CAMBRIDGE / WATERLOO REGION

Position: Sponsorships & Events Coordinator
Organization: rare Charitable Research Reserve
Location: Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario

Founded in 2001, the rare Charitable Research Reserve is a community-driven urban land trust, nature reserve and environmental institute with its headquarters and first three locations comprising over 900 acres within the Haldimand Tract that spans six miles on either side of the Grand River from source to mouth, land granted to Indigenous Peoples in 1784 to recognise their support for the British in the American Revolution.

In Wellington County, rare is creating an Eramosa River Conservation Corridor to protect forever the river and its adjacent forests and uplands — lands of the highest ecological significance and which are so far largely unaffected by direct human impact — ensuring connectivity of spaces and survival of species in an increasingly and rapidly developing area. For all its properties, rare acknowledges and is grateful to all of the original stewards of the land. Understanding that this land has been rich in diverse Indigenous presence since time immemorial rare would like to honour and respect the sovereignty of both First Nations in the area: the Onkwehon:we Peoples of Six Nations of the Grand River and the Anishinaabe Peoples of the Mississaugas of the New Credit. As well, rare acknowledges the Neutral people — for whom there is archeological evidence on the property dating back 10,500 years –– and also those Indigenous Peoples who currently live, work, play and learn in the urban landscape around the properties, such other self-identified and status First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

While the goal of rare is to steward its sites and ecosystems intact in perpetuity, for the community to enjoy, forever, in a natural state, it also promotes the lands as a living laboratory for research — including in-house monitoring programs and partnerships with other institutions, citizen scientists, artists and Indigenous Peoples. Research then informs restoration practices and education programs through a Chain of Learning that reaches even the youngest learners in a program called Every Child Outdoors (ECO), a model of active, hands-on, problem-based environmental learning, driven by inquiry in the out-of-doors.

Reporting to the Fundraising Team Lead, the Sponsorships & Events Coordinator will work collegially as part of a fundraising and communications team, and with program advisors, staff and volunteers to interpret rare and its needs to the broader community in order to build support – both political and financial – for its mission and programs. This position requires flexibility, sensitivity and creativity to help rare meet major campaign goals while building a healthy, ongoing annual fund.

The position works in close collaboration with the Major Gifts Manager and the Development and Communications Officer. This position often seeks support for events and programs initiated by these colleagues while also assuming responsibility for rare’s major all hands-on deck events and fundraisers, such as the Spring Eco Market and the Walk and Run for rare, raising cash and in-kind sponsorships, leading volunteer teams, overseeing the implementation and spearheading the day of the event, and ensuring all sponsorship activations are carried out as agreed and providing post-event fulfillment events with the goal of renewing multi-year commitments.

Responsibilities include identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship to secure sponsorship for events and to build a solid base of annual supporters. This entails, among other things, raising funds and gifts-in-kind for recognition events, cultivation events and program events. In particular, rare wants to grow its annual Walk/Run for rare into a signature event that provides a major boost to the operating budget.

Responsibilities and Deliverables include but are not limited to:

• In collaboration with the Fundraising and Communications team, participate in the development of a strong Annual Fund plan that coordinates smoothly with Campaign Planning; specifically requires preparation of a draft plan for all areas of responsibility (with proposed budget and timelines) and working with the team to integrate these plans into the overall plan and to participate in strategy.
• Frequent reporting and communication about plans and progress towards goals with the rest of the team.
• Develop new and creative ways to engage and steward rare’s diverse community, with special emphasis on the corporate community and service clubs, building the rare profile while identifying and engaging key leaders and creating a visible network for rare. This includes supporting the Major Gifts Manager with solicitation and cultivation of corporate donors and prospects, and includes reports, mailings and materials in order to create the largest possible base of corporate and organizational supporters. It also includes having an active program to ensure rare is well known to service clubs and has regular programs with them and high visibility.
• Lead the Conversation for Conservation events series program.
• Create a plan for events that takes into account all staff needs; specifically support the Major Gifts Manager with solicitation (including via grant proposals) and cultivation events, including hosted peer-to-peer and planned giving events, as well as landowner information events.
• Make the Spring Eco Market and the Walk/Run for rare annual signature events. Work with the staff team to ensure appropriate participationand set and achieve goals for that will grow sponsorships and build the support base. This involves creating a plan with timelines and budgets, soliciting sponsorships and prizes, doing reporting and evaluations. Overseeing the online registration platform, planning e-blasts and recruiting and supporting volunteers, organizing activities at the barn, setting the speaker program, doing evaluations and keeping overall volunteer records and managing teams of volunteers implementing the events.
• Develops plan for fundraising auctions and oversees implementation.
• Oversee the grants process in collaboration with program staff.
• Work with program staff to identify meaningful gifts-in-kind that will provide relief to the operating budget and assist with capital/operating goals and event goals.
• Prepare reports and analyses of community sponsorship.
• Develop communications materials, strategy and plans as needed for the areas mentioned above.

