Senior Specialist, Communications & Stewardship (Full-time, Permanent)

About this position

Senior Specialist, Communications & Stewardship (Full-time, Permanent)

Location: Toronto, Ontario (consideration will also be given to qualified candidates outside of Toronto)

Reports to: Director of Philanthropy

Hiring Range: $72,000 - $74,000 including a benefits plan, pension plan, 3 weeks paid vacation increasing to 4 weeks of paid vacation in your second year of employment and professional development opportunities 

Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) is a national non-profit organization that builds health, belonging and social justice in low-income communities across Canada through the power of food. We believe food can bring people together to build skills and improve physical and mental health, and create the opportunity for greater equity and social change. We provide ideas, resources and a proven approach to partner organizations so they can establish responsive, financially stable Community Food Centres that support people to grow, cook, share, and advocate for good food for all. CFCC also works with the broader food movement to build greater capacity and to empower communities to work toward a healthy and fair food system. Our vision is a Canada that treats food as a basic human right.

CFCC has embarked on a $50M national campaign to develop community food centres in 20 communities across Canada, innovate new approaches to addressing food insecurity and advocate for positive change for low-income communities.

CFCC is seeking a Senior Specialist, Communications & Stewardship who will serve as the primary writer for the Major Gifts team and will manage the development & execution of a robust donor stewardship program to drive donor engagement and retention.

CFCC is strongly committed to equity and inclusion within its community. We especially welcome applications from members of racialized groups, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. We are committed to achieving full accessibility for persons with disabilities by arranging for any necessary accommodations.

Responsibilities:

Development Communications - 70%

• Research and write highly customized major gift proposals for individuals, foundations and corporate supporters

• Prepare donor-centred communications for specific donors as well as groups of donors, including cases for support, thank you letters, proposal templates, impact reports, donor recognition stories and recognition event collateral

• Develop innovative and meaningful communications to surprise and delight donors and demonstrate the impact of their support 

• Coordinate the creation and delivery of reports and proposals, including sourcing of photography and working in InDesign for layout

• Foster productive working relationships across the organization to identify opportunities to share information with donors in a timely manner

• Collaborate with Communications on content creation to ensure the donor perspective is represented in key vehicles, including website, annual report, e-newsletters, donor journey, direct marketing, donor recognition ads

• Prepare donor correspondence and speaking notes for CEO, CDCO and Director of Philanthropy

Donor Engagement & Stewardship - 30%

• Collaborate with the Development team to create a framework for donor experience, including journey development, acknowledgment, recognition and stewardship 

• Build and execute a donor engagement calendar & donor journeys 

• Lead the creation and execution of donor-focused events and virtual engagement opportunities

• Develop strategies to engage donors using digital platforms and establish engagement benchmarks

• Manage CFCC’s naming opportunities inventory and recognition signage process

• Develop a process to manage workflow in order to deliver high quality products and activities

• Coordinate the administration of major gift pledge agreements and acknowledgements

• Stay up to date on innovations in donor communications, engagement & stewardship

Values Alignment

• Align with CFCC values and contribute to the evolution of our culture, and a work environment that is grounded in collaboration, equity, respect, innovation and transparent communication

Qualifications:

• Diploma or degree in communications, marketing, journalism or other related field, or combination of education and experience. Fundraising education preferred. 

• At least 7 years in a fundraising environment with a proven track record of success in major gift communications & stewardship

• Highly proficient writer for a range of audiences, vehicles, and channels

• Experience with the development of proposals, discussion papers, cases for support and other communications integral to a fundraising environment. 

• Ability to work independently, rise to new challenges, find creative solutions, and prioritize competing demands 

• Strong project management skills 

• Ability to conduct interviews with constituents and translate a range of inputs 

• Design capability and familiarity with design software 

• Knowledge of the Canadian charitable sector, including fundraising best practices and emerging trends, and a demonstrated commitment to professional growth

Why work for us?

We offer:

➔ Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, short and long-term disability insurance, membership in a defined benefit pension plan, 15 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 20 paid vacation days in your second year of employment and professional development opportunities

➔ a culture of mutual support where staff are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive Canada

➔ an opportunity to be part of a movement building health, belonging and social justice in low-income communities across Canada through the power of food

How to apply:

To apply, please click Apply and click Apply Now through our job portal. Please skip the Professional Details and Skills section and attach your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please share what you think makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Posting closes March 23, 2021. Only those applicants being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations, please email work@cfccanada.ca. Thank you for your interest in CFCC.