Donation Specialist

Location: Ottawa, Ontario 

Reports to: Manager, Annual Giving & Alumni

Status: Permanent, Full time

Bargaining Unit Status: Included 

Classification: Band 3

Salary range: CA$ 58,810 - CA$ 71,654 per annum

Language requirements: English is essential, French desirable

Job posting: Internal & External 

ABOUT CUSO INTERNATIONAL  

Cuso International is an international cooperation and development organization that works to create economic and social opportunities for marginalized groups. Together with our partners, we are focused on efforts to advance gender equality and social inclusion, improve economic resilience, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures. Cuso presently supports programs implemented in Africa, Canada, Central an South America, and the Caribbean. Find out more at 

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Donation Specialist ensures the accurate handling, documentation, and reporting of all donations to Cuso, providing an advanced level of financial and administrative support. This role works in tandem with our Data Alumni Specialist and fundraising team to ensure the smooth running of all related processes and provides an excellent level of donor engagement and support. The Donation Specialist also collaborates with external vendors and oversees print collateral. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Donations & Stewardship:

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of donations to handle general inquiries, donation renewals, upgrades, and new donations at all levels


• Process all direct response, corporate, foundation, individual, volunteer fundraising and third-party event donations, promptly, efficiently and accurately


• Support monthly donor and one-time gift donation administration by providing prompt donor follow up and accurate tracking to minimize revenue loss and donor attrition, and follow up on declined gifts


• Reconcile Raiser’s Edge with Cuso’s official financial statements on a monthly basis


• Develop and produce all tax receipts including all accompanying thank you letters and email


• Manage direct mail donations as per the Campaign Donation Process and follow up on (NSF) cheques and other bank returns


• Prepare all cheque and cash deposits to be submitted to Finance


• Liaise with Database Specialist to support Raiser’s Edge database projects to maintain database integrity including updating donor records, ensuring address accuracy and entering responses from donor engagement

Campaigns & Donor Engagement:

• Coordinate elements of monthly conversion materials, including donor profiles, in collaboration with fundraising team.


• Act as a donor relations ambassador to internal and external parties, positively representing Cuso International


• Oversee data extraction in collaboration with the Data/Alumni Specialist, ensuring accuracy and quality of data used for reporting and making recommendations to support the team’s efforts

Administrative:

• Ensure all gifts, direct response, corporate, foundation, individual, volunteer fundraising and third-party event details are accurately entered and maintained in Raiser’s Edge


• Collaborate with external auditors on an annual basis to ensure Raiser’s Edge reconciliation with Cuso International’s official financial statements


• Order and maintain inventory of current Engagement collateral including tax receipt paper, envelopes, newsletters


• Manage and maintain key engagement equipment such as the postage meter, tax receipt printer, and automatic envelope opener to ensure smooth daily operations.


• Oversee the donor removal file and ensure it is kept up to date


• Produce regular and ad hoc reports, in collaboration with the Database Specialist as needed

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

• University degree in Business Administration, Communications & Marketing, International Development or any other relevant field 


• 3 to 5 years of progressive related experience within a not-for-profit organization


• 3+ years of experience working on a fundraising team with knowledge in direct response methods


• 2+ years demonstrated experience with Raiser’s Edge


• High proficiency with Office 365 and MS Office applications


• Excellent verbal communication skills


• Self-starter who works autonomously with a strong work ethic


• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team in a participatory manner


• Exceptional attention to detail with a high level of accuracy


• Strong commitment to continuous improvement and learning


• Demonstrated ability to exercise tact, discretion and maintain confidentiality with regard to sensitive, personal and financial information


• Demonstrated attitudes and behaviours which show respect for diversity


• Ability to work well within a dynamic and fast-paced environment, and the ability to work under pressure while responding to competing demands and deadlines


• Ability to coordinate and/or execute multi-functional or diverse duties concurrently


• Available to work in the Ottawa office Monday-Friday
  

HOW TO APPLY 

Cuso is committed to creating and fostering an inclusive culture. We strive to actively celebrate diversity, advance our equitable practices, and drive greater inclusion. We offer a comprehensive employee benefits package and insurance, generous days of paid time off, including vacation, personal days, and sick days, and more.

Please click the “Apply for This Job” button to submit your application no later than by June 13, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EST) for internal candidates and June 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EST) for external candidates Expressions of interest should be sent in English. Your résumé and one-page cover letter should demonstrate how you meet all the essential and any desirable qualifications. Please note that a confirmation email will be generated once you submit your application, but it may be directed to your spam or junk folders of your email inbox. 

Cuso International is committed to the integrity of our volunteers, interns, staff, managers, board members and subcontractors in preventing sexual violence in the way we operate. This is done through a defined framework, code of conduct, values and guiding principles, as well as Cooperation Canada’s Leaders’ Pledge.