Senior Fund Development Officer

Position Title:  

Senior Development Officer, Individual Giving 

Monday to Friday I 37.5 hours per week onsite  

Reporting to the Director of Philanthropy, the Senior Fund Development Officer, Individual Giving, is responsible for building meaningful relationships with individuals and foundations in the mid-level and major gift range. The successful candidate will be experienced in and passionate about prospect cultivation and solicitation, and donor stewardship. They will contribute to the development and execution of strategic fundraising initiatives and work collaboratively with colleagues to meet annual revenue goals. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of high-capacity donors and top-prospect individuals through record-keeping and pipeline management in Raisers Edge NXT.   
• Qualify donors to identify those with both capacity and inclination to support animal welfare at higher levels.  
• Maintain accurate documentation of all donor interactions, strategy steps and forecasting. 
• Engage donors through meaningful, thoughtful touchpoints and build individual cultivation plans for each donor, using CHS specific experiences.  
• Design and execute strategic cultivation practices. 
• Lead major gift solicitations ensuring every ask is well-prepared, donor-aligned, and tied to CHS’s impact areas. 
• Steward donor relationships with care and attention, ensuring they feel valued, informed and connected to the impact of their giving. 
• Work with CHS’s annual giving, outreach, and third-party teams to identify donors ready for major gift cultivation and build a healthy pipeline by designing donor journeys that move supporters to higher-level involvement. Oversee budgets for assigned fundraising projects, ensuring fiscal responsibility. 
• Provide donor insights to help shape fundraising messaging, giving opportunities, case development and campaign strategies 
• Stay current with philanthropic trends and best practices to continuously improve fundraising strategies. 
• Provide support across the shelter as needed, in collaboration with the Fund Development Team. 
• Clearly communicate CHS’s mission, impact, priorities and animal care values in all interactions as a brand ambassador to the community. 
• Other duties as assigned.  

Position Requirements: 

• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated success soliciting and closing major and/or mid-level gifts including making clear asks and securing commitments with a focus on relationship development.  
• Proven ability to manage a donor portfolio, moving prospects through the donor cycle and securing and stewarding meaningful gifts. 
• Post-secondary degree or diploma in a related field. 
• Has achieved the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation, is actively working toward certification, or has a combination of related education and experience. 
• CRM and Data Management Proficiency using fundraising CRMs with preference on direct experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT. 
• Comfortable with delivering group presentations including taking donors on shelter tours. 

Skills & Attributes:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills including the ability to translate mission and outcomes into compelling donor narratives or proposals, supported by an outgoing personality. 
• Comfort speaking on behalf of the organization, presenting to donors, and serving as a mission-aligned ambassador. 
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, ensuring disciplined follow-through and data integrity. 
• Collaborative team player with a respectful and positive approach to relationships. 
• Self-motivated, resilient, and goal-oriented with a growth mindset. 
• Professional demeanor in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience collaborating with leadership, program staff, and communications teams to align donor conversations with real impact and organizational priorities. 
• Flexibility to attend meetings and events outside regular business hours. 
• Ability to travel locally to meet donors and participate in events; comfort in in-person and remote relationship-building environments.  
• Passion for animal welfare and alignment with CHS’s core values. 

Additional Requirements: 

• Successful candidate will be required to provide a criminal record check at their own expense and arranged by CHS. 
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s License with a clean driving record.  
• Physically capable and comfortable working with a variety of animal species, including dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, and rodents. 

Compensation & Benefits: 

• Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. 
• 100% employer-paid health and dental coverage for employees and dependents. 
• Wellness Spending Account. 
• Vision care. 
• Paid vacation, sick time, wellness days. 
• Paid day off on your birthday! 
• Matching RSP contributions. 
• Professional development opportunities including support for acquiring CFRE designation. 
• Discounts on CHS products and services, including adoption fees. 
• Access to Employee and Family Assistance Program. 
• Reduced-rate counseling services. 

Closing date: Posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.  

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.  No phone calls please. 

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.