Manager, Stewardship & Impact

Toronto Film School; Kitchener; Hybrid; CAD 105,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Barrier-free recruitment

Job summary

WRHN Foundation is seeking a Manager of Stewardship & Impact to lead donor impact reporting and stewardship initiatives in a hybrid role based in Kitchener-Waterloo. The position emphasizes data-informed strategies, narrative storytelling, and collaboration with Finance, Development, and Hospital partners.

The role focuses on ensuring donor commitments are met, translating metrics into compelling storytelling, and overseeing end-to-end stewardship materials and communications across channels.

Qualifications

• Exceptional storytelling and writing skills for donor-centered narratives.
• Strong project management with cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear donor impact reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of donor impact reports and materials.
• Ensure accuracy of fund usage and financial reporting across teams.
• Oversee donor communications across multiple channels and formats.
• Manage donor journey maps and stewardship milestones.

Skills

Storytelling

Writing

Project management

Relationship building

Data interpretation

Education

Experience in healthcare or multi-stakeholder non-profits

Tools

Raiser’s Edge NXT

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Manager, Stewardship & Impact

Reports to: Director, Stewardship & Recognition

Location: Kitchener-Waterloo | Hybrid

Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent

TEAM OVERVIEW

The Stewardship & Recognition Team supports fundraising efforts through the meaningful delivery and enhancement of trusted relationships between the Foundation, Hospital, and Donors. The team is responsible for engaging donors in a meaningful and transparent way through their entire journey with WRHN, thereby cultivating ongoing philanthropy, shared loyalty and advocacy for improved local healthcare.

The Manager, Stewardship & Impact strategically leads and executes comprehensive donor impact reporting and stewardship initiatives that drive donor retention, lifetime value, and loyalty. This role focuses on designing and scaling data-informed initiatives that demonstrate donor impact, strengthen emotional connection, and support a positive donor experience. They will independently manage transparent and meaningful impact reports while leveraging best-in-class approaches that align with donor preferences and industry trends.

The Manager is the strategic and editorial lead responsible for overarching program design, information sourcing, and execution of all donor impact reports and materials. They will work autonomously with Relationship Managers to align on donor deliverables, partner directly with WRHN Foundation finance team members for financial reporting updates and fund usage reconciliation, manage Raiser’s Edge NXT coding for all active and future actions, and oversee tracking workflows to guarantee donor commitments are met with minimal day-to-day oversight.

Impact translation may come to life through various stewardship outputs such as formal printed reports, one-pager reports, engaging video updates, regular donor newsletters, social media impact posts, and moments of gratitude through anniversary mailings, using tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and video recording platforms.

The Stewardship Manager may perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall business goals of the team and WRHN Foundation. Through active project tracking and program evaluation. The Manager maintains direct accountability for deliverables and donor commitments, flagging concerns early and implementing strategic solutions independently.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Stewardship Execution

• Strategy & Design: Lead the development, execution, and continuous optimization of multi-channel impact reporting strategies across all donor segments, with a heavy focus on Major Gift and Transformational donors.
• Lead project kick-off with internal project partners, brief writer(s) (internal and/or external), coordinate with printing house, and ensure quality execution of donor impact reports and related materials.
• Lead the end-to-end development and execution of donor impact reports, overseeing planning, content gathering, data analysis, and distribution in partnership with Relationship Managers.
• Translate complex program metrics, financials, and real-world beneficiary stories into clear, compelling, and polished, donor-centred narratives.
• Work alongside finance, the hospital, and development team to verify fund usage and financial accuracy for reporting.
• Review and align on reporting obligations and clauses in draft Gift Agreements and/or Commitment Letters.
• Ensure stewardship and reporting commitments align with donor intent, organizational policies, and gift agreements.
• Architect and maintain donor journey maps to ensure consistent, high-value stewardship touchpoints.
• Manage and reconcile budget planning and negotiation for stewardship materials (i.e.: printed reports, cards).

Content & Communications

• Work closely with marketing and communications colleagues to ensure stewardship materials are aligned with organizational messaging, Hospital and Foundation guidelines, and brand voice.
• Co-lead the creation of a content library that enables timely access to approved donor stories, patient stories, images, and video content that can be leveraged in stewardship materials.
• Produce compelling donor-centric content, serving as the lead storyteller for donor impact deliverables.

Engagement

• Drive and oversee implementation of year-round touchpoints aligned with the Philanthropic Donor Matrix.
• Identify and champion new opportunities with the Hospital and Foundation for continued donor engagement and stewardship across all donor segments.

Reporting & Analysis

• Ensure data hygiene and maintain accurate records for upcoming deliverables, sent reports, donor preferences, and stewardship milestones using RE NXT.
• Establish, track, and evaluate stewardship performance metrics, leveraging insights on donor renewal, upgrade rates, and engagement to drive continuous strategy enhancement.

Administration & Leadership

• Proactively troubleshoot and engineer workflow and system improvements that streamline efforts across project partners.
• Ensure donor-centred decision making on all projects, aligning with protocols and policies.
• Serve as an internal subject matter expert on stewardship best practices, continuously improving knowledge through participation in webinars, conferences, industry associations (e.g. ADRP), and peer networking.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required

• 5+ years experience with proven success in strategically managing impact reporting and stewardship programs (experience in healthcare or complex multi-stakeholder non-profits is strongly preferred).
• Advanced understanding of stewardship principles, strategic donor relations, and best practices.

Assets

• Experience using Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM and stewardship software.
• Working knowledge of Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or other design programs is an asset.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, and the ability to understand complex medical, technical, or financial data translations for meaningful narratives independently.
• Exceptional project management, organizational, analytical, and documentation skills with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to leverage technology and AI productivity tools to enhance processes and donor outputs.
• Effective relationship builder, influencer, and proactive problem solver, who will bridge the interests of numerous stakeholders across the Foundation, hospital, and donor communities.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, with sound judgment.
• Diplomatic, with an ability to work autonomously with senior leaders, hospital partners and vendors effectively and collaboratively.

PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS

• Foundation-wide staff: Development, Communications, Finance, Data, and Leadership;
• Hospital-wide partners including, but not limited to, Public Affairs, Program Managers, and Clinical Leads, Physicians, and Executive Leadership;
• Donor communities
• Vendors (e.g., printers, mail houses, designers, writers)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively across Foundation and hospital teams, with senior leaders, donors, and external vendors.
• Flexibility to support stewardship activities, donor deliverables, meetings, and events as required.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with donor information, financial information, gift agreements, and other sensitive or confidential material.
• Close access to Kitchener-Waterloo

WHAT WE OFFER

Salary Range

The target hiring range for this role is $73,950 to $86,700, with ability to progress commensurate with experience and success.

Work Culture

Hybrid and flexible work environment with regular in-person collaboration and a minimum of two days per week in the office.

Purpose

A mission-driven opportunity to strengthen donor relationships by demonstrating the impact of philanthropy on local healthcare.

Growth

An opportunity to serve as an internal subject matter expert in stewardship and continue developing expertise through industry learning, professional associations, conferences, webinars, and peer networking.

WRHN Foundation Values

• Trust
• Transparency
• Collaboration
• Innovation
• Excellence

The Process

We’re looking for an experienced and inspiring leader who understands that successful fundraising events are about more than a single day. They create meaningful relationships, introduce new people to our mission and inspire lasting philanthropic support for local healthcare.

We are committed to barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and encourage applicants to inform us of any accommodation they may require.