C - Community & Events Fundraising Manager

Community and Events Fundraising Manager

Canada Office

About the Role

Based out of the Canada Office and reporting to the Director, Channels and Campaigns, Children Believe is seeking an enthusiastic community giving and events fundraising professional to join our team.

This role is designed to help raise awareness, share impact, and strengthen relationships across the Canadian supporter community, while delivering significant undesignated or semi-designated revenue. The position requires strong fundraising, organizational and logistical skills, and the ability to build and develop relationships with the community of international development supporters — from donors to community leaders, staff, and volunteers.

In collaboration with the Marketing and Development team, you will attract new audiences and grow the supporter base. You will deliver successful community, peer-to-peer and signature events – both in person and online – by overseeing fundraising and operational details and managing internal and external stakeholders. Key areas of focus include new revenue acquisition, development of new relationships and partnerships, and executing an exceptional event experience for sponsors and participants.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Event Management (Peer-to-Peer and Signature events) – 50%

• Support Director, Channels and Campaigns to conceptualize, develop and execute new P2P and Children Believe signature fundraising events with the goal of maximizing single gift and recurring revenue for the organization.
• Lead and manage the Signature, DIY and other peer-to-peer fundraising events for Children Believe.
• Develop new, engaging and innovative tactics to enhance events and programs, including collateral and digital assets.
• Support event-related inquiries, adhering to efficient SLAs.
• Support volunteer recruitment and onboarding – where appropriate.
• Act as key relationship manager and work with a wide variety of event stakeholders including event sponsors, vendors, committee members and event-day volunteers.
• Work with stakeholders within Children Believe, including Marketing & Communications, Digital Experience, Development and Corporate Services, Children Believe staff, and senior leadership to help amplify event content, including key messaging, fundraising toolkits, and event details.
• Work in partnership with the Supporter Operations and Engagement team to develop stewardship strategies and enhance the participant and supporter experience and vendors.
• Leverage Children Believe systems to accurately track, pull and analyze reports to help inform decision making.
• Administer expense budgets and communicate variances.

Community Engagement – 40%

• Deliver strategic community fundraising and outreach activities including, but not limited to, supporter acquisition campaigns, community-based fundraisers, public events and speaking engagements, and creative engagement initiatives (online and offline - as defined by campaign plans).
• Monitor and research the giving landscape for new fundraising or engagement opportunities and fundraising best practices to grow the community portfolio.
• Acquire, cultivate and steward relationships with community events partners, vendors, sponsors, and participants.
• Collaborate with Supporter Operations and Engagement team to develop and execute effective stewardship journeys for the channel.
• Correspond and support community event organizers to execute successful events and fundraising initiatives.
• Represent Children Believe at community events.
• Identify and seek sponsorship, gifts-in-kind, and other donations for events. Provide support to Director, Channels and Campaigns to stimulate out of the box thinking that results in new and enhanced methods of engaging with donors and the community.
• Develop and run initiatives that mobilize community participation in events and campaigns.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to develop high-quality donor-facing materials, including proposals, case for support documents, impact reports, and stewardship materials.
• Develop materials, resources and strategies to inform and engage organizations supporters in campaigning and public community engagement initiatives.
• Create materials for on-going campaign and outreach work, such as presentations, backgrounders, handout sheets and display materials.
• Develop guidelines and templates for concept proposals, highlighting best practices and lessons learnt from previous submissions.
• Maintain strong communications and relationship with current donors and prospective community members.
• Advocate on behalf of Children Believe to maintain and cultivate key donor relationships in Canada and globally. Actions and networking will result in Children Believe being identified as a 'partner of choice' to implement official charity partnerships.

