Foundation & Community Investment Specialist

We are currently seeking a Foundation & Community Investment Specialist to join our team.

The Foundation and Community Specialist assists the team in the development and delivery of FW Foundation granting programs, employee engagement activities and community investment partnerships. This role collaborates with team members to advance the Foundation and community investment activities to internal and external stakeholders, seeks opportunities to maximize marketing strategies associated with the annual plan, and creates communications to increase the profile of FW’s overall community giving programs.

Here’s what would be included as a part of your typical day

• Foundation Granting Program: Manages assigned endowments and granting cycles including database management, adjudication and recommendation of grantee recipients; creates, records and disburses grants, and develops and manages marketing, communications and employee engagement activities. Fosters relationships with grantees to build pipeline of strong grant applicants. Conducts presentations to promote the Foundation in the community, for the Foundation board and internal stakeholders.
• Employee Giving and Donor Management: Manages and delivers First West Foundation’s Employee Giving campaign. Seeks to grow employee engagement through activation of strategic plans and programs. Identifies new opportunities to deepen engagement with donor advisors and First West lines of business. Assists the Executive Director with the Foundation’s donor recognition program.
• Lead Well: Takes a lead role in collaborating with team to advance Lead Well across First West. Identifies and seeks opportunities to increase employee engagement and impact through First West Foundation, signature cause, corporate programming (. Make a Difference Days) and fundraising efforts.
• Signature Cause: Collaborates with team to increase awareness of First West’s signature cause programming including activities like Hunger Awareness Week, employee engagement, fundraising, Foundation grant recipients, and community partnerships. Assists the Senior Manager by executing strategies aligning signature cause to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
• Specific Accountabilities: Develops internal and external communications highlighting Foundation and community investment activities for all social channels, website, written and printed materials; administers expenses as assigned to department budgets; supports the development of relationships and community programming in partnership with FW’s marketing & community investment team; develops, establishes and maintains meaningful partnerships and networks within the non-profit sector; and acts as a corporate ambassador at events, community fund-raisers, and on various related committees within the areas served.
• Other: Some non-standard work hours and flexibility in shifts will be required along with regular travel around the lower mainland and occasional travel around the province. A valid Class 5 driver’s license is a requirement.

Required Skills, Experience & Qualifications

We are currently seeking a Foundation and Community Specialist to join our team.

The Foundation and Community Specialist is a high-impact member of the First West Foundation and Community Impact Team. This role collaborates with team members to advance the Foundation’s granting principles through Trust Based Philanthropy, seeks opportunities to maximize marketing strategies associated with the Foundation’s annual plan and supports the creation of communications to increase the profile of First West Foundation’s programs. The Specialist supports the advancement of community impact strategies and the delivery of First West team member engagement activities and community investment partnerships.

Here’s what would be included as a part of your typical day

• Foundation Granting Programs: Manages assigned endowments and granting cycles ensuring timely disbursement of funds. Adjudicates and recommends grantee recipients through the principles of Trust Based Philanthropy. Administers database management, collects, and reports on Foundation impact through grantee interviews and collaborative engagements. Fosters relationships with grantees to build a pipeline of strong grant applicants.
• Communications: Supporting the First West Foundation’s communications program, the Specialist participates in the creation of content for social media, media relations, internal and external donors, and requests. Educates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to expand the Foundation’s leadership in the principles of Trust Based Philanthropy. Contributes to the creation of the annual Foundation’s communications plan and utilizing established tools, tracks and analyzes performance metrics for communications, adjusting strategies to optimize results.
• Foundation Programs: Collaborates on the design and delivery of First West Foundation’s giving programs, seeking to grow team member engagement through activation of plans and programs. Contributes to the governance requirements of the Foundation Board of Directors supporting the Executive Director in the execution of the Foundation’s strategic plan.
• Social Vision, Lead Well: Manages and administers First West’s Simple Generosity and Lead Well team member engagement programs. Supports the creation of communication content to raise awareness and recognition of the programs. Collaborates with internal stakeholders to advance Lead Well across First West.
• Food Security: Collaborates with team members to increase awareness of First West’s impact in the area of food security through employee engagement, fundraising, community partnerships and Foundation grant recipients. Assists the team with the execution of strategies aligning food security programs and partnerships to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Additional Accountabilities: Supports the development of relationships and community programming in partnership with First West’s marketing & community impact team and other internal stakeholders; develops, establishes, and maintains meaningful partnerships and networks within the non-profit sector; and acts as a corporate ambassador at events, community fund-raisers, and on various related committees within the areas served. Perform other duties as assigned in order to meet the overall goals and objectives of the Foundation and First West Community impact initiatives.

Required Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Community development, social sciences, non-profit management, or business, required or a combination of education and experience
• 5 years’ experience in a nonprofit setting, Foundation, or related discipline
• Experience with nonprofit granting practices and foundation administration preferred
• Established network within the non-profit sector preferred
• Understanding of First West’s geographic markets, and preferably, knowledge of emerging social issues within these markets
• Bachelor’s degree in Community development, social sciences, non-profit management, or business, required or a combination of education and experience
• 5 years’ experience in a nonprofit setting, Foundation, or related discipline
• Experience with nonprofit granting practices and foundation administration preferred
• Established network within the non-profit sector preferred
• Understanding of First West’s geographic markets, and preferably, knowledge of emerging social issues within these markets
• Strong initiative and results orientation
• Strong data and research skills
• Experience with community investment/non-profit portfolios
• Working knowledge of digital content development and social media
• Ability to effectively write both marketing and communications related copy
• Proficient with computer software applications, . MSOffice 365
• Displays an understanding of risk and risk ownership by being able to demonstrate adherence to policies and procedures.