Manager, Donor Relations & Projects

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 95,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

An established institution seeks a Manager of Donor Relations & Projects to enhance its stewardship programs. This role involves managing the Chancellors’ Circle program, planning events, and collaborating with diverse teams to engage benefactors effectively. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management and donor engagement, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Join a dynamic team dedicated to fostering relationships that support the university’s mission and growth. If you are passionate about making a difference in higher education and have the skills to lead impactful initiatives, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 6-7 years of experience in donor relations or stewardship.
• Strong project management skills with multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors program.
• Plan and execute complex communication and event strategies.
• Analyze donor trends and make strategic recommendations.

Skills

Project Management

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Event Planning

Customer Service

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Arbor

ROSI

SharePoint

iModules

Job description

Date Posted: 01/16/2025
Req ID: 41340
Faculty/Division: VP - Division of University Advancement
Department: University Development
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00044244

Description:

About us:
The Division of University Advancement (DUA) aims to sustain and enhance the University of Toronto’s academic mission, leadership, and worldwide impact, by engaging alumni and private sector constituents meaningfully in the mission of the University, building mutually beneficial relationships of increasing value and satisfaction over time.

DUA at the University of Toronto is engaged in a transformative agenda deeply rooted in the University’s vision for growth and innovation. We are focused on growing fundraising efforts; enhancing the effectiveness and satisfaction of alumni engagement and programs; building advancement talent capacity within and across divisions; creating an organization and culture that fosters diversity and inclusiveness.

Your opportunity:
Stewardship at DUA is responsible for the University's central stewardship program, and provides support and services to divisional advancement teams, with the goal of maintaining a best-practice, industry-leading stewardship program and team. We hire outstanding people from a variety of backgrounds and currently seek a Manager, Donor Relations & Projects to join our diverse group of talent.

Reporting into the Director, Donor Relations, the Manager, Donor Relations & Projects will manage the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors (CCB) program, the University’s donor recognition society for its principal gift benefactors, including the newly established Laureates of the CCB. In this role, you will manage all aspects of the program, including making recommendations and implementing enhancements to the CCB program and other stewardship programs that support institutional stewardship goals and strategies; planning and executing complex communication and event strategies to engage and celebrate CCB and Laureates members; supporting the creation of bespoke gifts; maintaining business processes relating to the program, including procedures for identifying new members, use of relevant information systems, including ARBOR, DIS, Sharepoint, and iModules. The Manager will work closely with divisional colleagues to ensure strategic alignment with donor engagement strategies, including collaborating on the production and customization of welcome materials for new members. Additionally, you will manage the planning and updating of two intricate donor walls, ensuring records are accurate and up-to-date, and serving as the primary point of contact with external vendors.

The Manager will also take on the role of project lead for ongoing donor relations initiatives, driving collaboration and ensuring projects are executed professionally and on schedule. This includes creating detailed timelines, defining clear deliverables, and managing efforts seamlessly across divisional and central partners. We are seeking a skilled collaborator with exceptional diplomatic tact and the ability to influence without authority.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning and implementing project phases
• Developing project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting
• Developing and implementing plans to support donor management and stewardship strategies and/or activities
• Providing detailed information for the development of donor relations and stewardship programs
• Assessing needs and contributing to the development and implementation of plans for prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation and recognition
• Developing and implementing donor engagement plans that support strategic objectives
• Analyzing complex giving and donor trends/patterns and making strategic recommendations to senior University officials

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
• Six to seven years of experience with a proven track record of achievement and success within a donor relations and/or stewardship environment
• Demonstrated project management experience involving multiple stakeholders, successfully delivering medium to large scale projects.
• Experience in evaluating processes and recommending enhancements to align with industry best practices and improve operational efficiency.
• Experience in coordinating and facilitating meetings, including project meetings with stakeholders to facilitate approval processes.
• Demonstrated experience of providing exceptional stewardship and engagement to donors, including for an institution's top benefactors.
• Demonstrated experience with recognition societies, and programs.
• Direct experience working with senior stakeholders, including staff and volunteers.
• Direct experience planning and executing advancement programs, in particular those related to donor engagement.
• Experience with recognition and stewardship programs in a university environment strongly preferred.
• Experience coordinating complex and high-value events in collaboration with other staff, volunteers and external vendors.
• Advanced knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office, including Power Point, Word, Excel (including mail merge). Knowledge of Arbor and ROSI, or related database systems is required.
• Strong data analysis skills including experience gathering, organizing and analyzing data, and communicating/presenting results and recommendations in a succinct fashion to key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated track record of taking initiative, leading large complex projects. Expert planning, organization and follow-up skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple work priorities with competing deadlines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to interact with donors and stakeholders. High level of diplomacy and tact. Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to a high level of customer service, tact and confidentiality.
• Ability to work well in groups within large organizations with diverse constituencies, rapidly changing priorities, and tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse population of staff, volunteers, donors and external contacts with tact and diplomacy to build and maintain successful relationships
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to high level of ethical standards in utilizing donor information and to confidentiality requirements.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and diversity.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Cooperative
• Diplomatic
• Meticulous
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Proactive

Closing Date: 01/29/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 15 -- $95,627. with an annual step progression to a maximum of $122,290. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Fiona Chan

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.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

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.

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].