Other – 10%

• Lead the development and deployment of surveys, event debriefs and post analysis of events.
• Maintain/upscale knowledge and training on fundraising best practices in Canada.
• Represent Children Believe at various events and meetings when needed.
• Comply with all Children Believe policies and procedures.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma/degree, preferably in fundraising, events, or a related field.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in a fundraising event role. Experience running peer-to-peer and large-scale fundraising events, both in person and virtual, as well as securing sponsorships. Experience within international development or community-based not-for-profit organizations considered an asset.
• High level of planning, organization, and time management skills.
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to function both independently and collaboratively, and provide oversight to other team members in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to adapt to changing deadlines, able to prioritize competing issues, solutions-focused, and can manage multiple projects at the same time.
• Experience leading volunteers in an event fundraising environment.
• Strong knowledge with Peer-to-Peer fundraising software and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM or similar systems.
• Ability to excel in a team environment as well as accountability as an individual contributor.
• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; nurtures strong professional relationships with colleagues at all levels and with external contacts and partners to support the achievement of objectives.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Producing a range of communications and high-quality bespoke presentations/reports/proposals for both community partners and potential donors.
• Effective at building positive relationships with staff and partnerships with stakeholders at all levels with a focus on building and maintaining an excellent communication relationship with the community.
• Professional in communication with internal and external stakeholders, in person and while working virtually.
• Excellent research, report writing and proposal development skills.
• Systematically plan projects to maximize performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Experience with working with volunteers and volunteer committees.

Desired Attributes and Traits

• Passion and dedication in supporting international development work through event fundraising.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to network, collaborate, build relationships, and negotiate effectively.
• Remains positive and quickly recovers from setbacks, keeping problems in perspective.
• Responds flexibly to unforeseen events to ensure that effectiveness is not compromised.
• Strong analytical, reporting and problem-solving skills.
• Confident, friendly, professional, and comfortable with cold calling.
• Results-oriented, proactive, deadline-driven.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and experience.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends and to travel locally and occasional nationally or internationally, as required.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing demands and priorities in a high-pressure environment.
• Valid G license and access to vehicle; travel to Markham and GTA may be required.
• Demonstrates commitment to Children Believe's Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Commitment to DEI.

Work Arrangement

Type: Hybrid

The Hybrid Workplace Program is a flexible work arrangement that permits employees to work remotely while also occasionally being required to come into the Organization's office. If approved to work from home as part of the Hybrid workplace program, the incumbent must be available to work from the Organization's office from time to time as determined by the supervisor or as otherwise directed by the Organization.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: Between $64,000 - $75,000 annually based on experience.

• Competitive Compensation Package: Attractive compensation package with clearly stated hiring ranges.
• Flexible Work Environment: Flexible work environment, including hybrid work options, flexible hours, "No Meeting Mondays," and the option to work up to 20 days out of province per year.
• Comprehensive Benefits Plan: Group benefits plan includes health and dental coverage, an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), and RRSP matching up to 5%, starting from day one.
• Health Spending Account: Access to a $500 Healthcare Spending Account to top up expenses not covered in the benefits program.
• Performance Incentives: Participate in the Pay for Performance Plan with up to 6% performance incentive pay.
• Professional Development: 5 paid professional development days and professional growth through a variety of learning opportunities.
• Paid Time Off: Annual Christmas closure, 2 float days, and access to up to 10 sick days.
• Generous Vacation Policy: 4 weeks paid vacation with incremental increase every 5 years up to 6 weeks.
• Employee Perks: Employee Discount Program and various other perks designed to enhance overall well-being and work-life balance.

Application Process

If you believe you have a unique combination of a not-for-profit heart combined with the skills and interest for this position, click the "Apply" button.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada.

Consistent with Children Believe's Child Protection/Safe-Guarding Policy, the successful candidate must receive clearance by a criminal record check.

Children Believe is committed to diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer.

Children Believe is committed to providing workplace accommodations. If you require an accommodation, inform us and we will work with you to meet your needs.

We thank all applicants for applying; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please note that this posting is for an existing vacancy at Children Believe. All applications are reviewed by our hiring team and AI is not used to screen candidates.