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About the Role
The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is seeking a Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts, to identify, cultivate, and close new high-capacity donors. This role focuses on new donor acquisition, expanding the donor base rather than solely managing existing portfolios. It also involves managing a smaller portfolio of existing major gift donors and providing mentorship to a Major Gift Officer, blending senior fundraising expertise with emerging people leadership.
Responsibilities
- Identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors new to the COC, building a pipeline beyond the existing base.
- Design cultivation strategies for donors unfamiliar with the COC, introducing them to the artistic mission.
- Represent the COC in philanthropic, corporate, and social circles to increase visibility among prospective new major donors.
- Partner with the Discovery function to convert qualified prospects into managed relationships.
- Manage a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, leading the full donor cycle.
- Develop individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for complex major gift relationships.
- Facilitate donor engagement through site visits, artistic introductions, and hosting at performances.
- Prepare compelling proposals, briefing materials, and stewardship communications.
- Introduce blended giving conversations, combining cash with planned gifts, where appropriate.
- Provide day-to-day management, coaching, and portfolio guidance to the Development Officer.
- Share donor strategy expertise across the team.
- Contribute to onboarding, goal setting, and performance conversations for the Development Officer.
- Serve as a thought partner to the Director, Major Gifts on portfolio strategy and pipeline planning.
- Collaborate with senior leadership, board members, and volunteer leaders on donor cultivation and solicitation.
- Contribute to departmental planning and represent the Major Gifts team in cross-functional initiatives.
Requirements
- Substantial progressive experience in major gifts fundraising with a demonstrated track record of personally identifying and closing gifts from new donors.
- An established network and credibility within the philanthropic, cultural, or business community to open new donor relationships independently.
- Experience mentoring, coaching, or supervising another fundraiser, or clear readiness for people leadership.
- Sophisticated relationship building and solicitation skills, with comfort managing complex, multi-stage cultivation strategies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal and briefing development for senior stakeholders.
- Working familiarity with common planned giving vehicles to introduce blended ask conversations.
- Experience with donor CRM systems (Tessitura is an asset).
- Genuine passion for the performing arts and the ability to speak credibly and enthusiastically about the COC's artistic mission.
Skills
- Major gifts fundraising
- New donor acquisition
- Pipeline development
- Relationship building
- Solicitation
- Cultivation strategies
- Portfolio management
- Mentorship
- Coaching
- People leadership
- Written communication
- Verbal communication
- Proposal development
- Briefing development
- Planned giving
- Donor CRM systems
Location
- Toronto
- Hybrid work environment (in office and remote)
Work Type
- Hybrid
- Flexible schedule
- Evenings and weekends required
- Full-time
Experience Level
- Senior
About the Company
- Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America.
- The COC enjoys a loyal audience and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation.
- Its diverse repertoire includes new commissions and productions, local and international collaborations, and attracts world-class artists.
- The company is an incubator for the future of opera, nurturing new performers and creators.
- The COC's purpose-built opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, is internationally acclaimed.
- The COC deeply values equity and diversity, fostering an inclusive, discrimination-free environment.
- The COC is committed to building a workforce that reflects its community and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and abilities.
- The COC is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Equal Opportunity
- The COC deeply values equity and diversity across all levels of the organization and believes in fostering an inclusive, discrimination-free environment that fully supports our team’s personal and collective success.
- We are committed to building a workforce that reflects our community, our city, and our country and, in turn, the COC welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and abilities who share and embrace these values of anti-racism and inclusion.
- The COC is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in all parts of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.