Yonge Street Mission (YSM) is a vibrant, non-profit Christian organization leading a collective movement to end chronic poverty in Toronto. Since 1896, weve worked to transform the lives of people living with poverty, going beyond addressing immediate needs by offering wrap-around support via holistic programs and services, and a pathway which enables vulnerable youth, families in need, adults experiencing poverty and struggling communities to move from surviving to thriving.

To make this happen, we are passionate about investing in the people we work with, and attracting a diverse range of staff key to us advancing our mission: to end long-term poverty in Toronto, by working in partnership to support life change, develop healthy communities, and remove systemic barriers. Wed love to hear from you if you are inspired by our vision: Creating a city where people, not poverty, thrive, and if you believe you have a true call to contribute to YSMs work and impact.
What We Offer:

Some of what you can look forward to as a YSM staff member include a values-based, highly collaborative, and engaging work environment with high value placed on staffs mental health and well-being; meaningful, innovative, and impactful work, with opportunities to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and the community, as well as flexible hybrid work arrangements. Our competitive Total Rewards compensation package also includes Group RRSP matching, annual leave and paid personal days, comprehensive health and dental care coverage, an Employee and Family Assistance Program that includes counselling services by Christian professionals, and numerous other perks.

The Opportunity:

YSMs Philanthropy team motivates and inspires YSM donors, volunteers, and prospectsin collaboration with YSM as a wholeso that all who know or come to know YSM and our Philanthropy team will choose to engage with, invest in, and support YSM and our goal to end long-term poverty in Toronto.

To help support our goals as an organization, we are seeking a Fundraising and Community Engagement Specialist who can inspire, activate, and support members of the community, as they offer YSM support.

Reporting to the Director, Development & Communications, this role provides effective and positive relations with donors, the community, and other YSM staff and volunteers, to strategically expand YSMs fundraising capacity, increase engagement and revenue generation, and positively impact YSMs strategic and philanthropic goals overall.

This position raises funds through effective engagement of donors, partners, and potential prospects in the community, through strategies including events, both YSM-organized and third party; educational engagements; and developing and building community relationships with churches, organizations, and groups.

Responsibilities:

1. YSM-organized and third-party event initiatives

Provide event strategy, planning, and execution for YSMs annual Winter Walk for Neighbours in Need, including solicitations, walker recruitment, and collaboration with YSMs Manager Communications to ensure engaging ongoing event promotion and effective communications with walkers which inspire participation and peer-to-peer fundraising. Organize event logistics, to ensure a positive participant and volunteer experience. Perform all post-event evaluations, donor acknowledgements and close down functions.

Undertake similar functions and offer comprehensive support to various community event organizers and/or groups, including speaking and appearing at engagements, representing YSM at community events, and accepting fundraising proceeds.

2. Community Engagement

Help YSM increase its fundraising revenue generation through proactive development and management of relationships with churches and other faith associations, service clubs and organizations, corporations, schools, and groups, as they give to and fundraise in support of YSM. Strategize and maintain targeted communications with constituent groups, toward deepening relationships and external understanding of YSMs 100 programs and services, as a means to increase community awareness and engagement.

3. Project: GENERAT1ON

Broaden YSMs base of support and increase fundraising revenues through organizations and groups participation in our signature team-building and employee group engagement program, Project: GENERAT1ON (P:G). Act as YSMs primary P:G program recruitment / sales / promotion advocate, and present / speak to groups, corporations, and organizations, to inspire P:G registrations and, once groups are registered, deliver educational, impactful, and positive user experiences during group engagements. Contribute to the stewardship and cultivation of participating organizations and team members, in order to encourage additional future bookings, and build the base for continuing and deepening YSM support.

4. Gifts in Kind (GIK)
Identify priority goods and products needed by various YSM departments, and proactively seek donations of those goods, to positively benefit YSMs bottom line and facilitate savings on expenses as priority items are donated.

Qualifications:

• Superlative responsiveness, and customer service, relationship-building / management skills, paired with direct experience in managing donors through the entirety of the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship cycles

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including sound grammar knowledge, writing and editing abilities
• Post-secondary education expected, combined with a minimum of 5-8 years of related work experience including event management
• Preferred prior work in creating ongoing engagement and partnerships with corporate, church, and other organization/group supporters, and mandating previous experience working in the non-profit sector
• Highly developed collaborative and relational approach, that keeps communication lines open and facilitates fulsome, productive, and respectful cooperation, with colleagues, volunteers, donors, and partners, paired with well-honed listening skills
• Proven ability to manage time and competing priorities, including project management, creating and delivering presentations, and comprehensively and effectively addressing regular administrative tasks and communications priorities
• Evolved computer capabilities, including understanding CRMs, like Raisers Edge database; working knowledge of VolunteerHub (or similar system) an asset
• Comfort with and experience in public speaking and addressing groups in an engaging, informative, and effective manner
• Strong desire to live out your Christian faith, and putting it into practice daily
• Cultural competence/bias awareness / anti-oppression principles: the ability to work positively, supportively, and competently within a multi-faith, multi-cultural environment and among a variety of diverse people and populations
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, and envision/interpret the big picture to consistently contribute meaningfully to YSMs strategic and Philanthropy annual business goals
• Be adaptable and mature, and able to remain calm and positive in handling simultaneous tasks, multiple deadlines, the unique challenges of interacting with a diverse community, and broad YSM staff team
• Modelling positive and demonstrable Christian values and practices, with a personal commitment to YSMs principles of faith, mission, vision, and values

Personal qualities needed for this role:

• Unfailing ability to work collegially and cooperatively within teams and among donor and volunteer groups, offering space for varying perspectives and needs
• Maturity, with the ability to hear and accept feedback and embrace constructive input, to support continuous improvement of performance, programs, and results
• Mature Christian faith, and the ability to embody principles of the Gospel in everyday dealings with colleagues, supporters, volunteers, and members of the community
• A deeply held passion for social justice and compassionate sensitivity toward those living in poverty
• Strong sense of discretion, diplomacy, and patience, coupled with positivity, energy, and enthusiasm
• Unflappable presence, with an ability to stay calm and positive, regardless of situations or workload

Compensation: YSM offers market competitive rates and will pay a starting salary of $60,071.85 for this role, combined with a comprehensive suite of benefits and perks.

Deadline for Application: January 22, 2025

Start Date: ASAP

While we appreciate all responses, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

Please note that YSM does not use any form of artificial intelligence (AI) at any stage of the recruitment process. These stages include candidate screening and shortlisting, assessment and selection.

Learn more about YSM at www.ysm.ca

Date Posted: January 2, 2025