Philanthropy Officer

Vancouver, BC

Our Story:

The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program was established in 1982 in honour of Terry Fox, one of Canada’s most beloved heroes. In his lifetime, Terry captured the hearts of Canadians across the expansive country. To this day, he is widely recognized all over the world for his extraordinary sense of purpose, and the ideals of courage, determination, and altruism. The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program was created to commemorate Terry’s remarkable life and his contributions to cancer research and awareness. Through Sports Canada and Canadian Heritage, the Government of Canada generously laid the foundation for our scholarships through two endowments of $5 million in 1982, and another $10 million in 2006. The endowments are an investment in Canadians, inspiring young humanitarians to seek the high ideals that Terry Fox exemplified.

 After 42 years, the vision of the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program is being re-imagined, making it an exciting time to join the organization. Solving global problems, enabling humanitarian youth by providing a transformative experience, and honouring and advancing the humanitarian legacy of Terry Fox – one of Canada’s most recognized heroes – by encouraging Canadians to emulate his courage and determination to improve the lives of others, is at the heart of what we do.

Job Description

Overview:

The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program is searching for a Philanthropy Officer with experience in fundraising and/ or alumni engagement. This is a new role and new fundraising program, so you have an exciting opportunity to shape the program, while being supported by a culture that encourages learning and growth. Additionally, a seasoned consultant has created a fundraising plan for the upcoming year and can provide you with coaching on aspects of fundraising you wish to improve.

You will thrive in this role if you are self-motivated and possess a diverse skill set, encompassing some of all of: donor and alumni relations, writing, project management, leadership skills, and database management. 

Salary and Benefits:

    • Salary range: $60,000-70,000.
    • Vacation: Three weeks with office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
    • Work format: Hybrid. The office location is at Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain

Key Responsibilities:

Annual Giving and Alumni Relations:

      • With the award being established in 1980, we have over 1,000 alumni to engage. Currently we have a monthly e-newsletter, and a small number of alumni who donate regularly. You will have the opportunity to grow our alumni relations and formalize an annual giving program, including solicitations and stewardship.
      • We have a marketing coordinator who runs our social media & monthly alumni e-news. Working closely with them, you will lead our communications strategy to improve relationships with alumni through email and mail. Additionally, you will create new opportunities to engage with alumni through calls, meetings, and virtual & in-person events.
      • Cultivate relationships with alumni ambassadors and develop & execute peer-to-peer fundraising programs.

Leadership & Planned Giving:

      • Cultivate relationships with donors to build a strong and supportive community.
      • Develop a new major gifts portfolio from donors & alumni, including managing donor relationships, and developing tailored engagement plans for major gift prospects.
      • Implement planned giving strategies including email, mail, and donor meetings, as outlined in an existing strategy created by a planned giving expert.

Events:

      • Plan and execute events – both virtual and in-person – with goals aligned to the fundraising strategy. This includes building relationships with donors and alumni, as well as raising funds when justified by the potential returns of the event.
      • Working with admin & marketing staff, coordinate logistics, budgets, and promotional activities for events.
      • Ensure events are successful in achieving goals and providing a positive donor experience.

Database Management:

      • Maintain an up-to-date donor database, ensuring accurate records of links, interests, giving history, and other relevant information.
      • Utilize database insights for targeted engagement strategies and to enhance donor retention and acquisition.

Administrative:

      • Handle administrative tasks related to fundraising and donor engagement 
      • As part of a collaborative team, you will occasionally take on other responsibilities, provided they don’t interfere with your ability to complete the above fundraising priorities.

Qualifications:

      • Proven experience in donor relations, fundraising, alumni relations, or related roles.
      • Event management and/or project management skills.
      • Familiarity with database management and Microsoft Suite.
      • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
      • Preference for bi-lingual French-English candidates.
      • Ability to collaborate with team members and take on managerial responsibilities.

At the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program, diversity is at the heart of who we are. We actively cultivate an inclusive and equitable workplace, valuing the unique perspectives of individuals irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability, or socio-economic background. Our commitment extends beyond recruitment, fostering ongoing education and awareness to ensure a thriving environment for all. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, as we believe in building an organization that not only embraces diversity but actively supports and empowers everyone. The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program is an equal opportunity employer, and if you need accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact us. 

Application Deadline & How to Apply:

We are accepting rolling applications until the position is filled. We thank all candidates in advance, however, due to an expected high volume of interest, we will only be able to contact applicants being interviewed. 

If you wish to apply, please submit your cover letter and résumé as one PDF and include “Philanthropy Officer” in the subject line to the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program at admin@terryfoxawards.ca

We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible as interviews will be scheduled as applications are received. 

*Please do not contact us if you are a recruitment agency.