Director, Communications & Donor Stewardship
Job Description – Director, Communications & Donor Stewardship
The Role:
Working with and reporting to the Vice President, Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement, the Director, Communications & Donor Stewardship will develop and implement comprehensive communications and donor stewardship strategies that support and advance the Foundation’s mission and vision.
The Director is responsible for two complementary donor communications portfolios for the Foundation: 1) Donor Fundraising Communications, including the creation of cases for support and all major gift proposals, and all event related messaging and, 2) Donor Stewardship, including refining and managing our donor journey from introduction to renewal opportunities. These two portfolios align, allowing the Director to maintain line of sight on all donor interaction with the Foundation from prospecting to renewal, and shape the strategy of the touchpoints in between.
The ideal candidate will have a record of supporting leadership and collaborating with internal colleagues. A seasoned communications generalist, the candidate will be both a ‘d-er’ with strong execution skills, and also have experience leading teams to deliver communications projects.
The Director collaborates with the Foundation Philanthropy team to determine the best strategies for effective stewardship of donor segments and maintains a strong tracking process for donor affinity groups, ensuring that all activities and touch points align with the Foundation’s Mission, Vision and Values. They also collaborate with the Directors of Marketing and Events to ensure continuity of our brand voice across all Foundation initiatives.
This role oversees a team of four people, two dedicated to writing and design and two dedicated to donor stewardship.
Role Deliverables:
Communications
- Acts as the primary contact for relationships in the Hospital with the goal of understanding the current scope and status of projects that can be used in the creation of cases for support, donor proposals, impact reporting and event content.
- Actively draws in others to contribute expertise as needed to develop a cohesive communications strategy.
- Works collaboratively with the Director of Marketing to ensures donor impact is communicated via all channels.
- Supports all external speaking opportunities for the CEO and Senior Leadership Team through the development of materials while ensuring that brand voice is consistent and recognizable.
- Works collaboratively with the Events team to develop all communication and collateral needs for initiatives throughout the year. Examples include: invitations, programs, presentations, event scripts, participant remarks, signage etc.
- Leads the development of key stewardship communications pieces including the Foundation’s Annual Report and comparable publications.
- Defines process and oversees the production of donor recognition lists for various initiatives ensuing accuracy and adherence to gift agreement deliverables.
- Works collaboratively with the Directors of Marketing and Events to coordinate external donor recognition communications, including maintaining updated copy on the Foundation website.
- Collaborates with cross-functional team members to ensure consistent messages, positioning, timing and language for various internal and external audiences.
- Monitors industry developments, gleans and share insights and incorporates into strategic counsel.
- Leads team efforts to address areas of growth opportunity and recommend solutions.
Donor Stewardship
- Strategically ensures a donor-centric lens is applied to all stewardship communications initiatives.
- Refines the process applied to all stewardship activities, including working with Philanthropy team to design and maintain a creative and authentic engagement calendar to proactively engage new and current donors.
- Leads the development and oversees the execution of segmented communications to donor affinity groups as appropriate.
- Leads the stewardship reporting process for our donors and sponsors, including introducing innovative reporting opportunities when available.
- Designs and oversees a donor recognition program to ensure policies and standards are consistently applied, including both digital and tangible recognition vehicles.
- Maintains a full calendar of deliverables for impact reports, and ensures timely delivery as outlined in all Foundation gift agreements.
- Acts as the strategic link between Philanthropy and other departments in the development of gift agreements, to ensure that all available recognition channels have been evaluated and included where relevant.
- Actively updates Raisers Edge, the Foundation’s database, to ensure that information regarding acknowledgement, recognition, on-going communications and continued cultivation of donors is tracked year over year.
- Ensures that reporting on activity is consistent and reliable.
Leadership
- Leads, coaches and develops a team of four direct reports; A Senior Writer, a Creative Content Officer, a Manager of Stewardship and a Stewardship Officer.
- Actively participates in process improvement and works directly with other Foundation teams for organization wide development needs to ensure a well-managed and coordinated approach to overall communication and stewardship.
- Develops strong, collaborative relationships with appropriate hospital staff and medical professionals to produce creative and innovative materials that encourage donor, patient and/or other prospect referrals.
- Plays an active role in drafting annual portfolio budget and any related operational or campaign planning for program.
Qualifications and Skills
- Completion of a post-secondary degree relating to communications, and at least 10 years of related experience.
- Outstanding communication skills with a demonstrated ability in writing and communications strategy development.
- Experience with the ideation and implementation of donor journeys and the creation of stewardship plans for different constituent groups.
- Proficiency in employing a broad range of communications tactics to influence engagement and donation.
- Ability to effectively manage and deliver multiple projects in a quality and timely manner, independently and under pressure
- A minimum of five years of people leadership experience, preferably managing multiple direct reports.
- Forward thinking, a problem-solver with excellent project management skills and the ability to execute strategic plans.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and a sense of urgency.
- Demonstrated track record of strategic leadership with strong program planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to provide superior customer service and apply sound judgement when dealing with donors and volunteers.
- Proficiency with common office software, including SharePoint and Raiser’s Edge.
- Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the mission and values of Women’s College Hospital.
- Fundraising experience in either an academic or healthcare setting is an asset.
- Willingness and capacity to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and with the flexibility to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
- Ability to handle sensitive/confidential information appropriately.
- Shows strong commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity with the progressive mindset of a champion for a workplace culture that promotes a fully welcoming institution.
We thank all applicants for their interest.
We will contact only those applicants selected for further consideration. Please note that submissions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and therefore early submission is encouraged.
Women's College Hospital Foundation is committed to fairness and equity in employment and our recruitment and selection practices. We encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, members of racialized groups, women and any others who may contribute to the further diversification of our Foundation and Hospital community. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under our Access for People with Disabilities policy. Applicants are asked to make their requirements known in advance.
