We need the ocean. The ocean needs us.

Role Summary

As a Senior Specialist, Philanthropy, you will manage a portfolio of 100+ potential and current donors. Working in collaboration with Ocean Wise programs teams, you will deliver appropriate activations, cultivation and stewardship activities and work closely with members of the Philanthropy teams to maximize revenues.

Who You Are

You are a builder and an innovative collaborator with experience in major gifts and planned giving. You have demonstrated success in building new relationships and creating inspired donor experiences and impactful partnerships. You model collaboration, integrity, creative thinking, and solutions-oriented approaches to your work.

What You Will Be Doing
Portfolio Management

Develop and implement personalized cultivation and solicitation plans for mid-level and prospective major gift donors
Engage in face-to-face meetings and personalized contact activities
Ensure that donors receive impeccable and personalized stewardship, through tailored correspondence, reports, and updates in a timely and professional manner
Satisfy relationship commitments in collaboration with other teams, delivering excellent experiences throughout the relationship in line with Ocean Wise values
Prepare and coordinate materials such as proposals, briefing notes, presentations, call reports, letters, and other documents/materials
Maintain and properly record information about prospects, donors, and sponsors, utilizing Salesforce database
Track benchmarks and deliver on goals quarterly and annually.

Support an integrated approach to fundraising

Ensure alignment across all donor channels and initiatives.
Collaborate with team members to develop and implement strategies that deepen relationships with donors and communities.
Leverage internal teams, tools, and data to identify, qualify, and prioritize prospective donors.
Develop and execute an engagement strategy for donor-advised fund holders and their advisors.
Conduct targeted outreach to supporters who have expressed interest in planned giving opportunities.
Lead the development of major gift cultivation and stewardship events, in collaboration with the Stewardship Specialist and cross-functional teams.

Promote a culture of philanthropy at Ocean Wise

Actively identify and assist with creating opportunities for cross-team learning on the importance that everyone at Ocean Wise plays a role in philanthropy.
Involve the appropriate Ocean Wise program staff or senior leaders in developing and deepening relationships with donors and prospects.

What You Bring

Post-secondary education or equivalent experience in philanthropy and fundraising
5+ years of experience and success in major gift fundraising of 6-figure gifts
Demonstrated success working with community leaders and leading philanthropists
Experience in having the planned giving conversation with donors
Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to influence and persuade
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities within deadlines
Ability to work independently and collaborative across departments, with the business acumen to understand when each approach is appropriate
Experience using Salesforce or other CRM, as well as Microsoft Office Suite products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Sharepoint
Flexibility to work weekends or evening on occasion
Assets include:
- CFRE designation

How You Will Be Measured

Your ability to achieve or exceed annual revenue targets of $500,000+ in support of the Philanthropy portfolio.
Your ability to manage a pipeline of 100+ current and potential donors that drive revenue, and appropriately track them according to agreed upon moves management protocols.
Your ability to use Salesforce, our internal Dashboard, and other systems accurately and effectively to track progress within your portfolio
Your ability to work according to Ocean Wise’s values of Knowledge, Integrity, Extreme Collaboration, Impact, Optimism

What We Offer

This full-time, benefits-eligible position offers:

A remote working environment, when not attending in-person donor meetings, conferences or events.
A base salary, $70,000 – 90,000, in line with market data for not-for-profit organizations
Benefits coverage on a premium cost-shared basis, including
- Extended health and dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- $300 Health spending account
- Group term and supplemental life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
RRSP matching of up to 6% after one year of service
15 paid vacation days to start
10 paid sick days,
2 wellness days
12 paid Statutory and General Holidays each calendar year
An annual all-staff retreat to allow in-person connections and team building
Professional development opportunities
The opportunity to be part of a team that’s helping to save the ocean!

Where and How You’ll Work

This is a hybrid position based in Vancouver, Canada with the ability to work remotely when not attending on-site meetings with donors, stakeholders and staff. You will also have the opportunity to work at our headquarters in downtown Vancouver, if desired. The standard work week for this role is 37.5 hours, Monday through Friday, however, this role may require flexibility to travel for meetings and/or to work occasional weekends and evenings to attend Ocean Wise shoreline cleanups, events, meetings and conferences.

Who We Are

Ocean Wise is a global conversation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Learn more about us at ocean.org.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Ocean Wise, we believe that a welcoming and diverse workplace fosters the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented. We encourage applications from individuals belonging to equity-deserving groups and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process. We value human connection and fairness in our recruitment process. We do not use AI, algorithms, or automated tools to screen or evaluate candidates. All applications are reviewed by our hiring team to ensure each candidate is considered thoughtfully and equitably.

Ocean Wise

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Senior Specialist, Philanthropy