Director, Leadership Giving
As we serve vulnerable youth, all employees working for Covenant House Vancouver must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required prior to your start date.
About Covenant House Vancouver
Since 1997, Covenant House Vancouver has provided relentless support for youth experiencing, or at-risk of experiencing, homelessness. We provide support to young people age 16 to 24 who have experienced a wide range of early life and ongoing, complex trauma; including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. Our purpose is to serve all youth, with absolute respect and unconditional love, to help youth experiencing homelessness, and provide a safe and supportive environment for all youth in need.
Working at Covenant House will be one of the most meaningful things that you’ll do in your life. However, you will be confronted with significant issues in this work and frankly, this work is not for everyone. In the course of doing your work, particularly for those doing frontline work, you will be exposed to the trauma of others. The youth we serve may also experience overdose, physical harm perpetuated by self or others and even death. Because we provide a relational model of care, the harms our youth experience can impact us in varying degrees.
While we provide training for youth workers on avoiding what we call vicarious trauma (namely, the trauma you can experience or take on by hearing other’s traumatic stories), and a generous allowance for counselling, it is still difficult work that can and does take its toll on many employees. Self-awareness and self-care are key. Some candidates and employees decide during the recruiting and probationary periods that this work isn’t for them, and that is totally fair.
We will provide more information on vicarious trauma during recruiting and on-boarding, to help you decide if Covenant House is the place for you.
The Impact the Director, Leadership Giving can make:
The Director, Leadership Giving plays an important role in the overall growth of philanthropic revenue at Covenant House Vancouver. In this position you will report to the Philanthropy Department Head and will be a key member of the Philanthropy Team’s senior leadership as well as the leadership at Covenant House Vancouver.
The successful candidate will be optimistic, flexible, solutions oriented, and a team player. You will have a strong background in fundraising and major giving in particular. You will work to enhance, and champion a successful and integrated Leadership Giving program and foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
Your direct reports will include Manager, Leadership Giving; Manager, Legacy Giving; Manager, Prospect Development, and Philanthropy Officer, Funding Opportunities. In addition to raising funds through the Leadership Giving portfolio, which includes managing and partnering on the CEO portfolio, you and your team will collaborate across the Philanthropy Team to uncover, cultivate, and solicit leadership level opportunities as they arise.
The three key priorities of this role are:
- Works directly and collaboratively on Leadership Giving target of $2M annually.
- Works across team to support transformational giving opportunities as they arise.
- Is a leader for direct reports, the Philanthropy Team, and the organization.
How you will contribute:
Fundraising
- Build meaningful connections with high-net-worth individuals and organizations to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward five, six, and seven figure gifts.
- Develop plans and structures to further refine an integrated Leadership Giving program and collaborative relationships that support fundraising at Covenant House Vancouver.
- Working with the Leadership Giving team, manages a portfolio of donors and prospects through the development of cultivation and solicitation plans to secure annual major gifts ($10K – $1M+) that ensure our core programs and youth supports are successfully funded.
- Manages the CEO portfolio, ensuring strategy is in place to plan and complete cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship moves. Prepares CEO for donor work and accompanies to some key events and meetings.
- Works to create systems to support Board and other senior volunteer leadership in activating their networks to give to CHV.
- Develop and implement strategies to increase revenue of current donors and potential donors to ensure the long-term financial success of the organization.
- As opportunities arise, secures transformational gifts through the Leadership Giving portfolio and/or works collaboratively with Philanthropy team members to strategize, coach, and develop funding opportunities for transformational gifts.
- On occasion may develop fundraising campaigns for restricted giving or special projects
Team and People Leadership
- Provides direct management, coaches, and establishes priorities for direct reports: Manager, Leadership Giving, Manager, Legacy Giving; Manager, Prospect Development; and Philanthropy Officer, Funding Opportunities.
- Responsible for overseeing the successful fundraising financial results from the Leadership Giving portfolio and the Legacy Giving portfolio.
