Development Officer

Canadian Opera Company•Toronto, ON

1d•CA$50,000 - CA$55,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Canadian Opera Company is seeking a Development Officer to manage its President’s Council program and a portfolio of mid-level donors. This entry- to early-career role is ideal for someone looking to build a foundation in major gifts fundraising. The Development Officer will cultivate and steward donor relationships in the $2,250–$10,000 giving range, oversee the President’s Council program from start to finish, and manage administrative tasks to ensure a positive donor experience and a healthy pipeline for major gifts.

Requirements

1–2 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, annual giving, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience managing a donor portfolio with responsibility for revenue outcomes.
Strong written communication skills, with experience drafting donor-facing materials.
Experience working with CRM systems; Tessitura experience is an asset.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Tessitura experience is an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead the President’s Council program, including annual renewal strategy, member acquisition, and targeted upgrades to higher giving levels.
Develop and execute a 12-month engagement calendar for President’s Council members, including personalized cultivation touchpoints, performance events, and recognition activities.
Collaborate with the Development writer to prepare member communications, renewal appeals, and acknowledgement letters in alignment with the department’s voice and standards.
Collaborate with the Donor Services Coordinator(s) to ensure accurate benefit fulfillment, recognition listings, and CRM records for President’s Council members.
Track and report on program revenue, retention, and upgrade metrics, making data-informed recommendations to the Director, Major Gifts.
Manage a tiered caseload of approximately 200 mid-level donors (defined as donors giving between $2,250 and $10,000 annually), with a focus on building genuine relationships, improving retention, and growing revenue across the portfolio.
Qualify and develop a roster of prospects leveraging database-identified candidates from the Major Gifts team and Research Officer, and cultivate relationships through personalized outreach, meetings, and stewardship.
Conduct in-person and phone-based donor meetings to deepen engagement, with a primary focus on upgrading annual giving levels and strengthening the donor’s connection to the COC’s mission.
Manage lapsed reactivation outreach and President’s Council acquisition strategies using giving data and segmentation provided by the Development Operations and Annual Fund team to inform approach.
Occasionally identify donors within the portfolio who demonstrate readiness for a major gift conversation, and flag these prospects for transition to a Major Gift Officer with appropriate context.
Deliver high-quality, personalized stewardship for mid-level donors and President’s Council members through written communications, calls, and event attendance.
Draft stewardship materials including impact updates, thank-you notes, and recognition communications that reflect the donor’s relationship to the COC.
Support the planning and on-site execution of donor cultivation events and performance experiences, with particular attention to mid-level and President’s Council audiences.
Maintain accurate and timely records of all donor interactions, moves, and stewardship activities in Tessitura.
Support the preparation of donor proposals, program reports, and pipeline summaries for internal review and campaign reporting.
Draft, maintain, and update standard operating procedures for President’s Council portfolio/program.
Support accurate revenue tracking and forecasting for the President’s Council portfolio, working with the Development team to ensure timely reporting.
Collaborate with the Donor Services Coordinator(s) and Development Officer, Advancement Operations on gift processing, database hygiene, and recognition accuracy.