ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT 

POSITION SUMMARY: 
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director of Government Relations and Development is responsible for identifying and cultivating relationships with all levels of government, donors and granting organizations. The position focuses on aligning organizational priorities with government initiatives, and leading grant and major gift fundraising. The position also involves developing compelling proposals, reports, and stewardship materials that support the organization’s mission and funding goals. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Government Relations: 

• Lead and support the development of strategic relationships with elected officials, civil servants, and political staff at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, in collaboration with the CEO and broader leadership team. This role will contribute to building internal capacity for government engagement across the organization to ensure sustained and shared responsibility for this work. 

• Represent the organization in meetings with government stakeholders, coalitions, and working groups. 

• Identify opportunities to align organizational priorities with government initiatives. 

• Develop briefing materials, position papers, presentations, and correspondence for use with government and advocacy partners. 

• Work closely with communications, fundraising, and program teams to align messaging and support public engagement strategies. 

• Provide updates and insights to the executive team and board on government relations activities and developments. 

• Monitor and analyze legislation, regulations, and public policy trends that impact the organization’s mission. 

Grant and Donor Management: 

• Identify and pursue grant opportunities aligned with organizational goals. 

• Write and manage proposals, reports, and supporting documentation. 

• Maintain templates and tools for grant writing and funder communication. 

• Coordinate the entire grant application process, ensuring timely submissions. 

Major Gifts: 

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective major donors. 

• Develop tailored stewardship plans to deepen donor engagement. 

• Partner with leadership to engage high-net-worth individuals and corporate supporters. 

Donor Communications and Stewardship: 

• Maintain relationships with individual, corporate, and foundation donors. 

• Create targeted communications, including proposals, impact reports, and newsletters. 

• Organize donor events and meetings to build lasting support. 

Compliance and Reporting: 

• Ensure compliance with all grant and gift requirements, including financial and impact reporting. 

• Ensure compliance with the Canadian Lobbying Act and related regulations, including accurate tracking and reporting of lobbying activities as required for non-profit organizations. 

• Acknowledge and receipt donations in accordance with CRA regulations. 

• Collect data and stories from program staff to support reporting and donor engagement. 

• Maintain accurate donor records in the CRM system. 

Collaboration and Team Support: 

• Work closely with program, finance, and leadership teams to align fundraising with organizational priorities. 

• Support the communications team with strategic content and messaging. 

• Contribute to team planning, meetings, and organizational initiatives. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience (such as CFRE, Nonprofit Management, Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, or a related area). 

• Skilled at building and managing relationships with elected officials, public servants and community representatives. 

• Diplomatic and tactful, with a high level of political acumen. 

• Proven experience in grant writing, strategic donor/GR communications, fundraising, or donor relations within the nonprofit sector, with a track record of successfully securing grants, major gifts and cultivating donor relationships. 

• Excellent writing skills with the ability to craft compelling proposals, reports, and communications. 

• Strong project management abilities, including the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously. 

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport with diverse stakeholders and represent the organization professionally. 

• Knowledge of grant management best practices, fundraising techniques, CRA and nonprofit regulations, and compliance standards. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, donor management software (e.g., Keela), and online research tools. 

Spirit North is deeply committed to working in collaboration with Indigenous communities to create meaningful and lasting impact through sport and physical activity. Given the nature of our work and the relationships we stive for, we strongly encourage applications for Indigenous candidates. 

LOCATION:  

The successful candidate will work remotely within Toronto or Ottawa, Ontario. 

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION:  

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience (range $75k - $90k). 

• Health insurance and retirement benefits package. 

• Professional development opportunities and support for ongoing learning and growth. 

HOW TO APPLY:   

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to , with “Associate Director of GR and Development – your name” in the title.   

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.