Development Officer

Development Officer

Organization: Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP)

Location: Remote with some In-Person Events

Job Type: 20 hours per week

Salary: $44,000 CAD yearly

Application Deadline: November 27, 2025

About Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP)

Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP) is a registered Canadian charity founded in Toronto in 2008. We are dedicated to bringing joy, movement, and community to people living with Parkinson’s disease, seniors, and those with neurological conditions through inclusive, arts-based programming.

Grounded in compassion, accessibility, and the transformative power of the arts, our evidence-based dance and movement programs are specifically designed to support and enhance functional fitness, mobility, and overall quality of life. With a strong foundation in therapeutic practice and artistic expression and over 5,000 participants, DWP continues to grow as a national leader in accessible programming for people of all abilities. www.dancingwithparkinsons.com

Why Join Us

At DWP, you’ll help sustain programs that bring light, laughter, and movement to people living with Parkinson’s across Canada. You’ll join a compassionate, creative, and supportive team that believes in the power of community and art to create change.

If you’re ready to put your writing, relationship-building, and fundraising skills to work for a meaningful cause, we’d love to meet you.

Position Summary

Dancing with Parkinson’s (DWP) is seeking a passionate and strategic Development Officer to play a key role in advancing our mission through effective fundraising and relationship management. With 5+ years of experience in fund development and grant and proposal writing, the Development Officer will be responsible for securing funding from Canadian foundations, corporations, individuals, and all levels of government.

This position involves researching and identifying funding opportunities, crafting persuasive proposals, managing donor relationships, and supporting fundraising campaigns and events. The Development Officer will also assist with related administrative tasks to ensure the smooth operation of development activities.

Working closely with the Director of Development and the executive team, this position will help sustain and expand programs and ensure alignment between funder priorities and DWP’s mission, programs, and strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising & Grant Writing: Identify, research, and secure funding opportunities; write compelling proposals, grant applications, and reports; manage a grants calendar and ensure compliance with CRA and funder requirements.

• Donor Relations & Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, funders, and sponsors; support stewardship initiatives, donor communications, and engagement events.

• Campaigns & Partnerships: Support annual and special fundraising campaigns (e.g., Giving Tuesday); pursue corporate sponsorships and community partnerships; contribute to marketing and storytelling efforts.

• Strategy & Collaboration: Contribute to annual and long-term fundraising strategies; monitor sector trends; collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment between funder priorities and DWP’s goals.

• Administration: Maintain accurate donor and grant records; coordinate submissions and reporting; uphold transparency and accountability across all development activities.

What We’re Looking For

Knowledge & Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fund development, grant writing, and donor relations within the nonprofit or charitable sector.

• Proven success securing funding from foundations, corporations, and government sources.

• Strong writing, communication, and project management skills with attention to detail.

• Solid understanding of CRA compliance, fundraising regulations, and ethical best practices.

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

People & Project Skills

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, with a talent for building and maintaining relationships with donors, partners, community stakeholders, staff, and board members.

• Comfort representing DWP at events and meetings.

• Strategic thinker with strong project management and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Core Competencies

• Deep commitment to DWP’s mission and community.

• Results-oriented and focused on delivering outcomes.

• Able to motivate a diverse team and build cross-functional partnerships.

• Adaptable and able to shift strategies based on data and evolving opportunities.

• Handle challenges with humour, professionalism, and persistence.

• Skilled at connecting with diverse stakeholders and inspiring support.

Culture and Commitment

Dancing with Parkinson’s is committed to equity, inclusion, and diverse representation both internally and in our community. We are committed to building a diverse team and welcome and encourage applications from equity-seeking groups including Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

If you require any accommodations during the recruitment and selection process, please contact annmarie@dancingwithparkinsons.com. We are committed to ensuring an equitable and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Application Process

Please submit your resume and a cover letter as one combined document, to annmarie@dancingwithparkinsons.com with the subject line: Development Officer Application no later than November 27, 2025. All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, and any offer of employment is conditional on the successful completion of a short writing assignment, reference checks, a criminal record and vulnerable sector check in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Dancing with Parkinson’s appreciates the interest of all applicants, however only candidates being considered will be contacted.