Advancement Officer

Company Overview

Fall for Dance North (FFDN) is Toronto’s premier professional international dance festival that exists to break boundaries and remove barriers. Our dynamic team works year-round to present the two week festival in the fall and complementary programming at select times throughout the year. With pluralism and affordability at our core, it is our mission to celebrate, nurture and amplify established and emerging Canadian dance artists, create global connections, and inspire future audiences to sustain the dance art form.

Job Description

About the Role:

The Advancement Department leads and inspires meaningful engagement and philanthropic support from private, public and corporate sources in advancement of the FFDN mission. In addition, we build strategic, mutually beneficial relationships and elevate the reputation of the organization locally, nationally and internationally. 

FFDN is seeking an Advancement Officer to support the Director of Advancement and Philanthropy in all areas of fundraising and donor relations. This includes coordinating fundraising campaigns and events, assisting with grant research and writing, and supporting corporate sponsorships. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and writing skills, great attention to detail, a curiosity about dance and a desire to engage with the people who support the art form. You must be self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively across departments. 

Salary/Fee: Salary $60,000. Full-time permanent position  

Other Benefits: Health benefits, monthly internet contribution, performance tickets, professional development opportunities, flexible work schedule, company laptop for use, paid vacation

Hours/Schedule: This is a full time position, 40 hours per week. Please note that some evening/weekend work may be required, particularly during festival time. 

General Advancement duties:

• Attend weekly meetings with Artistic Director and Director of Advancement and Philanthropy;

• Maintain Advancement Calendar;

• Attend Advancement Committee meetings, prepare agendas, and take minutes;

• Organize and maintain advancement materials, such as brochures, web pages, and benefit packages;

• Support the cultivation and stewardship of philanthropic and stakeholder relationships, including working across departments to assure any promised benefits are fulfilled;

• Coordinate and draft select email and newsletter communications.

Fundraising and donor management:

• Support the development and implementation of fundraising plans to meet annual and multi-year fundraising goals;

• Participate in donor meetings and presentations;

• Participate in drafting grant, funding and sponsorship applications;

• Maintain records throughout the year for final reporting purposes and support final reports;

• Manage and update donor records, contact information, and donation history;

• Coordinate donor events, including invitations and RSVP tracking;

• Coordinate festival tickets for donors and VIPs;

• Research prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations;

• Other responsibilities may be assigned by the Director of Advancement and Philanthropy to support the Advancement department.

Desired Qualifications:

• Minimum 2-3 years of experience working in a development or advancement role;

• Formal education/training in fundraising and/or arts administration is an asset;

• Strong writing and communication skills;

• Experience with database management;

• Experience working in Excel/Google spreadsheets using formulas;

• Customer service experience highly appreciated;

• Highly organized and detail oriented, with an ability to multitask;

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment;

• Adaptable, with strong interpersonal skills, a positive attitude and the ability to problem solve and embrace flexibility while working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

The ideal candidate is someone who has:

• Proven attention to detail, consistency, and accuracy;

• Creative and collaborative approach to fundraising;

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing;

• Enjoys working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment;

• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve; and 

• Is outgoing with a natural curiosity, and interest in taking on new challenges and lifelong learning

Other Information:

FFDN’s offices are located at 20 Dundas St. West, 9th floor. Staff will continue to work in a hybrid online/in-person model. Please note that some evening and weekend work may be required throughout the year and particularly during festival time.