Senior Development Officer
About Calgary Public Library Foundation
We’re inventing the future of libraries. Will you join us?
In total, there are more than 815,000 Library members in Calgary—that’s more than half of the city. Calgary Public Library Foundation exists to ensure Calgary Public Library and its programs, services, and spaces are high-quality, barrier-free, and meet community needs as they emerge.
Together, we remove barriers to access, champion lifelong learning, fuel innovation, and help build a more resilient, inclusive Calgary. Thanks to extraordinary community support, we’ve raised more than $90 million since 2013, engaging over 30,000 unique donors to ensure the Library remains a vibrant, welcoming space where everyone belongs.
With four new locations coming soon and more than 10,000 new members joining every month in 2025, the Library Foundation is growing our fundraising to match the scale and ambition of the Library’s future. Our team is passionate, creative, and deeply collaborative. We care about results—and about each other. We’re proud to work alongside generous donors and inspiring Library partners to turn bold visions into real impact for hundreds of thousands of Calgarians every year.
We’re building the next chapter of Library philanthropy, and we’re looking for someone who’s energized by purpose-driven work, excited to tell meaningful stories, and ready to help us grow what’s possible. We're looking for a Senior Development Officer who shares our passion for transformational fundraising and is ready to lead from the front.
Want to know more? Check out our 2025 Annual Report, Ways to Give and Current Funding Priorities!
About You
You are a major gift fundraiser with a proven track record of building meaningful donor relationships and securing significant philanthropic investments. You have experience working on fundraising campaigns and have a strong understanding of how campaigns work.
You are a skilled relationship-builder who knows how to identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors, moving them through the gift cycle with intention, patience, and genuine care. You understand what it takes to inspire a donor to give at a higher level and have experience securing six-figure gifts. You know how to manage a pipeline with discipline while never losing the personal touch that makes donors feel valued.
You thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving environment where purpose and ambition go hand in hand. You bring energy, curiosity, and action to everything you do, and you are equally comfortable having a heartfelt conversation over coffee with an individual donor as you are presenting a compelling funding opportunity to a corporate partner. You are an exceptional communicator, a natural connector, and someone who genuinely loves this work and believes in the power of libraries to change lives.
What You'll Do
Fundraise
- Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, with a focus on securing gifts at the five and six figure level
- Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each donor in your portfolio
- Identify and qualify new major gift prospects from individuals, families, corporations, foundations and grants
- Develop compelling, personalized proposals and cases for support in collaboration with the Donor Engagement and Communications team that connect each donor's values to the Library's vision and priorities
- Secure multi-year pledges and advance donors through the gift cycle with intention and care
Build Relationships
- Cultivate deep, lasting relationships with major donors that extend well beyond the ask, ensuring every donor feels genuinely connected to the impact of their investment
- Develop personalized stewardship plans that celebrate donors and communicate the difference their giving makes in the community
- Collaborate with Library staff and leadership to identify fundable priorities and translate them into inspiring donor opportunities
- Support volunteer engagement by working alongside passionate community champions to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts
- Engage donors through meaningful touchpoints—tours, events, impact updates, and personal conversations—that deepen their connection to the Library
- Contribute to a positive, high-performing team culture where collaboration, creativity, and accountability thrive
Campaign
- Serve as an active participant in campaign planning and execution
- Support the Director of Development and CEO on campaign strategy, timelines, milestones, case for support development and stewardship
- Build and manage a list of campaign prospects and donors
- Support campaign volunteers in prospecting, solicitation and donor management
- Share knowledge and donor insights with colleagues to strengthen the Foundation's collective campaign fundraising effort
Our Ideal Candidate
- 5+ years of major gift fundraising experience, with at least three years of experience fundraising for a capital or comprehensive campaign
- Demonstrated success securing six figure campaign gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Experience working on complex grants will be viewed as an asset
- Deep understanding of campaign fundraising principles, including quiet phase strategy, volunteer engagement, prospecting and public campaign execution
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to direct the development of persuasive cases for support, proposals, and stewardship reports
- Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engage and inspire donors, teammates, volunteers, and community leaders
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage complex campaign timelines and competing priorities
- High level of discretion, professionalism, and composure in all interactions
- Experience working with Raiser's Edge NXT is an asset
What You'll Get
A competitive compensation package including
- A comprehensive benefits package
- 20 days of vacation and 16 personal days
- We’ll double your contributions into your RRSP/ TFSA up to a maximum of 10%
- A hybrid work environment: minimum three days per week at Calgary’s Central Library and up to two days from your home office.
How to Apply
We know every single person brings something different to the table. We encourage you to show your personality and demonstrate your skills in your cover letter.
- Please send your cover letter and resume in a single PDF document to info@libraryfoundation.ca
- The subject line of your email should read "Senior Development Officer"
This posting will remain open until we find the right person, but don't delay - we will start reviewing candidates as soon as July 27th. If the job posting remains on our website, the role has not yet been filled.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
We value diversity and inclusion and welcome diverse expertise and talent to support an innovative and collaborative work environment. We are committed to a respectful and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, including people of all gender identities, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. We are happy to provide accommodations throughout the selection process, so if required, please advise when you are contacted for an interview.
Required career level
- Experienced (Non Manager)
Years of experience (Optional)
- 5 - 10 years of experience