Senior Manager of Philanthropy

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 is a non-profit society and proud member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada Federation. We are committed to enhancing the confidence, self-esteem, and well-being of female, female-identifying, non-binary, gender fluid, transgender, 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 diversity and inclusion and we encourage applications from those who identify as Indigenous, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, a person with a disability, or 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 Senior Director of Philanthropy & Campaigns, the Senior Manager, Philanthropy holds accountability for the comprehensive development, implementation, and evaluation of all major giving programs, including planned giving, annual giving, and major gifts. This role drives the donor engagement strategy, encompassing the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts, with a particular emphasis on planned giving. Active, in-person engagement with donors is essential, including personal visits, cultivation events, and formal solicitations. The position also plays a critical role in the annual planning and budgeting for the department, ensuring a coordinated approach with fundraising and marketing staff.

Main Functional Areas

  • Fundraising & Donor Engagement
  • Corporate & Community Partnerships
  • Stewardship & Donor Relations
  • Campaign & Event Leadership
  • Strategic Planning & Impact Measurement
  • Planned Giving

What you will be doing:

Building Meaningful Donor Relationships & Revenue Growth

  • Develop and implement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, corporate sponsors, and community partners.
  • Focus on in-person engagement with donors, including personal visits, events, and formal solicitations.
  • Identify and secure major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and employee giving opportunities to diversify revenue streams.
  • Actively prospect and seek out new supporters and partnerships while strengthening existing relationships.

Strategic Fundraising & Corporate Engagement

  • Lead business planning and launch new fundraising initiatives, including committee development and sponsor/partner solicitation.
  • Develop strategic fundraising messaging in collaboration with the Fundraising and Marketing & Communications teams.
  • Evaluate fundraising performance and return on investment to improve strategies and maximize impact.
  • Manage and grow national and local corporate partnerships, securing sponsorships and corporate gifts.
  • Create and oversee donor journeys, ensuring a seamless experience from first engagement to long-term stewardship.

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.

Leadership & Team Collaboration

  • 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.

Planned Giving

  • Develop and execute a Planned Giving strategy to identify, cultivate, and steward legacy donors.
  • Engage the Planned Giving Advisory Council, ensuring follow-up and strategic input.
  • Organize Planned Giving presentations, events, and stewardship activities for donor engagement.
  • Collaborate with the Communications team to develop Planned Giving marketing materials and outreach campaigns.
  • Maintain accurate donor records and ensure proper recognition
  • Oversee budgeting and reporting for Planned Giving initiatives

Administration & Compliance

  • Maintain accurate donor records in the database, tracking communications, meetings, and contributions.
  • Assist in preparing budgets, reports, and fundraising performance updates for leadership.
  • Ensure compliance with CRA regulations and organizational policies.

What you bring:

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

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 $85,000 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

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.

Candidate must be fully vaccinated against COVID 19. Accommodations will be considered upon request.

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: Senior 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.