Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving

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Nature Conservancy of Canada

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Vancouver, Canada

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Taking care of our environment has never been more important than it is today. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is looking for a Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving to join a team committed to protecting our most important natural areas and the plants and animals they sustain.

NCC is the nation’s leading not-for-profit, private land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, we have brought people together to conserve and restore more than 15 million hectares across Canada. NCC takes a collaborative, evidence-based approach to achieve conservation success for the sake of nature and Canadians. With a national office in Toronto and seven regional offices across the country, NCC delivers results you can walk on.

NCC recognizes that we work on lands that have long been cared for by Indigenous Peoples under their own laws and knowledge systems. We are committed to transforming how we do our work, advancing Reconciliation through conservation, and working with Indigenous Peoples in meaningful, respectful, and supportive ways.

Position Summary:

This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading, innovative and growing organization committed to protecting Canada’s most important natural habitats and the species they sustain.

As the Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving, you will directly impact NCC’s ability to meet its fundraising goals and the organization’s financial strength at large with your experience and expertise in legacy and major gifts fundraising. This position will work strategically to build and strengthen long-term relationships with current and prospective donors and prospects with significant revenue potential.

Managed by the Director of Planned Giving, the Senior Development Officer supports the development and execution of an integrated long-range cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plan of current and prospective donors across Canada.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising

  • Manage a portfolio of planned giving prospects and donors focusing on identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
  • Focus on building philanthropic relationships with individuals, providing expertise, and facilitating the decision-making process for planning estate or complex gifts including a gift in a Will, Life Insurance Policy, Gift of securities and other assets.
  • Assist in the confirmation of 165 new legacy commitments annually and help to increase the conversion rate of Planned Giving Prospects to Nature Legacy Society members.
  • Provide timely, thoughtful and professional responses to inquiries received by phone, direct mail and email and develop a follow-up plan, implement relationship building strategies and timetables for both prospects and donors.
  • Collaborate with NCC Development staff across Canada to provide support and materials to help them facilitate conversations and confirm Legacy donors.
  • Assist in the planning and execution of Nature Legacy Society stewardship events and Donor Motivation Program presentations.
  • Contribute expertise in estate administration by supporting the management of estate files.
  • Keep up to date on trends within the sector and evaluate how these trends affect NCC’s
  • fundraising capabilities

Marketing

  • Collaborate with the Marketing and Development teams as well as provincial operating units to ensure legacy messaging is integrated, where appropriate and donor engagement strategies are aligned.
  • Work in collaboration with the Integrated Marketing and Fundraising team and external consultants to oversee the direct response cycle of 3 legacy appeals a year, email appeals, Leaflet content and telemarketing campaigns.
  • Support the Director in the development of ongoing and new marketing initiatives. Work in collaboration with Marketing and Development teams to promote legacy giving and identify new donors and prospects.
  • Oversee NCC’s partnership with external marketing initiatives such as the Will Power campaign, Epilogue Wills.
  • Coordinate NCC legacy ads and listing in external publications.
  • Help to develop content for the NCC magazine and work with the Communications team to create the Planned Giving Insert in one feature issue per year.

Communications

  • Provide timely, thoughtful and professional responses to donor inquiries received by phone, direct mail, emails, surveys etc. Develop a follow-up plan, implement relationship management strategies and timelines for prospects and donors.
  • Respond to internal and external requests for information on Legacy Giving from colleagues, donors, and allied professionals and provide resources to help facilitate the decision making process.
  • Have complex and nuanced conversations with donors and advisors on planned giving vehicles and uphold NCC standards of professionalism and excellence.
  • Contribute to the development and execution of a strategy to engage professional advisors in the financial and legal sectors.

Qualifications

  • University/College degree or equivalent experience
  • Minimum 5 years of fundraising experience, preferably in a Planned Giving or Major Gift capacity.
  • Technical knowledge on giving vehicles and related tax benefits, both current and future gift structures and/or CAGP membership an asset.
  • Proven ability to develop annual plans, set priorities, use planning and analytical skills, complete work with minimal supervision and meet deadlines.
  • Exceptional relationship building skills, proactive and comfortable speaking to donors, lawyers, estate professionals, consultants and stakeholders.
  • Ability to problem solve and work independently to execute assigned projects.
  • Results oriented with excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent writing skills, including a demonstrated ability to generate accurately researched and persuasive communications, business correspondence and donor acknowledgements;
  • Demonstrated high level of ethics and ability to communicate confidentially with privacy and diplomacy.
  • Ability to speak and understand French an asset.

Please include a cover letter with application

Application Deadline

March 28, 2025 | 11:59pm EST, 9:59pm Mountain Time, 8:59pm Pacific Time, 10:50pm CST, 00:59 am +1 AST

At NCC, we're committed to providing a healthy, safe, barrier free and inclusive, workplace, where respect and diversity are recognized assets. We strive for bold conservation achievements in which equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are the norm. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. NCC implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. For a confidential inquiry, contact us by email at hr@natureconservancy.ca to make any required arrangements. If you have questions regarding accessible employment at NCC, please email us at hr@natureconservancy.ca.