Senior Philanthropy Officer
Calgary, AB
Full-time
Job Title: Senior Philanthropy Officer
Department: Fund Development
Position Type: Permanent Full-Time
Application Deadline: February 13, 2026
Who We Are:
Heritage Park is one of Calgary’s most treasured places—a living history museum where stories are experienced, not just preserved. From steam engines to horse-drawn wagons, the past comes alive here every day.
We are now entering an exciting new chapter. Heritage Park is preparing to launch a multi-year, multi-million-dollar campaign to revitalize and strengthen this landmark for generations to come. To support this ambitious vision, we are expanding our fundraising team and seeking a Major Gifts (Giving) Officer to play a key role in its success.
If you are driven by purpose and motivated by the opportunity to invest in something that truly matters to our city, this is a rare and meaningful opportunity.
Department Overview:
The Fund Development Department is responsible for securing the necessary funds to support Heritage Park’s mission, programming and ability to positively impact the community it serves, Focused on donor acquisition, engagement and retention, the team innovates new revenue streams, executes events and appeals, and builds meaningful relationships with supporters, The team works closely with the organization’s strategic plan as well as multiple internal departments to ensure alignment with broader goals and objectives.
Job Overview:
Reporting to the Director, Fund Development, the Senior Philanthropy Officer advances Heritage Park’s philanthropic objectives by strategically managing a curated portfolio of approximately 100 to 120 donors and prospects with the capacity to make gifts ranging from $250,000 to $750,000.
This role applies a disciplined donor lifecycle approach including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, supported by rigorous moves management, CRM utilization, and data-driven pipeline oversight. The Senior Philanthropy Gifts Officer builds trust-based donor relationships grounded in the Donor Bill of Rights, ensuring each donor experiences personalized, ethical, and mission-aligned engagement.
The position is accountable for driving meaningful revenue outcomes by advancing individuals and organizations through the donor pipeline in a timely manner, contributing $1.25M or more annually to revenue goals while supporting long-term donor retention. The role prioritizes high-quality relationship work and plays a key part in strengthening Heritage Park’s internal culture of philanthropy.
Responsibilities:
Major and Principal Gifts Fundraising
- Develop and execute individualized donor strategies for a defined portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects, guiding them through all stages of the donor lifecycle
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-120 donors and prospects, applying likelihood, interest, and ability (LIA) analysis to prioritize engagement and assess readiness
- Design and implement disciplined moves management plans that advance donors through the pipeline with clear objectives, timelines, and outcomes
- Prepare and deliver well-times, donor-aligned solicitations that reflect donor readiness, values, and alignment with Heritage Park’s mission
- Achieve and maintain personal revenue targets of $.25M or more annually while contributing to long-term pipeline growth and donor retention
- Develop compelling cases for support and customized proposals that connect donor values to organizational impact
- Forecast revenue accurately and maintain accountability for portfolio performance and donor movement
Donor Relationship Management and Stewardship
- Build, deepen, and sustain trust-based philanthropic relationships through consistent values-aligned engagement
- Gain insight into donor motivations, interests, and philanthropic goals through thoughtful dialogue and relationship-centered engagement
- Deliver timely, personalized stewardship that reinforces donor trust, satisfaction, and long-term commitment
- Ensure all donor interactions reflect ethical fundraising standards, donor autonomy, confidentiality, and the Donor Bill of Rights
- Represent Heritage Park with professionalism, discretion, and credibility in meetings, events, and community settings
- Leverage donor engagement opportunities such as site visits, program updates, events, and tailored experiences to strengthen relationships
Portfolio, Data, and CRM Management
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records within CTM, documenting all interactions, strategies, and next steps
- Use data and reporting tools to support informed decision-making, pipeline management, and forecasting
- Monitor portfolio health, donor movement, and engagement trends to adjust strategies as needed
Collaboration of Culture of Philanthropy
- Collaborate closely with the Director, Fund Development, and colleagues across the organization to align donor interests with program and funding priorities
- Support and strengthen an internal culture of philanthropy by fostering purpose, engagement, and shared accountability among staff, volunteers, and stakeholders
- Encourage participation in philanthropic initiatives and recognize acts of generosity and community involvement
- Contribute to a collaborative, donor-centric team environment focused on mission alignment and shared success
Organizational Excellence and Wellbeing
- Contribute to inspiring and immersive experiences at the Park by engaging in Heritage Park initiatives that align with our mission and vision, ensuring authenticity in our historical setting and stories.
- Actively support a positive work environment by creating an atmosphere of inclusion, engagement, belonging, and fulfillment for employees and volunteers, in line with Heritage Park values.
- Recognize all contributors to our community as integral to our success, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.
- Demonstrate responsible stewardship of our people, collections, and financial assets by driving growth with innovation, transparency, and financial sustainability, while embracing our historical assets and recognizing all contributors.
- Demonstrate commitment to workplace health and safety by complying with Heritage Park's Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS), following safe work practices, reporting work-related incidents, injuries, and hazards, participating in employer training, and adhering to policies including the Code of Conduct and the Workplace Violence and Harassment policy.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, fundraising, business, communications, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- 5+ years of experience in major gifts fundraising, philanthropy, or donor-facing relationship management, with demonstrated success securing significant gifts (approximately $250,000 or higher)
- Proven ability to manage a defined donor portfolio with accountability for relationship progress, forecasting, and revenue outcomes
- Strong understanding of the donor lifecycle, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, with the ability to apply these practices effectively
- Demonstrated success building and sustaining trust-based relationships with donors through thoughtful, values-aligned engagement
- Experience using donor CRM systems to track activity, manage portfolios, and support informed decision-making (Raiser’s Edge or similar platforms considered an asset)
- Strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a relationship-driven role
- Professional presence and discretion when representing Heritage Park with donors and external stakeholders
- Knowledge of the Calgary and area philanthropic community considered an asset
- AFP membership and/or CFRE designation considered an asset
- Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle for travel within the Calgary region
- Successful candidates over the age of 18 must complete a Police Information Check as a condition of employment
Special Working Conditions:
- Professional business attire is required as this position must be prepared to meet with donors at any time.
- May be required to wear a costume during certain fundraising events.
- Appropriate costuming and safety equipment will be provided by Heritage Park; and
- Footwear, as designated by the Heritage Park Costume Department, will be provided by the employee.
Hours of Work
- The standard hours for this position are 35 hours per week.
- The schedule will generally be five consecutive days per week (Monday to Friday); and
- Occasional holiday, evening, and weekend work may be required
What we offer:
- Flexible work arrangements
- Comprehensive Benefits package includes Extended Health Care, Dental Benefits, Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and Employee and Family Assistant Program (EFAP)
- Employer-matched Pension Plan at 5%
- Generous paid time off, including Vacation days, Sick Time
- Working in a beautiful park setting
- Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events
- Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking
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