Development Officer, Annual Giving and Stewardship

Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the journey and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, aged 16-29 through mental health services, social services, and housing. Friends of Ruby offers Youth Mental Health services, a Youth Drop-In Centre, and a Transitional Home. The Centre provides access to barrier-free counselling and therapeutic groups, case management and a drop-in space with hot meals, community, and comprehensive programming. The Home provides transitional and emergency housing, mental health, and life-skills to support youth moving towards independent living.

Friends of Ruby recognize that a diverse work force is critical to accomplishing our mission. Our goal is to attract and develop incredibly talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives. We strongly encourage applicants from the 2SLGBTQIA+, Allies, BIPOC and ACB communities, and diverse backgrounds that meet the requirements of the role.

**Position Summary**

The Development Officer, Annual Giving and Stewardship (DO) will be a vital member of the Development and Communications team. This role reports to the Director of Development and Communications, and requires close collaboration with diverse internal teams, including Marketing, Finance, and other stakeholder groups. Contributing to the overall fundraising goals, the DO will be leading the Annual Giving and the Stewardship Programs, including but not limited to, annual giving campaigns, gifts-in-kind donations, 3rd party fundraisers, and donor stewardship activities.

**Responsibilities**

Annual Giving Program Leadership:

- Lead the creation, planning, and execution of the Annual Giving Program, including individual donors up to $9,999, monthly donors, mass philanthropy, and stewardship activities.
- Collaborate with Marketing to ensure the Annual Giving Program's branding aligns seamlessly with the organization's services and philanthropic goals.
- Oversee 2-3 annual giving campaign from creative brief through to the donor’s mailbox by coordinating the various components of a direct mail campaign.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds in multicultural settings to capture stories and content for campaigns. Respond to donor inquiries and needs.

Stewardship Execution:

- In collaboration with the Director of Development and Communications, lead the creation, planning, and execution of the Stewardship Program and its activities.
- Develop the Stewardship Matrix for the organization.
- Lead the execution of Naming and Recognition opportunities, through sector analysis and best practices.
- Execute stewardship tasks and activities, with involvement from cross functional teams, fostering open and respectful communication with team members of diverse backgrounds.
- Prepare donor correspondence, thank you letters, stewardship updates, etc.
- Actively contribute to the development of meaningful donor stewardship events and engagement opportunities for major and mid-level giving programs.

Stakeholder Engagement:

- Build and deepen internal and external stakeholder engagement through volunteer identification and involvement.
- Act as a catalyst and advocate for the organization at events and activities, internally and externally.
- Present opportunities to external stakeholder groups through personal engagement and speaking engagements.
- Share knowledge and skills across departments, fostering a culture of cross-departmental collaboration.

Development Support:

- Provide support to the Director of Development and Communications on donor related strategies and activities.
- Assist with internal fundraising reporting and other duties as directed to meet departmental strategic priorities and key deadlines.
- Provide support on major gift proposals, gift agreements, etc.
- Other duties as assigned.

**Qualifications**

Experience, Knowledge and Skills:

- Minimum 3-5 years of fundraising experience.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven track record in crafting effective solicitation and stewardship communications.
- Ability to build long-term relationships with donors using tact, discretion, and compassion.
- Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional diverse teams and prioritize tasks in a time-sensitive environment.
- Experience working for a social service/mental health/housing non-profit.
- A champion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & ARAO, including but not limited to:

- Ability to navigate and communicate effectively in diverse environments.
- Understanding of the broader social and cultural contexts that impact DEI efforts.
- Understanding of equity issues and a commitment to promoting fairness and equality.
- Excellent communication skills with an emphasis on inclusive language.
- Knowledge, Allyship and lived experience with the diversity of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
- Experience working with diverse teams and promoting a positive br