JOB POSTING: Director of Membership and Development Strategy

Location: Ottawa (hybrid) preferred; fully remote candidates within Canada will be considered, with regular travel to Ottawa. 

Reports to: Executive Director 

Supervises: Development staff and related contractors 

Position Summary 

The Council of Canadians is seeking an experienced and creative fundraising leader to play a central leadership role in the next chapter of one of Canada’s leading social movement organizations. The ability to develop a base of organized, active members and rely of then to resource the organization has been, for the last 40 years, the source of the Council’s independence, and our ability to get real results. 

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development leads the Council’s fundraising, donor engagement, and membership development programs. Working closely with campaign and organizational leadership, the Director is responsible for growing revenue, strengthening supporter relationships, and building the fundraising capacity needed to advance the Council’s mission. 

This is a hands-on leadership role. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with day-to-day fundraising practice, providing direction to the development team while remaining actively involved in fundraising strategy, donor communications, major gifts development, campaign integration, and organizational planning. 

The Director of Development     serves as a key member of the organization’s management team and acts as a strategic partner to the Executive Director in advancing the Council’s mission, goals, and financial health. 

Strategic Opportunity 

The Council of Canadians is entering an important period of organizational development, focused on adapting the power of an in-person, member-based organizing and power-building strategy to more deeply integrate digital organizing strategies.  

The successful candidate will join a stable organization with a strong national profile, a committed supporter base, and significant opportunities for growth. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Development will play a central role in expanding supporter engagement, and helping develop a digitally-enabled in-person power-building strategy.  The Director currently oversees a small development team and will help shape the growth of the department over time. 

Over the next 2-3 years, key priorities will include: 

• Increasing digital engagement and revenue while maintaining direct mail. 
• Integrating lead acquisition and fundraising with organizing and campaigning. 
• Expanding our membership and organization in communities across Canada. 

This role is ideal for a fundraising leader who wants to combine strategic leadership with hands-on execution to build on the historic impact of the organization’s membership-led approach. 

Hours and Compensation: 

Four-day work week (28 hours). Salary of $84,000 plus generous benefits package and RRSP contributions. 

Major Responsibilities 

Fundraising Strategy and Growth (35%) 

• Lead the next phase of the Council’s fundraising and supporter engagement programs. 
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies for annual and monthly giving.  This includes planning, goals, budgets, and performance measures. 
• Develop, manage, and monitor budgets and revenue projections. 
• Identify opportunities to strengthen revenue generation across digital fundraising, direct mail, monthly giving, major gifts, legacy giving, and emerging channels. 
• Analyze fundraising performance and supporter trends, using data to guide strategy and decision-making. 
• Manage fundraising vendors, consultants, contracts, and external partnerships. 

Donor/Member Engagement and Communications (25%) 

• Oversee fundraising appeals, donor communications, stewardship materials, reports, and related content. 
• Ensure a coherent supporter journey and ladder of engagement that moves people from initial contact to deeper and long-term involvement. 
• Participate in organizational and campaign planning processes to ensure fundraising opportunities and supporter engagement considerations are incorporated from the outset. 
• Develop and test new approaches to donor acquisition, engagement, and retention, particularly those connected to organizing. 
• Contribute to organizational storytelling that inspires supporters and demonstrates the impact of the Council’s work. 

Major Gifts and Philanthropic Development (10%) 

• Support the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention of major donors and legacy supporters. 
• Support development of relationships with foundations and grant writing. 
• Work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, board members, and the Executive Director on fundraising strategies. 
• Participate in donor meetings, cultivation activities, and fundraising events as required. 

Leadership and Team Development (20%) 

• Provide leadership, coaching, mentorship, and support to members of the development team. 
• Establish team priorities, assign work, monitor progress, and support professional development. 
• Participate in recruitment, onboarding, and performance management processes. 

Organizational Leadership (10%) 

• Participate as a member of the management team in organizational planning, decision-making, and implementation. 
• Contribute to the development of annual operational plans, budgets, and long-term organizational strategies. 
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on organizational leadership, human resources matters, labour relations responsibilities, and collective agreement administration.  
• Represent the organization externally with donors, partners, supporters, and stakeholders as appropriate. 

Qualifications 

Required Experience 

• At least five years of progressively senior experience in fundraising, membership development, supporter engagement, or a related field. 
• Demonstrated success achieving fundraising growth and revenue targets. 
• Experience working across multiple fundraising channels, including direct mail, monthly giving, digital fundraising, major gifts, legacy giving, and donor stewardship. 
• Experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies, plans, and budgets. 
• Experience supervising staff and supporting teams. 
• Experience fundraising for advocacy, social justice, environmental, labour, democratic, community-based, public-interest, charitable, or membership-based organizations. 

Knowledge and Expertise 

• Strong understanding of donor acquisition, donor retention, and supporter engagement strategies. 
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices and emerging trends. 
• Understanding of how fundraising, organizing, campaigning, and communications can work together to advance organizational goals. 
• Ability to interpret data and use evidence to guide strategy and decision-making. 
• Knowledge of labour relations and human resources practices in a unionized workplace is an asset.  
• CFRE designation or enrollment is an asset. 
• Experience with donor databases and digital engagement platforms such as Raiser’s Edge, Action Network, or equivalent systems. 

Skills and Attributes 

• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills. 
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. 
• Demonstrated creativity, initiative, and ability to turn ideas into effective fundraising programs. 
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills. 
• Ability to build strong relationships with supporters, colleagues, partners, and stakeholders. 
• Comfortable working collaboratively across fundraising, campaigning, communications, and organizational leadership functions. 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. 
• Motivated by building long-term organizational strength and supporter power. 
• Commitment to social justice, democracy, and the mission of the Council of Canadians. 
• French-language skills are an asset. 

How to apply: 

To apply, fill out the job application form (or visit canadians.org/jobs).

“The Council of Canadians is committed to employment equity. We seek to build a diverse and welcoming team. We encourage individuals from communities facing systemic barriers to apply, including people of colour, Indigenous people, members of the Black community, women, LGBTQIA2S and people with disabilities. Please indicate in your application if you would like to be considered for employment equity. Any such disclosure is voluntary, and you may identify with more than one community or group.   

The Council further welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities and will make every effort to fulfill requests for accommodation. If you require accommodation to complete and submit your application and/or during the interview process, please advise the recruitment contact person, so arrangements can be made.”