Summary

Making Changes Association (MCA) is looking for a Lead, Philanthropy who has a passion for female empowerment, and can advance MCA’s mission by developing strategies that foster a culture of philanthropy and enhance revenue generation. They have proven experience and success with non-profit fundraising, donor stewardship development, and communication strategies.

Description

FTE: 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours per week)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4:30pm (includes a 30-minute paid lunch).  Work outside of these hours will be required for meetings and events.  Hours to be flexed as required..  
Location: Calgary, AB.  Work from home, ability to work onsite when desired, expectation to attend in-person
meetings and events as needed (locations will vary)
Start Date: ASAP

About Making Changes Association
Making Changes Association (MCA) is a community of women helping women through life’s stages and transitions by providing them with skills and resources to support their pursuit of meaningful work and educational opportunities.  Our vision is to empower women so they can make meaningful contributions to the community. MCA opens doors to employment and education for women and teenage girls and helps them develop the confidence to step through these doors in the direction they desire.  

Position Summary
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Lead, Philanthropy is a senior member of a committed, hardworking team. The Lead, Philanthropy has a passion for female empowerment, advances MCA’s mission by developing strategies that foster a culture of philanthropy and enhance revenue generation.  They have proven experience and success with non-profit fundraising, donor stewardship development, and communication strategies.  They have knowledge/experience in other areas such as strategic development, grant writing, marketing, and business development.  With an entrepreneurial mindset and drive, the individual is a motivated and authentic relationship builder with the ability to engage prospective and current stakeholders in supporting the vital work of Making Changes Association.

The Lead, Philanthropy’s key responsibilities include:

  • Manage and oversee the development and execution of fund development strategy and related activities including donor engagement, granting, donor database, and annual fundraising events/campaigns.
  • Manage and oversee strategic communications and marketing.
  • Lead a team of two team members – Grant & Donor Relationships Specialist and Marketing & Communications Coordinator.
  • Support of a philanthropic culture and approach to stakeholder engagement.

Key Attributes Required for Role:

  • Experience and authentic passion for non-profit philanthropy and building relationships.
  • Highly motivated and proactive self-starter with a high degree of attention to detail.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset and drive.
  • A strategic thinker who values collaboration, systems thinking, data informed decisions, and has strong project management skills.
  • A result-oriented individual with a strong decision making and problem-solving abilities.
  • A proven collaborator with exceptional communication skills, and an ability to convey complex stories in compelling ways.  
  • An enthusiastic team-player aligned with MCA’s values of belonging, self-worth, possibility, compassion and respect.

Role Details
Working closely with the Executive Director, Finance Manager, Board of Directors and other members of the team, the Lead, Philanthropy develops and leads the fund development and communication strategy to meet or exceed targets pertaining to donor stewardship and cultivation efforts, grant applications, marketing engagement and revenue goals.

Strategic Leadership Revenue Development & Diversification Planning & Execution

  • Lead the organization's integrated fundraising, revenue development, marketing, and communications strategy to achieve annual revenue goals and support strategic priorities.
  • Oversee the planning and execution of diverse revenue-generating initiatives, including annual and planned giving, grants, sponsorships, events, direct appeals, and third-party partnerships.
  • Contribute to organizational strategic planning and reporting, and participate in select Board and committee meetings to support governance and long-term organizational success.

Donor Engagement Strategy

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship and engagement strategy with measurable goals to strengthen donor relationships and retention.
  • Identify and cultivate new donor opportunities while re-engaging lapsed donors to grow and diversify philanthropic support.
  • Partner with the Executive Director and Grant & Donor Relations Specialist to strengthen relationships with donors, foundations, and community organizations, while supporting grant development and donor recognition.

Strategic Communication – Marketing, Public Relationships and Engagement

  • Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies that strengthen brand awareness, donor engagement, and fundraising outcomes.
  • Ensure consistent, compelling messaging across all communications, including cases for support, donor stewardship, and public engagement initiatives.
  • Build and maintain relationships with corporate partners, media, vendors, and community stakeholders to advance awareness, funding, and partnership opportunities.

Donor Database Management

  • Lead the ongoing development and optimization of the donor database (DonorPerfect), ensuring accurate data management, reporting, and efficient donor stewardship.
  • Establish and maintain best practices for donor data integrity, database processes, and compliance with CRA requirements.
  • Coach and support staff in the effective use of the donor database to strengthen fundraising operations and reporting.

Fundraising & Event Management

  • Lead the planning and execution of donor and fundraising events that strengthen donor engagement and achieve fundraising objectives.
  • Oversee fundraising initiatives, including licensed gaming activities (e.g., bingos, casinos, and raffles), ensuring effective planning, compliance, and successful execution.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and advisory committees to deliver high-quality fundraising events and initiatives.

Staff Management & Stakeholder Coaching

  • Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and mentorship to the Grant & Donor Relations Specialist, and Marketing & Communications Coordinator to support performance, growth, and professional development.
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, continuous improvement, and accountability across the organization.
  • Coach and support staff, Board and committee members, and volunteers to strengthen engagement and build a culture of philanthropy.

As part of a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment, this role may be called upon to provide additional support or take on other responsibilities as organizational needs arise. Team members are expected to contribute to the overall success of the organization by supporting colleagues and advancing shared priorities. 

Position Qualifications/Experience:

  • Degree or Diploma in Business, Marketing or Fund Development. Equivalencies considered.
  • 3 – 5 years’ experience in non-profit fund development roles that have included developing and leading donor stewardship plans, fundraising activities, marketing and granting activities – all with proven results.
  • A solid understanding of the fundraising development cycle and donor stewardship – planning/implementing fundraising plans, strategies, and tactics.
  • Experience in managing and empowering team members.
  • Strong interpersonal skills; an ability to develop rapport with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Project management, organization and prioritizing skills, and high attention to detail.
  • Ability to work autonomously while being a collaborative and active team player.
  • Experience with DonorPerfect or comparable fundraising databases/CRMs . 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications.
  • Adherence to a high ethical standard and Donor Bill of Rights.
  • Consistent access to a vehicle with the ability to attend in-person meetings wherever they’re located – sometimes with limited notice. 
  • Past or current Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) or involvement with Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is an asset.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a clear police information check and vulnerable sector search. 

Application Details
Please send your resume and cover letter to Lori James, Executive Director execdirector@makingchangesassociation.ca.  Please note: Given the importance of external communication to this role, only applications with a customized cover letter will be considered.  

While we appreciate all interested applicants, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Making Changes Association is dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion.  We appreciate a diverse workforce and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the grounds of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, source of income, or sexual orientation. If you require any accommodations in support of the recruitment process, please let us know!