Job Posting – Manager of Philanthropy (Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland)

Our agency is embarking on an exciting period of growth and transformation, driven by our newly launched 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. This plan outlines four strategic priorities designed to elevate our impact and expand our reach and opportunity to shape the future for girls and gender-diverse youth. We are seeking passionate leaders to join us in creating safe spaces, fostering resilience, and empowering young people to reach their full potential.

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 Director of Philanthropy & Operations, the Manager of Philanthropy plays a key role in advancing our mission through strategic, relationship-first fundraising. This role manages a portfolio of approximately 100 key donors - including monthly, annual, corporate, and community supporters - and is responsible for the comprehensive development, implementation, and evaluation of giving programs, with a focus on annual giving, monthly giving, and planned giving.
At the heart of this role is a deep commitment to our core value: every connection counts. You’ll build meaningful relationships with mid-level donors and supporters, developing strategies that engage, retain, and grow their impact while also attracting new supporters. Active, in-person engagement is essential, including personal visits, cultivation events, and formal solicitations.

Main Functional Areas

• Fundraising & Donor Engagement
• Corporate & Community Partnerships
• Stewardship & Donor Relations
• Impact Measurement
• Planned Giving

What you will be doing:

Fundraising Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goal.
• Manage a portfolio of mid-level donors (typically $500–$5,000), including personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Lead annual giving campaigns, monthly donor programs, and digital fundraising initiatives.
• Support and collaborate on campaigns and strategic fundraising efforts.

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.

Mid-Level Giving Leadership

• Create and manage a comprehensive mid-level giving strategy (typically donors giving between $500–$5,000 annually).
• Develop segmented donor journeys to upgrade mid-level donors toward major giving.
• Create personalized stewardship plans, including tailored communications, impact reports, and engagement opportunities.
• Analyze donor data to identify trends, retention rates, and opportunities for growth within the mid-level segment.

Corporate & Community Partnerships

• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with corporate partners.
• Develop proposals and partnership packages tailored to corporate interests.
• Coordinate joint initiatives such as sponsorships, employee giving, and cause marketing campaigns.
• Represent the organization at corporate networking events and community engagements.

Planned Giving

• Collaborate with Director of Philanthropy and Operations to develop and execute a Planned Giving strategy to identify, cultivate, and steward legacy donors.
• Maintain accurate donor records and ensure proper recognition.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop Planned Giving marketing materials and outreach campaigns.
• Support budgeting and reporting for Planned Giving initiatives.
• Support with Planned Giving presentations, events, and stewardship activities for donor engagement.
• Support with the Planned Giving Advisory Council, ensuring follow-up and supporting execution.

Collaboration & Team Leadership

• 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.

Tracking & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions and gifts using CRM systems (e.g., Blackbaud NXT, Raiser’s Edge,).
• Analyze giving trends and donor engagement metrics to inform strategy.
• Provide regular reports on portfolio activity, donor pipeline, and performance metrics.

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 $75,000 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

What you bring:

• 3+ years in fundraising, donor relations, corporate partnerships, or sales.
• Strong relationship-building skills to engage donors, exercise diplomacy, and drive fundraising success.
• Excellent communication skills for writing, public speaking, etc.
• 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

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.

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: Manager of Philanthropy

We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates. To ensure timely consideration, applications will be reviewed as they are received; therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly. If your background and qualifications align with the position's requirements, we will be in touch.