Senior Development Officer, Stewardship

Meridia Recruitment Solutions is pleased to partner with Branksome Hall in the recruitment of a Senior Development Officer (SDO), Stewardship to join their team in Toronto, Ontario .


Join a dynamic and vibrant community where you are not just working, but are inspired to grow, create and make a difference every step of the way. At Branksome Hall, a leading IB World School for girls in Toronto, you will be surrounded by more than 900 bright students and 240 passionate colleagues in an atmosphere that thrives on innovation, collaboration and creativity.


Our core values — Sense of Community, Inclusiveness, Creativity and Making a Difference — guide everything we do and inspire our shared commitment to shaping a better, brighter future for girls.



An Unprecedented Campaign with Unprecedented Success: Make Way Campaign


Branksome Hall is building on an extraordinary period of achievement. The school recently closed its historic Make Way campaign, raising $46 million—approximately 53% above its original $30 million goal—and securing the largest gifts in the school’s history.


As we look ahead to future campaigns and advance the school’s most important priorities, strategic stewardship and recognition of our donors is critical to sustaining this momentum and translating philanthropic ambition into lasting impact.



Role Description


The Senior Development Officer (SDO), Stewardship will play a key role in developing and implementing meaningful stewardship programs for gifts at all levels. Reporting to the Associate Director, Development Operations, and working collaboratively across the Development team, the SDO will develop and execute a comprehensive Donor Experience Program and annual stewardship calendar, including donor communications, impact reporting, recognition initiatives and stewardship activities that support Branksome Hall’s community of donors and volunteers.


This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled stewardship professional to build on Branksome’s success and help strengthen the school’s position as an exceptional, accessible and innovative leader in girls’ education.



Key Accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support the design, implementation, and ongoing management of a strategic, multi-tiered stewardship program for all donor segments, including major gifts, planned giving, campaign donors, leadership donors, and annual supporters and volunteers.
• Execute a comprehensive Donor Experience Program and annual stewardship calendar across Major Gifts, Annual Giving and Planned Giving;
• Develop and coordinate meaningful donor touchpoints, including impact reporting, recognition, stewardship communications, donor engagement opportunities and personalized correspondence;
• In collaboration with the Director, Campaign and Development and the Associate Director, Development Operations, support the development of customized stewardship plans for key donors and donor groups;
• Create, coordinate and distribute compelling stewardship and impact reports for individual donors, endowed funds, scholarships, bursaries and other specialized donor segments;
• Provide strategic input into the Donor & Giving Report and other Development publications, ensuring accuracy of donor lists, recognition details and impact messaging;
• Ensure stewardship commitments, donor intent, funding agreements and donor agreement deliverables are fulfilled accurately and on time;
• Working with the Director, Campaign and Development and Associate Director, Development Operations implement and maintain all donor signage programs, including donor walls and special initiatives;
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to collect student impact stories, testimonials, program outcomes and other meaningful content for donor reporting and stewardship communications;
• Support the planning and execution of donor recognition and stewardship events;
• Coordinate donor visits, meetings and engagement opportunities in collaboration with Advancement colleagues, school leadership, faculty and volunteers;
• Maintain accurate and detailed records of stewardship activities, donor interactions, reporting schedules, recognition preferences and donor deliverables in Raiser’s Edge;
• Track and monitor stewardship metrics, reporting deadlines and donor engagement indicators, using data and insights to inform strategy and continuous improvement;
• Research and recommend emerging trends and best practices in donor stewardship, recognition and philanthropy to enhance Branksome Hall’s donor experience.

Your Qualifications

• A university degree in a related field or relevant experience in Advancement, fundraising, communications, donor relations or stewardship;
• Four to five years of progressive experience working in donor relations, stewardship, Advancement or a related fundraising environment;
• Experience developing and executing donor stewardship, recognition, engagement and impact reporting programs for a range of donor audiences;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing donor communications, impact reports, recognition materials and institutional publications;
• Experience supporting donor engagement strategies across Major Gifts, Annual Giving and Planned Giving;
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain a high level of accuracy;
• Experience working with donor databases and fundraising systems, preferably Raiser’s Edge;
• Strong attention to detail, with experience maintaining accurate donor records, recognition lists, reporting schedules and stewardship documentation;
• A collaborative approach and the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues, donors, volunteers, faculty, staff and senior leadership;
• Professional presence, sound judgment, diplomacy and tact;
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a high-performing, mutually supportive team;
• Commitment to confidentiality and the ability to work with sensitive donor and institutional information;
• Experience in an educational institution would be considered an asset.

Branksome Hall hosts multiple events throughout the year, and some evening and weekend work will be required.



Why Join Branksome Hall:


Joining Branksome Hall will change your life. Along with highly collaborative, mission-driven colleagues and a stimulating environment, Branksome Hall offers:

• A competitive salary and generous vacation, taxable lunch benefit, health and dental benefits and pension plans, including contributions to the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for eligible employees;
• Hybrid work environment after six months of employment;
• A strong community with a deep commitment to students and to the growth and development of employees through ongoing professional development and mentorship;
• The opportunity to build upon the most successful fundraising campaign ever undertaken by an all-girls school in Toronto, and help shape the next chapter of philanthropy at Branksome Hall;
• Passionate colleagues who are committed to innovation, collaboration, inclusion and making a difference;
• Engagement with a network of internationally renowned industry experts, leaders, entrepreneurs, donors and volunteers;
• Access state-of-the-art facilities and resources to support wellness, including the Athletics and Wellness Centre.

Target Hiring Range:  $76,129.74 - $95,134.38

To express interest in this opportunity please apply online by clicking “Apply Now” below. 

For more information contact Mark Gillis, Partner, at View email address on meridiarecruitment.ca, Beth McLennan, Senior Consultant, at View email address on meridiarecruitment.ca, or Ben Broadbent, Recruitment Specialist, at View email address on meridiarecruitment.ca 

If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

Please be advised that a closed AI system may be employed in our recruitment process

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and the posting will remain active until filled.

Meridia Recruitment Solutions connects leading organizations with top talent by building strong relationships and creating ideal matches with candidates because we are only successful when you are. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity. To learn more about Meridia Recruitment Solutions, our job opportunities, and career advice we invite you to explore our site and subscribe for career alerts.