DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Pilgrims Hospice Society (PHS) is a registered charity that provides supportive and compassionate family-centered care to enhance the quality and dignity of life for those diagnosed with a progressive, life-limiting illness as well as support to those who are grieving the death of a loved one, from any cause.

Position Summary

Pilgrims Hospice Society (PHS) is seeking a motivated and relationship-driven Development Officer to support and strengthen our fund development efforts. Reporting to the Director of Fund Development, this position plays an integral role in fostering meaningful connections with donors, executing annual giving initiatives, and supporting stewardship strategies that enhance donor retention and engagement.

The Development Officer will assist with donor communications, annual campaigns, proposal development, and donor data tracking. With a strong focus on personalized stewardship and donor experience, this role collaborates with the fund development team and contributes to the overall success of fundraising initiatives that ensure quality care and support for individuals and families served by PHS. 

This is a permanent full-time role working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with some evening and weekend work on a scheduled basis. 

The Ideal Candidate

You are a compassionate communicator who takes pride in building lasting relationships. You understand that stewardship is more than a thank-you—it’s about showing donors the meaningful impact of their support. You are detail-oriented, organized, and thrive in a collaborative team environment committed to strengthening community through philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship & Relationship Management

• Assist with the development and execution of donor stewardship plans, ensuring timely, personalized recognition and impact reporting.
• Draft and coordinate donor communications including thank-you letters, milestone notes, and donor impact stories.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify and implement strategies for donor retention and upgrades.
• Monitor and track donor touchpoints and relationship histories in Raiser’s Edge NXT.

Annual Giving & Campaign Support

• Assist in the planning, creation, and delivery of annual giving campaigns, including direct mail, digital appeals, and monthly giving programs.
• Support segmentation and messaging tailored to different donor groups.
• Work with communications colleagues to align campaign messages with the organization’s mission and priorities.

Proposal & Grant Development

• Assist in preparing customized donor proposals and case statements for individual and institutional donors.
• Conduct prospect research on individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Support grant tracking and application preparation as needed, in collaboration with the Grant Writer.

Database Support  

• Maintain accurate donor records and interactions within Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Generate donor reports and mailing lists for stewardship and solicitation purposes.
• Respond to donor inquiries with professionalism, care, and timely follow-up.
• Support the development team in ensuring consistent donor recognition and recordkeeping.

Volunteer & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with staff across departments to share impact stories and collect program data for donor reporting.
• Assist with coordinating volunteer needs related to fundraising initiatives (e.g., thank-you calls, mailings, events).
• Participate in team planning and strategy sessions to align fundraising priorities and goals.

Qualifications and Skills

• 2–3 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit development.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a sincere interest in donor engagement and relationship-building.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with an ability to craft compelling and personalized donor communications.
• Solid organizational and time management skills; able to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail.
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT) and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of annual giving strategies, stewardship best practices, and donor-centric fundraising principles.
• Familiarity with grant writing and prospect research is an asset.
• Understanding of CRA charitable receipting rules is an asset.

Mandatory Employment Requirement: Successful candidates will be required to provide a current satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check prior to first day of employment.