Special Events and Donor Relations Officer

At House of Friendship we believe in what we are doing. We get out of bed each day to make a difference in our community; to walk with and to serve. We are not happy with the status quo. We get energy from ongoing learning and growth. We lead with passion and believe without a doubt that everyone deserves to belong and thrive. We live and breathe our values of Compassion Inclusion Justice Dignity and Hope. And we have fun!

Sounds pretty great doesnt it It is!

The Development teamis responsible forboth the fundraising and marketing functions of House of Friendship to grow financial support that sustains the mission of House of Friendship into the future and to build awareness and affinity for our brand throughout Waterloo Region. The Special Events and Donor Relations Officer will deliver an outstanding donor experience every single time one that grows donors commitment to and affinity for House of Friendships mission. The ideal candidate will live and breathe hospitality and will love building meaningful relationships using their excellent project management and event management experience. This role will lead execute and be the public face of House of Friendship special events and will plan for and provide amazing stewardship for assigned supporter groups to lead them through a deeply meaningful donor journey.

** This is a permanent salaried full-time (37.5 hours per week) position with paid sick time

personal days vacation time; group health benefits and defined contribution pension plan.

Schedule generally Monday to Friday daytime hours; flexibility required including occasional

evening and weekend hours. Valid G class drivers license and access to a reliable vehicle required; local travel within Waterloo Region. **

Key Responsibilities:

Leadand execute House of Friendshipspecialevents:

• Confirm and document the strategic direction andfinancialgoal of each event annually executing all details on strategy

• Lead all event activities to achieve the establishedobjectives and coordinate effectively with internal team members on roles timelines information needs list pulls and event day details providing meticulous project management

• Provide excellent engagement including coordinating and communicatingwithandcultivation andstewardship ofevent sponsorsvolunteer eventcommitteemembersand attendees

• Be theinternal andpublic face of House of Friendshipevents and represent theorganizationinevent related media opportunities

• Record andmaintaincurrentinformation in Raisers Edge

• Lead and maximize the organizations use ofeventsoftware(Trellis)

• Review andmaintainup-to-date event roadmaps annually for each event and execute accordingly

• Conduct an annualevaluation ofeach event gathering input from key stakeholders and completing a written evaluation within 4 weeks of the event

Delivertop-notch donor experiences for selectedsupporter groups:

• Create amazingsupporterjourneys and experiences for donor groups as assignedwhich may includefaithgroups (all denominations) monthlydonorsand/orbusinesses:

  • Provide heartfelt gratitude and donor love through phone calls emailshand writtencards personal videos and in person thanks

  • Grow our understanding of assigned donors through administering surveysresearchand other means

  • Create and leadmail andemailengagementstrategies for thesedonorgroups

  • Manage and execute the new donor experience digitally and over the phone

• Be the House of Friendship point of contact forcommunityfundraising events:

  • Strengthenand supportcommunity fundraisersin alignment with House of FriendshipsThirdPartyEvent Policy

  • Provide website updates explanatory videos updated resources for community members to use to make theirfundraisinga success

  • Provide stewardship forcommunity fundraisersthat may include phone calls video thanks cheque presentations etc.

Provide back upand ad hocsupportas assigned:

• Support DevelopmentManager and Developmentteam on strategic initiativesand projectsasrequired

• Provide backup supportfor development team members asrequiredfor vacations etc.

Job Specific Knowledge/Skills:

• Certification in Event Management is a definite asset

• Strong relational skills that build rapport and genuine trust quickly

• Ability to interview presenters and effectively write transcripts for their use during events

• Strong communication skills both oral and written that inspire and engage

• Excellent planning organizational follow through and time management skills

• Self-directed with high capacity to manage multiple shifting priorities and timelines

• High attention to detail and accuracy

• Excellent ability to maintain confidentiality at all times

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

• Media training and experience is an asset

Education/Experience:

• Post-secondary education in Events Management or related field such as Communications

