Director, Advancement + Alumni Relations

at  Emily Carr University of Art Design

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum five years’ relevant experience, in progressively more responsible roles, in the fundraising (development, planned giving, and major gifts) field at a management level.
• Expertise in fundraising, prospect research, donor cultivation, and planned giving is an asset.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CFRE designation is preferred.
• Experience with face-to-face major gift fundraising solicitations.
• Experience developing and implementing a successful major gifts plan and annual giving campaign.
• Knowledge of and experience working with endowments and community foundations.
• Experience in leading, supervising, and motivating staff and volunteers.
• Understanding of basic accounting principles and knowledge of CRA regulations.
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge, iwave and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples cultures, material practice and protocols.
• Post-secondary experience is an asset.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of alumni relations programs.
• Experience working with internal and external partners including Boards, volunteers, and donors is an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• Excellent stewardship knowledge and practice.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, including major gift proposals, presentations, cases for support, website stories and appeal letters.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish strong relationships with potential donors, to secure major gift donations, and to achieve fundraising goals.
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, and cultural sensitivity when interacting with people who hold a diverse range of perspectives, worldviews, and experiences.
• Demonstrated ability in initiating and handling a variety of projects or assignments efficiently while effectively utilising existing tools and procedures.
• Familiarity with leading practices in equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Familiarity with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to use sound judgment and discretion in dealing with a wide variety of sensitive issues.
• Team player with demonstrated resilience and the ability to thrive in dynamic and fast-paced environments.
• Ability to work flexible hours.

• Under the direction of the Executive Director, University Advancement + Alumni Relations, develops a comprehensive fundraising plan that encompasses and addresses short- and long-term philanthropic goals, prospect identification and research, donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and recognition. Develops and implements campaigns strategies, priorities, and objectives for various University partners.
• Manages and grows a portfolio of major gift donors, initiating, cultivating, soliciting, and closing major gifts over $10,000.
• Provides strategic leadership to the development, execution, and evaluation of a comprehensive annual plan for individual major gifts, planned giving and annual fundraising activities for the University. Evaluates fundraising programs ensuring their consistency with the overall mission and goals of the University.
• Leads annual award program financial reporting and collaborates with internal and external partners as needed.
• Directs the research, identification, cultivation, and tracking of individual major gift prospects as well as planned giving activities. Engages with major gift contributors to secure long-term bequests and estate gifts and seeks to expand the prospects database.
• Provides direction to the development of improved and strengthened alumni relations.
• Ensures efficient policies, procedures, and tracking mechanisms are in place to accurately track the status of requests and related activities arising from fundraising initiatives. In collaboration with Privacy Officer and the Executive Director, responds to Freedom of Information requests, including leading privacy impact assessments as required.
• In Collaboration with the Executive Director, University Advancement + Alumni Relations, the Director, Advancement + Alumni Relations, provides strategic direction and oversight of the budgetary, operational and implementation plans for the ECU Foundation and the Alumni Association,
• Through the Foundation Board, work with and involve the Foundation volunteers to engage and leverage the relationships of prospects and donors.
• Collaborates with and assists the Executive Director, Advancement + Alumni Relations in regular briefings to the Foundation Board, Executives and Board of Governors.
• Enhance the University’s profile by developing and maintaining effective relationships with key individuals in the media, corporate community, government and other educational institutions.
• Leads the preparation and tracking of pledges of financial information, proposals and/or gift agreements, and reports for review by prospects and their professional advisors and other associated boards and partners
• Initiates and assists with volunteer-led solicitations of donations.
• Leads and supervises donor-funded awards and related activities including ceremonies and award allocation processes. Identifies underfunded areas and helps the Development Officer to secure additional contributions for award, bursary, and scholarship programs.
• In collaboration with Academic Affairs, ensures that the Graduation Awards program is fully funded, and new academic programs are endowed with appropriate donor-funded graduation awards. Performs a yearly program inventory.
• Works in collaboration with the Communications team, the Executive Director, University Advancement + Alumni Relations to develop communication plans, including oversight of social media planning for the ECU Foundation channels, systems, and processes that support the Annual Fund and Major Gifts initiatives.
• Manages and maximizes the utilization of the University Advancement Information System (e.g., Raisers Edge), to ensure fundraising and alumni records are accurate and supporting planned activities and initiatives. Reviews analytical reports to measure and respond to activity success.
• Supervises administrative-related activities, including Raiser’s Edge database administration, stewardship activities and reporting, including the management of the Advancement office newsletter, ECU Foundation website and social media publications.
• Participates in relevant professional organizations and keeps current on state-of-the-art initiatives in fundraising practices in planned giving, endowments, and major gifts. Stay current with the political, economic, social, and educational trends that influence the effective implementation of the University’s fundraising plans.
• Facilitate alumni engagement through organizing and coordinating alumni meetings, reunions, and events. Cultivate meaningful relationships with alumni by encouraging their active participation in institutional programs and initiatives.
• Creates synergistic partnerships and collaborations between donors, potential clients, and University partners, which maximize utilization of the Advancement + Alumni office experience, services, and resources, and enhance the university’s profile.
• Represent the University in external activities that support widespread partnerships.
• Leads the annual donor recognition event, including solicitation for art donations, sponsorships, and ticket sales.
• Manages Advancement staff including overseeing and participating in selection, mentoring, development, and performance management.
• Fosters a culture of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) by remaining current in JEDI trends that impact their field of work and make recommendations to the Executive Director, University Advancement + Events, for improvements in support of the ECU community, and the strategic goals of the University.
• Acts on behalf of the Executive Director for Foundation activities as required.
• Performs other related duties as required