Fund Development Officer - Job Posting

FUND DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (contractor position)

The Leighton Art Centre (LAC) is looking for a dynamic individual with exceptional development and grant skills to join our team! The LAC is at an exciting time in its evolution and the FDO will play a key role in facilitating the future of revenue generation for the LAC.

The Fund Development Officer (FDO) is a contract position reporting to the Executive Director (ED). The FDO will develop and execute strategies that enhance our revenue streams and relationships with key stakeholders, and will work out of the Leighton Art Centre located just south of Calgary in the Foothills area, with some remote work anticipated. This contract position requires availability outside of standard office hours, including some evenings and weekends to support their performance, event, and community engagement activity work.

The FDO fills an important role, managing our grants, individual and corporate donor campaigns, directing major fundraisers and meeting all targets. Through their work, the FDO helps LAC meet its revenue goals and access the resources necessary to fulfill its mission. The position includes diverse responsibilities, including grant applications and reporting, implementing funding strategies, cultivating and stewarding donors, managing sponsorships, and overseeing fundraising events. The job scope below outlines the primary aspects of the position and is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Funding Strategies and Grants:

• Work with the ED to articulate and implement a realistic comprehensive funding strategy for LAC that includes grants, sponsorships, donations, prospect cultivation, stewardship, earned revenue, and fundraising events.
• Research and prepare grants to support LAC operations (in arts, history, education, and nature).
• Maintain a comprehensive calendar of all LAC development activities, compile reports, and prepare organizational documents for Foundation submission.
• Ensure timely reporting and compliance as required by grant award guidelines.
• Work with the ED, Development Committee and LAC board members to cultivate and steward relationships in the community – including with corporate and government partners, individuals, volunteers, and foundations.

Donor and Sponsorship Programs:

• Create and implement strategies and required tools to allow for a robust and reliable donor development and cultivation program to provide a diverse and sustainable funding base.
• Research donor prospects and maintain a donor prospect list.
• Identify and pursue new sources of corporate and foundation funding.
• Create and implement major and minor gift, and volunteer giving programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with major donors of all types, develop strategies for solicitation, and solicit or coordinate the solicitation by other affiliate staff, board or volunteers, as appropriate.
• Create and update collateral materials to support gift cultivation.
• Develop and implement all aspects of direct donor mailings, appeal letters, and other donor mailings as needed.
• Ensure all donor database information is current and accurate.
• Acknowledge all gifts and donations in a timely manner and tailor stewardship for major gifts.
• Build and sustain working relationships and communication with community associations, business leaders, grant funders, elected officials, school administrators, schools, universities and youth groups, and other institutions.
• Provide complete donor lists for inclusion the annual report and participate in the creation of the annual report as required.
• Broaden the LAC’s fundraising by developing new approaches such as planned giving, solicitation of bequests, and endowment programs.

Fundraising Events:

• Work with LAC staff as required, to create, budget and oversee LAC fundraising events such as Harvest Dinner, the Clothesline Art Sale, and Festive Foothills.
• Promote events to funding prospects who may support LAC, including sponsorship opportunities, donor stewardship, donor cultivation, and ticket sales.
• Work with staff and volunteers to ensure that all aspects of a successful event are achieved and coordinated.

Admin:

• Provide regular reports for inclusion to the Board of Directors.
• In collaboration with the ED, develop and implement the annual fund development budget.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in fund development or equivalent relevant experience.
• Proven track record of grant writing and campaign execution.
• Strong leadership and experience managing projects and working with donor/customer relationship management systems.
• Minimum of 3+ years of experience in fund development and grant writing with a proven track record of leading successful campaigns and securing gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans that achieve organizational goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, government officials, and other key stakeholders.
• High level of accountability, integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the mission of LAC.
• Strong work ethic and positive team attitude.
• Experience, and an interest in the arts, cultural, or non-profit sectors is highly desirable.

Position Details:

Contract Position: 4-5 days/30-40 hours per week with option to expand. Rate: $25 per hour paid monthly by direct deposit

Applications will be accepted until July 23 or until a suitable contractor is found.

Please submit your resume, cover letter to Darryl Lindenbach at executivedirector@leightoncentre.org with the subject line ‘Fund Development Application [Your Name]’. Leighton Art Centre is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. For more information about Leighton Art Centre please visit our website, www.leightoncentre.org.

Land Acknowledgement: The privilege of Leighton Art Centre’s presence on 80 acres of foothills landscape within Treaty 7 territory is combined with respect, humility, and responsibility to be caretakers of the land. We acknowledge the people of these ancestral and traditional lands, which include the Niitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy – comprised of the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani; the îyârhe Nakoda – Stoney Nakoda – including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations; as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and Otipemisiwak Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. We also recognize that many more First Nations, Métis, and Inuit have marked these lands with their footsteps. We are grateful for all people who make their home in, or visit, the Treaty 7 territory of Southern Alberta, and who act as respectful stewards to this land, where we learn, create, and build relationships in meaningful ways.