• A minimum of two (2) years related work experience in service-related positions or leading high impact fundraising and stewardship events

• Proven ability to effectively engage a wide variety of constituents such as media community leaders/partners colleagues sponsors donors and volunteers with demonstrated excellent interpersonal and team collaboration skills

Critical Skills:

• Commitment to understand and uphold the mission and values of House of Friendship

• Ability to meet a variety of new people develop genuine warmth and sincere rapport

• Exemplary emotional intelligence resilience communication conflict management and problem-solving skills required

• Ability to work professionally as a team member with staff donors volunteers and community members

• Excellent project timeline and deadline management skills including skills in logistics planning and detailed record keeping

• Excellent public presentation verbal and written skills

• Proven technical aptitude to learn and effectively use digital tools like event management software inputting into a database and digital tools for mass communication

• Exemplary hosting relationship building skills

• Experience or strong interest in working with diverse populations including people from various cultural backgrounds income levels and sensitivity to their needs

• Experience with and commitment to using an anti-racism anti-oppressive and trauma informed approach to consultation program design evaluations of processes and service delivery

• Must be dependable professional flexible a team player and have a positive attitude

• Respectful supportive and engaging approach to persons with physical and/or cognitive disabilities addictions mental illness and other life challenges

Compensation:

At House of Friendship we know that our team members are the key to the success of our organization and our ability to provide essential services to the support of our mission and in alignment with our values House of Friendship is committed to ensuring fair market competitive and rewarding compensation practices for all of our team members. We aspire to support our team members to create a great work environment where our team is able to thrive succeed and have a positive work experience.

House of Friendship compensation practices including our pay grid have been developed using documented leading pay practices in the not-for-profit sector including Pathways to Decent Work (Ontario Nonprofit Network) and Ontario Living Wage Network. We value the experience that new team members bring to the organization and have a process in place to review previous related experience for placement on our pay grid.

We value the work that you do with fair pay and benefits:

• Time off includes three (3) weeks of vacation 5* personal days (3 for 2025) and sick credits totaling approximately 12 days per year

• Full-time benefit plan including Extended Health Care (EHC) Dental Group Life Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Long Term Disability (LTD) Flexible Spending Account and Employee & Family Assistance Program

• We believe strongly in supporting the mental health of our team members including providing access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program $2000 for counselling services and our workplace Wellness and Psychological Health and Safety programs

• We help you save for the future by providing a retirement plan that includes a matched Group Pension Plan as well as a Group RRSP and a Group Tax Free Savings Account

Rate of Pay:

At House of Friendship all compensation ranges are categorized under a series of grades and we base our payment structure on internal determining rate of pay a candidates past related experience will be taken into consideration.

Grade: 5

Min: $27.31

Mid: $31.34

Max: $35.37

Working Conditions:

• 37.5 hours weekly; generally daytime weekday hours (8:30am to 4:30pm)

• Occasional evening and weekend work to support House of Friendship or Community events

• Vacation may not be taken two weeks before or after Signature Events

• Encountering participants at program sites who may be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs and/or experiencing symptoms of mental illness can be expected

• Valid Drivers license required due to events that are hosted off site and require materials to be transported

House of Friendship is open and inviting to qualified candidates with lived experience.

House of Friendship supports justice equity diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We strive to be a workplace free of harassment and discrimination and we are committed to removing barriers and being an inclusive work environment. House of Friendship is a place where each person can bring their true selves and feel that they belong. We aspire to be an organization that is anti-racist and anti-oppressive so that our team and therefore our community can truly belong and thrive.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates and actively encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to accessing employment including but not limited to Indigenous Peoples members of racialized groups persons with disabilities women and members of the 2SLGBTQIA community.

If you require accommodations to be able to participate fully at any stage in the recruitment process including applying for this position please let us know so that we can discuss accommodation options. Accommodations will be provided upon request.

If you are as passionate as we are about serving the community lets talk.

To apply please submit your resume and cover letter here:

end of day November 28 2025.