & Corporate Partnerships

GEM delivers a research-based mentorship program for high school girls facing socioeconomic barriers, helping them build professional skills and achieve their career potential. We believe every young woman deserves equal opportunity to develop her skills, pursue higher education, and build a successful career path. In short, we connect girls to women to limitless opportunity.

In collaboration with community partners and an incredible body of committed volunteers, GEM delivers mentorship, skill-building and professional development activities, GEMinars, scholarships, internships, and research on mentorship solutions for girls and women.

GEM is growing, and we are looking for a relationship-driven fundraiser to help fuel that growth. This role is GEM's primary driver of new revenue, someone who builds relationships from the ground up, pitches with confidence, and closes partnerships, not just someone who maintains what is already in place. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role owns the success of GEM's fundraising program across major gifts, corporate partnerships, and foundations, and is responsible for growing revenue in support of the organization's operations and growing demand for what GEM does.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Gifts & Individual Giving

• Manage a portfolio of major donor prospects through the full cycle, identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, developing personalized strategies for high-capacity donors and making direct solicitation asks.
• Support the Executive Director in implementing the annual fundraising plan aligned with GEM's strategic priorities and meet or exceed quarterly and annual targets set by the Board and Committee.

Corporate Partnerships & Business Development

• Proactively identify and pursue new corporate partnership opportunities, building and managing a pipeline of corporate prospects.
• Develop and pitch compelling, tailored sponsorship packages and partnership proposals to corporate prospects, and negotiate partnership terms and sponsorship agreements. Cultivate and grow relationships with corporate decision-makers through calls and meetings.
• Track pipeline value, conversion, and progress toward new-business targets, and monitor and meet all proposal submission deadlines.

Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Manage a pool of current donors and sponsors to ensure strong relationships, implementing strategies to increase and upgrade donations and funders at appropriate intervals.
• Manage stewardship processes and deliverables for current donors and corporate partners to ensure reporting requirements are met and exceeded, sustaining and deepening partnerships over time.
• Provide support to the Board and Fundraising Committee to aid prospect cultivation and achieve fundraising targets.
• Maintain accurate, current donor and partner records in GEM's donor database.
• Respond to stakeholder inquiries promptly and professionally, and ensure all activities comply with Canada Revenue Agency policies and GEM's Privacy Policies.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director from time to time.

SKILLS, COMPETENCIES AND TALENTS REQUIRED

• Minimum of 5 years of fundraising or business development experience, with demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts, grants, or corporate sponsorships.
• Proven track record in building a pipeline of new relationships from prospecting through to close.
• Strong negotiation skills and comfort pitching and presenting to executives and decision-makers.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills.
• Hands-on experience with prospect research methods and practices.
• Knowledge of not-for-profit fundraising practices and principles, and strong command of donor management software (knowledge of eTapestry is an asset)
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build genuine, meaningful relationships while maintaining discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and excellent planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and accuracy, strong work ethic, and commitment to excellence.
• Comfortable managing multiple pressing priorities and thriving in a small, fast-moving team
• Alignment with our team values of Learning, Collaboration, Adaptability and Celebration
• Willingness to pitch in as needed to support other program needs as needed
• Able to collaborate with diverse communities

COMPENSATION: $75,000+ depending on experience