Senior Philanthropy Officer

Mission, Vision and Core Values 
Our Mission is to enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people. 
Our Vision is that all young people realize their full potential. 
Our Core Values are: 
  • We Champion Potential 
  • Every Connection Counts 
  • Showing Up Matters 
Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland (www.bigsisters.bc.ca) is a non-profit society and proud member agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Federation. We are committed to enhancing the confidence, self-esteem and well-being of: self-identified girls, non-binary, trans and Two Spirit youth. Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland is a leader in mentoring youth and providing ongoing support through a variety of engaging programs. Our organization is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and ongoing learning towards creating a more equitable society. We encourage applications from those who identify as Indigenous, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, a person with a disability or a member of another community that experiences additional barriers. Join us and make a positive difference in the lives of others in the community. 

Why it’s great to work with us: 
Big Sisters is a friendly, inclusive and committed team who offers their employees fifteen vacation days within the first year, fifteen wellbeing days as well as three personal days. We provide a generous health care and extended benefits package, including prescription drugs and dental plan. We also offer our employees a professional development allocation and various learning opportunities. Ignite your full potential with Big Sisters! 

Is this you? 
Are you a relationship-driven fundraising professional who thrives on building meaningful connections and securing sustainable funding? Do you enjoy meeting donors, developing corporate partnerships, and leading fundraising initiatives that create lasting community impact? If you have a passion for philanthropy and a track record of success in donor engagement, we’d love to hear from you! 

About the Role
Reporting to the Senior Director of Philanthropy & Campaigns, the Senior Philanthropy Officer holds accountability for developing, implementing, and evaluating of the major gifts, annual giving, and planned giving programs. The position leads the donor engagement strategy, which includes cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts. Regular in-person contact with donors is a mandate of the Officer, including personal visits, coordinating, cultivation events, and formal solicitations. Collaboration and communication with other fundraising and marketing staff is necessary to ensure a coordinated approach to program development and management. 

Main Functional Areas 
  • Fundraising & Donor Engagement 
  • Corporate & Community Partnerships 
  • Stewardship & Donor Relations 
  • Campaign & Event Leadership 
  • Strategic Planning & Impact Measurement 
What you will be doing: 
Building Meaningful Donor Relationships & Revenue Growth 
  • Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners. 
  • Focus on in-person engagement with donors, including personal visits, events, and formal solicitations. 
  • Identify and secure major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and employee giving opportunities to diversify revenue streams. 
  • Actively prospect and seek out new supporters and partnerships while strengthening existing relationships. 
Strategic Fundraising & Corporate Engagement 
  • Lead business planning and launch new fundraising initiatives, including committee development and sponsor/partner solicitation. 
  • Develop strategic fundraising messaging in collaboration with the Fundraising and Marketing & Communications teams. 
  • Evaluate fundraising performance and return on investment to improve strategies and maximize impact. 
  • Manage and grow national and local corporate partnerships, securing sponsorships and corporate gifts. 
  • Create and oversee donor journeys, ensuring a seamless experience from first engagement to long-term stewardship. 
Donor Stewardship & Recognition 
  • Coordinate and lead donor cultivation and stewardship initiatives, such as recognition events and impact reports. 
  • Ensure timely and appropriate acknowledgment, recognition, and reporting for all donors, sponsors, and partners. 
  • Maintain and enhance best practices in fundraising to create efficiencies and improve donor engagement. 
Leadership & Team Collaboration 
  • Support, mentor, and coach seasonal staff, interns, and committee volunteers to build fundraising capacity. 
  • Contribute to a culture of philanthropy within the organization, fostering collaboration, creativity, and excellence. 
  • Maintain a strong community presence through networking and membership in local and regional professional groups. 
Administration & Compliance 
  • Maintain accurate donor records in the database, tracking communications, meetings, and contributions. 
  • Assist in preparing budgets, reports, and fundraising performance updates for leadership. 
  • Ensure compliance with CRA regulations and organizational policies. 
What you bring: 
  • 2+ years in fundraising, donor relations, corporate partnerships, or sales. 
  • Strong public speaking, writing, and relationship-building skills. 
  • Ability to engage donors, exercise diplomacy, and drive fundraising success. 
  • Experience with donor databases (Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred) and data management. 
  • Proven ability to plan, execute, and evaluate fundraising initiatives. 
  • Background in fundraising, sales, marketing, or a related field is an asset. 
  • Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle for local travel. 
  • Passion for supporting youth and commitment to Big Sisters’ mission. 
  • Experience in not-for-profit workplaces would be ideal 
What we offer: 
  • An opportunity to do meaningful work and make a positive impact in the community 
  • A supportive, positive and engaging work environment 
  • A commitment to work/life balance for employees, including a hybrid work environment, reduced full-time work week (35 hours), and flex time 
  • An annual salary of $65,000 – $70,000 commensurate with experience 
  • Group benefits after three months 
  • Generous paid time off, including up to 15 vacation days, 15 wellness days, and 3 personal days in your first year 
  • Commitment to training and development to support employee growth through our Pro-D benefit 
This Position: 
This is a permanent, full-time (35 hours/week) position reporting to our Vancouver office with a minimum of two days in office. Daytime travel and some evening and weekend work will be required which will be supported through flex / lieu time. 

Candidate must be fully vaccinated against COVID 19. Accommodations will be considered upon request.

If this position sounds like you, please let us know why by submitting your resume and cover letter to jobs@bigsisters.bc.ca

Please use the Subject Line: Senior Philanthropy Officer

Applications will be reviewed as they are received so we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. 

If your background and qualifications match the position requirements, we will contact you.