- Is a part of the Philanthropy Team Senior Leadership, working on maintaining an excellent team culture, working to remove barriers and create tools that support successful fundraising results at Covenant House Vancouver.
- Together with the Philanthropy Team Senior Leadership, analyzes donations data and adjust plans accordingly to meet financial goals for the organization.
Organizational Leadership
- Contributes to the development and maintenance of team culture and ensures external department relationships are nurtured and are mutually beneficial.
- Member of the organization’s Leadership Caucus (TLC), attending monthly meetings to share information, collaborate, and help make decisions effecting the agency.
Other duties and special projects as required
- Approaches work with a can-do, solutions focused attitude. Is willing to prioritize the good of the organization and the youth who need us.
Who are we looking for?
Education and Experience:
- 5-10 years Development experience with a high level of experience and understanding of Major Gift fundraising, Legacy Giving, and Prospect Development.
- 5+ years related people management experience
- Proven track record of securing six-figure gifts
- Undergraduate degree (preferred) or related experience.
- CFRE Designation an asset.
- Experience fundraising for organizations with a variety of programs and shifting priorities.
- Ability to identify leadership giving opportunities and quickly assess interest, capacity, connection, and next steps
Competencies:
- Excellent understanding of Major Gift programs and organizational structures to support these programs.
- Posses an entrepreneurial spirit to grow major gift program by moving quickly on opportunities
- Successful in establishing and executing long-term plans while leveraging immediate opportunities and managing short term objectives
- Excellent understanding of fundraising and major gift trends and best practices.
- Clear understanding on the expectations of major gift strategy, prospect development, legacy giving, and funding opportunity development.
- Strategic planning, natural problem solving, and confident and thoughtful decision-making skills.
- Demonstrated ability to write, communicate, and present complex concepts.
- Highly motivated, goal oriented, decisive, and resourceful individual with the willingness to accept responsibility and be accountable for results.
- Ability to work under pressure of deadlines and flexibility to respond quickly to inquiries and shifting priorities.
- Able to work independently in non-routine situations where established procedures do not always apply and problem resolution may require forward thinking.
- Outstanding leader of people.
- Forward, creative, and collaborative thinker.
- Strong people skills and ability to listen, communicate, and relate to others on a personal and professional level.
- Interest in issues facing youth overcoming homelessness.
Compensation
The successful candidate can expect a starting annual salary of between $85,000.00 and $105,000.00 depending on factors such as internally equity, experience, competencies, and education.
Total Rewards
This position has flexible working arrangements with a hybrid in office expectation; excellent extended health and dental benefits for you and your spouse & children, including generous counselling benefits. During the first year, employees receive three weeks’ paid vacation, increasing to four in the second year; we have paid sick and personal leave and a matching Registered Pension Plan, investment in professional development, and more. If you’d like more information on what we offer, please ask!
We have been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2024!
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Covenant House Vancouver is a secular organization that welcomes and serves young people from all backgrounds. While the international federation to which we belong was founded in the 1970s by members of the Catholic Church, we are not aligned with any specific faith traditions.
CHV is committed to upholding diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity, including, but not limited to:
- Persons from groups marginalized due to race, ancestry, colour, religion/spiritual beliefs, or place of origin;
- Persons with visible (physical) and/or invisible (mental) disabilities;
- Persons who identify as women;
- Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions; and
- Indigenous persons.
We recognize that many of these identities intersect and that therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion can be complex. We value the contributions that each person brings and are committed to ensuring full and equal participation for all at Covenant House Vancouver.
We love what we do and try to make a difference every day. Covenant House Vancouver offers a competitive salary with a great benefits package and excellent opportunity for training and career advancement. If you are looking to join a place where we have a purpose and aim to achieve positive outcomes, please join us by applying.
If our recruitment process does not work for you, let us know. Let’s see how we can work together to get to know you and see what might be a great fit!