Senior Donor Impact Specialist

Job Purpose

The Senior Donor Impact Specialist is responsible for developing and delivering strategic donor communications, stewardship initiatives and impact reporting that strengthen donor relationships and enhance the donor experience. The role is characterized by increasing complexity, autonomy and organizational impact, operating with a broader strategic scope, significant discretion and responsibility for high-profile, complex and highly tailored communications that support transformational philanthropy.

These roles develop compelling donor-centred content and stewardship materials for individual donors, corporate partners, legacy donors and other key stakeholders, translating complex humanitarian programs into meaningful stories of impact. They create customized communications, reports, proposals, recognition materials and other donor-facing assets that deepen engagement, demonstrate accountability and inspire continued philanthropic support. They also contribute to donor experience strategies, stewardship initiatives and recognition frameworks that strengthen long-term donor relationships.

These senior specialist roles support the planning, development, execution and evaluation of donor communications and stewardship initiatives, ensuring content is strategically aligned, audience-focused and reflective of organizational priorities. They collaborate closely with philanthropy, operations, communications and program teams to gather information, shape messaging and deliver high-quality content while ensuring consistency with brand standards, editorial guidelines, ethical fundraising principles and best practices.

Key Accountabilities

• Develops and implements strategic donor communications, stewardship initiatives and impact reporting that strengthen donor relationships and align with the Canadian Red Cross's mission, values and organizational priorities.

• Researches, analyzes and translates complex humanitarian programs, operational information and funding outcomes into compelling, donor-centred stories, stewardship materials, impact reports, recognition content and other tailored donor communications for individual, corporate, foundation and legacy donors.

• Leads the development of highly complex, high-profile and customized donor communications supporting transformational gifts, strategic funding priorities, national campaigns and corporate partnerships, ensuring messaging is accurate, donor-focused and demonstrates meaningful impact.

• Provides high discretion and strategic leadership in an individual contributor role by establishing content standards and best practices, contributing to donor recognition and stewardship frameworks, mentoring colleagues and securing cross-functional alignment to achieve organizational objectives.

• Plans, develops, executes and evaluates donor stewardship communications, recognition initiatives and impact reporting, using qualitative and quantitative insights to continuously improve the donor experience and strengthen long-term engagement.

• Collaborates closely with philanthropy, operations, communications, senior leadership and subject matter experts to gather information, shape messaging and ensure donor communications accurately reflect organizational priorities, program outcomes and funding impact.

• Manages relationships with internal and external partners, including creative agencies, designers, translators and production vendors, to deliver high-quality donor communications and stewardship materials on time and to organizational standards.

• Ensures all donor communications adhere to editorial standards, brand guidelines, ethical fundraising principles, donor privacy requirements and industry best practices while providing editorial guidance and subject matter expertise to colleagues across the organization

Requirements

• Qualifications include a minimum of 6-9 years' experience and a 3-year college diploma or university degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, English, creative writing or a related field and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. May require a graduate diploma/degree in a related field and/or a professional degree, certification or designation.

• Requires expertise in a specialized discipline or broad experience across fields, along with an understanding of interconnections between processes and business units.

• Experience developing strategic donor communications, impact reporting and donor-centred content for philanthropy and fundraising, including corporate partnerships, major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, monthly giving and digital and direct marketing campaigns.

• Proficiency in standard computer applications (Microsoft Office Suite), content management systems and donor relationship management (CRM) databases.

• Strong knowledge of donor-centred communications, storytelling and editorial best practices, including donor experience, engagement, stewardship, retention and recognition strategies.

• Ability to identify complex problems, analyze interrelated factors, assess and mitigate risks, and develop solutions using specialized skills.

• Exceptional written communication, editing and influence skills to gather perspectives, understand stakeholder needs and present complex information clearly to diverse audiences, often in sensitive situations.

Working Conditions

Physical Effort

• No unusual physical requirements.

• In certain positions, occasional requirement to lift up to 20kg in order to perform the requirements of the role.

Sensory & Mental Effort

• Requires significant attention to detail and concentration and ability to mentally process large amounts of information.

• The work pace is often unpredictable with significant time pressures.

• Ability to adapt to frequent and often urgent changes in priorities, and make decisions under pressure, work at an

unpredictable pace.

Work Environment

• Work will be conducted in an office-like setting.

• May require travel to safe locations; limited exposure to adverse conditions.

• Work requires the ability to work to deadlines.

• Work requires interactions with dissatisfied clients and the resolution of complex client issues.

• In a large-scale emergency, where staff numbers are compromised or additional resources are required provide disaster relief

and/or emergency field operational support