Key Competencies:

• Understanding of fundraising and communications strategies and issues of concern to the corporate sector and service clubs; includes the ability to keep up with changes in this area;
• Excellent people skills, authenticity, genuine interest in interacting with people from all backgrounds;
• Ability to plan, direct and set realistic goals;
• Ability to manage and supervise others, particularly volunteers;
• Ability to evaluate success of various fundraising efforts and approaches;
• Ability to articulate all aspects of the organization’s programs and mission, to assist with motivating and leading other staff on these topics and to develop plans accordingly; includes interpreting community needs and ensuring the organization is responsive;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines in an appropriate manner;
• Excellent writing and speaking skills;
• Outgoing personality;
• Good record-keeping and reporting abilities to ensure an organizational history of networking and appeals and that team members are updated about progress and challenges;
• Ability to solve problems creatively and to handle emergencies in a capable manner;
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment where everyone’s goals and progress are understood and taken into account;
• Ability to work independently, producing ideas, and to have appropriate communications with others; and
• Ability to collaborate and keen interest to push boundaries and seek unconventional or non-traditional partnerships.

The rare Charitable Research Reserve strives for:

• Plans executed in compliance with approved plans and budgets;
• A healthy, positive and effective workplace in an environment that fosters creativity, flexibility, understanding of difference and abundance;
• A workplace that provides staff, volunteers, and others with an invitation to contribute to rare in a meaningful way by developing new ideas and turning them into viable projects; and
• Staff to have high expectations for the quality of their own work while approaching challenges with humility and embracing to learn from failure.

Compensation

This is a salaried full-time position with a competitive health benefits package. Salary level: $55-62k and commensurate with experience, skills, education and training of the successful candidate.

Paid time off:

• In 2022, there are 11 EXTRA paid holidays in addition to Stat holidays offered to all staff;
  • 1 additional for Family Day (Friday, Feb 18)
  • 2 National Indigenous Peoples Days (Jun 20 & 21)
  • 1 additional for Canada Day (Monday, Jul 4)
  • 7 additional end of year holidays (Dec 19-22 & 27-29)
• 3 full weeks (15 days) of paid time off for Personal Days
• 3 days of paid time off for Volunteer Days to support community organizations / programs
• Overtime in lieu of regular working hours accrued at time and a half (70 hours/2 weeks)

Flexible work arrangement:

• Work from home if role permits, up to 2 days/week on a regular basis
• Flexible hours as required, easy to manage using the company’s HR portal (BambooHR)

Paid benefits – excellent group benefit package:

• Extended Health and Dental
• AD&D Insurance
• Critical Illness insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Spending Account

How To Apply:

Deadline for applications is June 30, 2022.

Applicants should send their resume and cover letter as an attachment to the following email address: jobs@raresites.org

Only documents including a cover letter and resume compiled into one PDF file will be reviewed. Any application materials provided within the body (text) of your email will not be considered. Cover letters for this position may be addressed to Stephanie Sobek-Swant. Please include the name of the position for which you are applying in the email subject line.

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.

No phone calls please. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

As part of our commitment to racial justice, reconciliation and equity building, we welcome individuals from marginalized communities including Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ and self-identifying women candidates to apply for this position. We encourage people with disabilities to apply. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

We are dedicated to removing bias from our hiring process. For this reason, we have implemented an anonymous review component in our recruitment process. What does this mean? We will be removing your name, address and e-mail address from your application/resume prior to it being reviewed by the hiring manager, during the first stage of the recruitment process. If you are selected for an interview, this information will become available to the hiring manager only at that time.