Donor Engagement Officer - Queens University

The Donor Engagement Officer strengthens donor relationships and fosters deeper engagement with Queen's community of supporters. Their work builds donor satisfaction, long-term loyalty, and sustained philanthropic support.

This role leads and supports a range of donor relations activities—relating to acknowledgement, recognition, stewardship, and engagement—with a focus on delivering a meaningful and positive donor experience. This includes but is not limited to the development of the advancement of the naming program and ongoing work in donor communications and events.

The Officer upholds the university's reputation for excellence in donor relations, ensuring donors feel valued, recognized, informed of their impact, and integrated with the university community, ultimately inspiring continued and increased giving to the university.

Working closely with the Director, Donor Experience, and collaborating with Central Advancement and benefit areas, the Officer ensures donor experience activities are executed and aligned with industry standards and strategic goals. Building strong internal partnerships is essential to advancing the university's fundraising and engagement priorities.

This position recommends, creates, and implements key aspects of development programs, including developing and implementing goals and strategies to maximize funding for priorities. This position identifies, evaluates, and recommend approaches to gaining or deepening relationships with current and prospective donors.

The schedule for this position requires the incumbent to work evenings and weekends.

View the complete job description by visiting the careers webpage.

What you will do:

• Recommends, develops and implements communication and donor engagement strategies with various donor groups.
• Supports senior staff on development decisions throughout the donor engagement lifecycle.
• Identifies, evaluates, and recommend approaches to gaining or deepening relationships with current and prospective donors.
• Develops objectives, discusses strategies for meeting objectives and executing annual plans, and resolves barriers to implementation.
• Identifies, evaluates, and solicits prospective donors (individuals, corporations and foundations) and/or actively nurtures relationships with existing donors to demonstrate impact and foster ongoing philanthropic giving.
• Creates and maintains print, email and web content to support departmental priorities.
• Updates all activity related to prospects, donors, and funds in the database.
• Writes case statements and donor proposals in support of key solicitation/engagement opportunities and/or writes impact reports and other donor communications to demonstrate and attract impact.
• Facilitates the establishment and stewardship of new and existing funds, nurtures long-term relationships with existing donors and fosters ongoing philanthropic giving.
• Tracks stewardship responsibilities and ensures compliance with requirements to report back to the donor.
• Collaborates with other Advancement staff to plan and facilitate development activities.
• Plans and coordinates projects and/or events which may include communications, budgets, timelines, etc.
• Other duties as required in support of the department and/or unit.

Required Education:

Four-Year Bachelor Degree or equivalent. In addition, requires trade certification, qualification, or on-going learning to remain ahead of changes in technology or emerging fields.

Required Experience:

• More than 3 years and up to and including 5 years of experience.
• Experience developing and/or implementing fundraising and/or major gift plans considered an asset.
• Experience in client and/or customer experience functions considered an asset.
• Knowledge of relationship building, fundraising and stewardship considered an asset.
• Previous experience building relationships with donors considered an asset.

Required Licenses and Certifications:

• A CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification considered an asset.
• Consideration may be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Knowledge and Requirements:

• Knowledge of concepts and principles in a specialist field that is typically acquired through a combination of advanced professional or academic qualifications and/or substantial work experience.
• Provide effective consultation and advice on non-straightforward and/or complex issues.
• Interaction with others requires interpersonal skills and the ability to understand and influence.
• Adapt messages to meet the different needs of different audiences.
• Builds relationships, trust and credibility.
• Prioritize and distribute work to deliver objectives on time and to the highest standard.
• Identify in advance when the intended results may not be achieved and develops a plan to address the gaps.
• Actively participate in project team meetings and develop individual and unit project plans.
• Lead procedural or technological change within a unit.
• Identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work processes.
• Seek information and input to fully understand the cause of problems.
• Appropriately assesses risks before making a decision.
• Contribute to the creation and evaluation of possible solutions.
• Take action to remove obstacles and address problems before they impact performance and results.
• Apply equity, diversity, accessibility, inclusion and Indigenization considerations to decision making and planning.
• Promote a work environment that is free from sexual violence, harassment and discrimination, and the ability to show empathy for those who have experienced trauma.