Direct Response Specialist

Surrey Hospitals Foundation • Surrey, BC

1d • CA$65,000 - CA$75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Surrey Hospitals Foundation is looking for a resourceful and experienced Direct Response Specialist with expertise in multichannel direct response fundraising. This role plays a critical part in ensuring donors understand their vital role in transforming healthcare and are meaningfully engaged across all giving levels. The Direct Response Specialist is responsible for strengthening and growing a base of annual donors that provides support for key funding priorities, while also building a sustainable pipeline of prospects for mid-level, major and legacy giving. Working collaboratively with our internal teams, this role helps align annual giving strategies with engagement opportunities to foster long-term donor relationships and inspire ongoing support.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in annual giving, and/or direct response fundraising, preferably in a healthcare or nonprofit environment.
• Strong donor-centric approach with a clear understanding of Annual Giving audiences, and motivations.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple campaigns and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable strategies.
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all campaigns.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor life cycle, and stewardship.
• Professionalism in handling highly sensitive and confidential donor information.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in fundraising, donor relations, or marketing, with a strong emphasis on direct response fundraising.
• Direct response fundraising experience is an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Communications, Business, Non-Profit Management, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of the philanthropic landscape and giving opportunities in Surrey, surrounding cities South of the Fraser and the Lower Mainland.
• An understanding of donor behaviour, fundraising cycles and pipeline development.
• Experience working with external vendors or consultants, including direct response agencies.
• Proficiency with donor database systems, preferably in Raiser’s Edge/NXT.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution and monitoring of a comprehensive direct response fundraising program, including quarterly appeals, special campaigns, and integrated multichannel solicitations.
• Work closely with external direct response consultants to execute fundraising strategies, overseeing mailing lists and schedules, production, vendor coordination and campaign effectiveness.
• Use donor data, analytics to create targeted, personalized appeals that improve response rates, donor retention and average gift.
• Act as an internal liaison to facilitate effective and efficient cross team collaboration to support execution of the direct response program.
• Draft communications campaigns that integrate direct response with email, social media and other marketing channels.
• Monitor campaign performance, analyze results, and provide clear recommendations to optimize revenue, donor value and long-term growth.
• Collaborate with Development and Engagement team to implement effective acquisition, cultivation and solicitation strategies that support the growth of the Annual Giving portfolio.
• Ensure donor communications clearly convey impact, appreciation and opportunities for deeper engagement.
• Participate in donor stewardship initiatives as required to support Annual Giving program needs.
• Work collaboratively to implement a robust monthly giving program, focused on increasing donor acquisition and retention.
• Develop and execute targeted conversion strategies to grow the pipeline of monthly donors to mid-level and major gift portfolios.
• Facilitate face-to-face, tele-fundraising, and other campaigns to acquire new monthly donors and reactivate lapsed donors.
• Conduct prospect research and collaborate in developing donor strategies, focusing on annual giving donors who have capacity to increase their level of support.
• Work collaboratively with the Development team to strengthen donor pipelines.
• Use data insights and segmentation to prioritize prospects and support targeted engagement and stewardship strategies.
• Represent Surrey Hospitals Foundation through donor meetings, community presentations and Foundation events.
• Communicates the Foundation’s mission, funding priorities, and impact in compelling written and verbal formats.

Benefits

• Competitive salary to commensurate with your experience and skills
• Comprehensive benefits including extended health, dental, disability and life insurance
• Supportive work culture and opportunities for professional development
• Participation in the British Columbia Municipal Pension Plan (MPP)
• Additional paid time off through wellness days and our nine-day fortnight program
• Four weeks of vacation to start

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level