Director of Individual Giving

About the Role

Are you passionate about building meaningful relationships and inspiring philanthropy? The KYO is seeking a Director of Individual Giving to join our board of directors. In this volunteer executive role, you'll help lead the development and execution of a donor engagement and fundraising strategy focused on individual donors, major gifts, and community supporters.

What You’ll Gain

• Career-Growth: Gain a relevant, professionally-aligned Director of HR title that can boost your resume and career trajectory, opening up executive and leadership opportunities.
• Networking: Join a professional network of experts, executives, and community leaders, opening doors for future opportunities within the community.
• Mentorship and Coaching: Receive personalized coaching from our board members, helping you transition into higher levels of leadership.
• Professional Development: Develop and refine your leadership, management, and executive skills through hands-on experience and continuous support.
• Letter of Recommendation: Upon completion of your term, receive a letter of recommendation from our chief executive.
• Career and Leadership Coaching: Calls, meetings, and support sessions from our industry-leading partner companies consultants and executives.

Please note: This is a volunteer position. Our board roles are designed to provide valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth. Serving on the board offers a chance to expand your network, develop leadership skills, and contribute meaningfully to the organization's mission. While this position is not compensated, we believe the experience and impact of the role can greatly enrich your career and personal fulfillment.

About the Organization

We are a community music and orchestra-training organization serving elementary through post-secondary-aged youth and has been running continuously since 2002. Our mission is to combine accessibility with a pursuit of excellence in our orchestral experiences and training. No child is denied music participation because of restricted financial means. Our instrument-lending library ensures children have quality instruments with which to learn. We at the Kawartha Youth Orchestra provide professional instrumental teaching artists and performers, hosts public education events, advocates for the Arts, and promotes social innovation partnerships that tie music learning and performance to community-building initiatives.

We aim to give our members a life-long love of music, while also helping them develop self-esteem, discipline, teamwork, leadership, performance skills, and a strong connection to their community through music. We currently run three ensembles – one for new musicians, an intermediate group, and a senior youth orchestra for developing and experienced instrumentalists. Since September 2021, we have run a subsidized music program downtown, which is an after-school ensemble instruction program for children, aged 6-18 years, facing pronounced socio-economic barriers. The program runs three afternoons a week and provides a daily nutritious mini-meal, a safe landing place for guided positive social interaction and leadership development, 1:1 attention and role modelling from caring adults, and skill development through ensemble instrumental music instruction.

Why Join Us?

• Cultivate Individual Donors: Lead strategy to identify, cultivate, and steward individual donors at all levels, from monthly contributors to major gift prospects.
• Design Giving Campaigns: Create and implement fundraising campaigns that resonate with families, alumni, community members, and arts supporters.
• Build a Donor Pipeline: Establish systems for donor prospecting, engagement, and renewal.
• Leverage Storytelling: Use compelling storytelling to demonstrate the impact of giving, in collaboration with our communications team.
• Stewardship and Recognition: Develop donor stewardship plans to ensure that contributors are acknowledged, appreciated, and engaged.
• Volunteer Leadership: Work with staff, board, and volunteers to build a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

This role is perfect for professionals ready to step into an executive position, support their community, and grow their leadership skills with the support of a well-structured and dynamic organization. If you are eager to develop both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply!

Key Responsibilities:

• Experience in individual fundraising, sales, donor relations, customer experience, or engagement.
• Comfortable initiating conversations about giving and building long-term donor relationships.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with emotional intelligence and tact.
• Strategic mindset and understanding of donor motivations and giving behavior.
• Experience with CRM tools, donor databases, or digital fundraising platforms is an asset.

Job Types: Part-time, Casual

Expected hours: 5 per week

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Flexible schedule
• Work from home

Application question(s):

• This board position is a volunteer role, as per the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, S.O. 2010, c. 15, which generally prohibits monetary compensation for board members of charitable organizations. While this position does not offer financial compensation, it provides significant personal and professional growth opportunities. These include valuable experience, networking opportunities, mentorship, professional development (including upskilling and executive leadership experience), and a letter of recommendation upon completion of your term among other benefits. The time commitment is anticipated at 5 hours per week, allowing for flexibility.

Are you comfortable with this structure and the commitment required, understanding that the benefits are focused on career advancement, networking, and skill development, rather than direct compensation?

Experience:

• Direct sales: 3 years (preferred)
• Outside sales: 3 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person