ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Preamble:
Vancouver College’s legacy is a testament to the generous support from generations of families, alumni, staff, and friends since the day it opened in 1922. Everything we have is a reflection of the generosity of those who came before us.

Vancouver College’s first Capital Campaign in the early 1920’s (led by Brother Lannon and Father O’Boyle) was for the construction of a new school on the present site in Shaughnessy. Since that time, several more Capital Campaigns have followed, along with annual fundraising campaigns in between, all serving to illustrate the Vancouver College community’s rich heritage of giving.

Most recently, Vancouver College focused on a campus renewal project prompted by seismic challenges and ageing buildings. The $43 million project was funded by the Our Next Century Campaign that raised $40 Million from July 2014 to June 2021. The campaign’s success led to the construction of Manrell Hall in 2018, followed by the new Lannon Hall and Blessed Edmund Rice Chapel in 2020.

Since the Our Next Century Campaign, Vancouver College continues to raise funds through an Annual Giving Program that supports the Financial Assistance Program, educational resources, and the school’s emergent needs as determined by the Senior Leadership Team. It is anticipated that another campaign will soon be launched to fund improvements for the school music program. The endeavour may involve a complete renovation of the current site or construction of a new structure on a site within the campus. A decision in this regard will be made by the Board of Directors by January 2024.

On behalf of the Vancouver College and the VC Millennium Foundation, the Advancement Office leads and coordinates all fundraising initiatives in conjunction with the Vancouver College Alumni Association and Vancouver College Parents Association in furtherance of our shared goals.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
VC’s Advancement Office is seeking a relationship-centred and dynamic self-starter to serve as our Associate Director of Advancement and Community Relations in anticipation of a future capital campaign to fund the needs of VC’s Music Program.

Reporting to the Director of Advancement and working in close partnership with the President and other members of the Senior Leadership Team, the Associate Director will contribute to the development and implementation of the strategic objectives of the school’s financial giving program in support of its Vision, Mission and Values.

The Associate Director works closely with the Director of Advancement as well as the President as lead fundraisers for major gifts. He/She is responsible for all aspects of the giving program including increasing donor participation, retention, acquisition, and engagement. He/She will work with a portfolio of major donors in the $10,000+ range while also overseeing the annual giving program.

The Associate Director is also responsible for external/community relations, specifically with parents and alumni, including coordinating with their volunteer organizations (VC Parents Association and VC Alumni Association) and providing volunteer management as needed.

In this role, the Associate Director will have the following responsibilities:

Giving Programs:

• Continue to build and refine Vancouver College’s established annual fund program and recommend changes and adjustments, as necessary.
• Work with the Director of Advancement to integrate annual fund activities into the overall advancement program.
• Oversee and implement direct response solicitation program(s).
• Work closely with the Advancement Team on matters specific to the annual fund, including identifying appropriate areas for integrating annual fund messaging and solicitation.
• Contribute to the development of solicitation materials and packages of various media for solicitation, awareness-building and community-building purposes, including creative development, copywriting, collateral materials, integration of College’s website, and electronic fundraising elements integration.
• Identify opportunities to cull prospects for personal solicitation.
• Identify opportunities to identify major and leadership gifts prospects and facilitate meetings with the Director of Advancement/President for solicitation.
• Implement a monthly donor conversion program with appropriate donor segments.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement on recognition opportunities and assist with the implementation.
• When prompted by the Board of Directors, collaborate with the Director of Advancement for the planning and implementation of the capital campaign for the Music Program.

Community Relations:
Parents:

• Work closely with the Parents Association on annual events including activities related to sponsorships.

Alumni:

• Support Vancouver College Alumni Association (VCAA) with events including, but not limited to the annual golf tournament, football game, hockey tournament, Homecoming, etc.
• Assist alumni to build networks with each other; including, but not limited to, usage of social media and online presence.
• Establish alumni chapters or clubs in other key alumni focused areas.
• Assist Vancouver College alumni planning reunions with requests for alumni information, event suggestions, and on campus visits.
• Work closely with the Communications and Marketing Specialist on matters related to or of specific interest to alumni and provide support as needed e.g., website updates, newsletters, etc.
• Update alumni database(s) or seek the help of the Advancement and Donor Services Officer as needed.
• Attend monthly VCAA meetings.
• Take a leadership role in organizing the biennial Hall of Honour Induction and Reception.

Other:

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement

Education/Experience

• Familiarity with and commitment to the Mission of Vancouver College and/or comfort working in a Catholic, faith-based environment.
• Post-secondary degree or diploma and a minimum of seven years’ experience in advancement/development/outside sales, preferably major gifts work and preferably within a school environment, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Experience working with sensitive information and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Skills/Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Self-motivated (a “self-starter”); innovative and ability to work with independence within the context of a team environment.
• Flexible in approaching complex situations and relationships.
• Results-oriented and goal-driven.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and manage data.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities, giving careful attention to detail.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or similar donor database and skilled in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Second language proficiency in Mandarin would be an asset.

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward a letter of application and résumé by Friday, 11th of August 2023, to Ronith Cogswell, Director of Advancement, at [email protected]. Please include the job title in the subject line of your email.