Officer, Foundation and Institutional Giving

tso.ca; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contributions

Employee Family Assistance program

3 weeks vacation prorated

Job summary

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is seeking an Officer, Foundation and Institutional Giving in Toronto, ON. This permanent, full-time role supports fundraising for foundations, trusts, and donor-advised funds, managing the full lifecycle of grants from prospecting to reporting, while coordinating with Foundation fund holders and the upcoming US Foundation.

You will cultivate new funders, renew existing relationships, prepare proposals and budgets, and maintain meticulous records in

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of grant writing, proposals, reporting and donor stewardship experience.
• Experience securing funding from institutional funders, especially private foundations.
• Strong writing/editing and professional verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Identify, solicit, and secure funding from new foundations, trusts, and donor-advised funds.
• Renew and grow support from existing institutional funders.
• Manage the full lifecycle of each grant from prospecting to reporting and stewardship.
• Prepare leadership for funder meetings with briefing documents and recommendations.
• Produce grant budgets and financial reports with Finance collaboration.
• Maintain Tessitura records and portfolio reporting for philanthropy meetings.

Skills

Grant writing

Proposal development

Donor stewardship

Attentive to detail

Tessitura knowledge

PowerPoint

Canva

Adobe

Written/verbal communication

Education

Post-secondary education or equivalent

Tools

Tessitura

PowerPoint

Canva

Adobe

Job description

Officer, Foundation and Institutional Giving

Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) – Toronto, ON | Permanent, Full-time

Reports to: Director, Philanthropy

Status: Permanent Full-time

Are you a storyteller who can turn artistic ambition into a compelling case for support - and the meticulous operator who never misses a deadline, a detail, or a reporting requirement?

Join us to help build and reimagine one of the TSO's most promising areas of growth: philanthropic support from foundations, trusts, and donor-advised funds.

The Role

The Officer, Foundation and Institutional Giving helps execute the TSO's fundraising strategy for foundation and trust giving, including donor-advised funds, an area of revenue generation that is ripe for growth, expansion, and reimagination. Reporting to the Director, Philanthropy, you will solicit new foundations and trusts, renew and grow existing foundation relationships, and manage the full lifecycle of every grant: from prospecting and letters of intent through proposals, reporting, and stewardship.

You will also steward Toronto Symphony Foundation fund holders and provide support to the TSO's forthcoming US Foundation. This is a role for someone equally at home crafting a persuasive proposal and running a disciplined grants calendar - and who wants the opportunity to shape a growing portfolio rather than simply maintain one.

About the TSO

For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has been a cornerstone of Canadian culture, steadfast in its commitment to musical excellence and to the vibrant communities we serve. Through acclaimed concerts, recordings, and tours, the TSO enriches audiences while reflecting the diversity of Toronto—one of the world’s most multicultural cities. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings artistic vision and a sense of adventure to the 93-musician orchestra. Engaging audiences of all ages, the TSO leads a myriad of education, health-and-well-being, and community-access programs, including the tuition-free Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists.

What you’ll do

• Identify, solicit, and secure funding from new foundations, trusts, and donor-advised funds, and renew and grow support from existing institutional funders.
• Manage the full lifecycle of each grant - prospecting, letters of intent, proposals, supplemental materials, reporting, and stewardship - producing strong deliverables that align funder interests with TSO priorities.
• Own a Foundations and Trusts giving calendar, tracking internal and external deadlines and keeping the team ahead of every submission and report.
• Prepare leadership for funder meetings through briefing documents and strategic recommendations.
• Produce grant budgets and financial reports in partnership with Finance, ensuring line items are accurately tracked against funded deliverables.
• Steward Toronto Symphony Foundation fund holders, preparing annual Fund Reports on the investment health of their funds and the impact of their contributions.
• Provide administrative and reporting support to the forthcoming US Foundation
• Partner with Development Operations to maintain an accurate database of prospective funders, and provide analysis, timelines, and probability assessments for new opportunities.
• Coordinate with Artistic, Education, and Finance colleagues to build compelling, accurate proposals and reports, and ensure teams understand grant deliverables and funding levels.
• Maintain meticulous records in Tessitura with accurate donor recognition, and contribute up-to-date portfolio reporting to Philanthropy team meetings.
• Stay informed on sector trends and shifts in institutional and philanthropic giving, bringing new ideas to a portfolio with real room to grow.

What you’ll bring

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience focused on grant writing, proposal development, reporting, and donor stewardship, with demonstrated success securing funding from institutional funders,especially private foundations.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills across letters, proposals, and reports, paired with confident, professional verbal communication.
• A self-starter who builds the systems and processes needed to stay ahead of deadlines, with outstanding attention to detail and a talent for proofing, auditing, and reviewing documents and data.
• Knowledge of fundraising databases (Tessitura or similar).
• Proficiency in presentation and design tools (PowerPoint, Canva, Adobe).
• Good judgment, discretion, and tact, with a donor-centric approach and strong intuition for the needs of colleagues and funders.
• Highly organized and results-oriented, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Post-secondary education and/or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Knowledge of performing arts is an asset.

Why the TSO

This is a rare chance to shape - not just support - a growing area of the TSO's fundraising. Foundation, trust, and donor-advised fund giving is a priority for expansion, which means your writing, your relationships, and your ideas will directly influence how much the TSO can achieve on stage, in classrooms, and across the communities it serves. You'll be the person who translates artistic ambition into the case for support that wins institutional investment, working alongside a collaborative Development team and one of Canada's most beloved cultural institutions.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $65,000–$75,000 CAD (commensurate with experience).

Benefits: 100% company paid benefits including an Employee Family Assistance program (provided after successful completion of the first three (3) months of employment); Company paid pension contributions provided after the completion of one year of employment; 3 weeks vacation prorated during the first year, complimentary tickets to TSO concerts and a hybrid work environment.

TSO thanks all candidates for their interest, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Our Commitment

The TSO is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the City of Toronto and encourages applications from all qualified individuals. We are also committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment process; if you require accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

This role involves extended periods of computer and desk work with regular breaks, frequent phone and in-person interactions, occasional lifting of materials for events, and concert/event attendance that may involve standing for extended periods. The position operates in a hybrid office environment and may require occasional travel for donor visits or professional development.