Grant Specialist

Grant Specialist (Full time 12-Month Contract)

Position Title: Fundraising and Grant Specialist

Reports to: Sr. Director of Fund Development

Position Summary: 

The Fundraising and Grant Specialist is responsible for securing and managing institutional, corporate, and foundation grants. The responsibilities include prospect research, proposal writing, donor relations, and managing the grant reporting process.

Key Responsibilities: 

Grants (90%)

• Conduct prospect research to identify and qualify potential corporations and institutional funders whose giving criteria and philanthropic interests align with the organization’s strategic direction.


• Determine proposal concept and project design by identifying and clarifying organizational needs.


• Manage ongoing grant opportunities in conjunction with the Vice President of Service Delivery and the Service Delivery team.


• Gathers proposal information by conducting needs assessments, collaborating with members of the Service Delivery team and the Impact Reporting Specialist to allocate funding to areas/programs in need.


• Build and maintain a pipeline of grant prospects and manage fundraising data in the Raiser’s Edge database.


• Working with prospecting software (GrantConnect, iWave, CharityCAN, etc.) to identify leads for investment opportunities (i.e. grants and/or corporate giving). 


• Acting as the main point of contact for donor tax receipting questions and donor

Major Gifts

• Write customized letters of inquiry, cover letters, proposals, and major gift asks to foundations and high net-worth donors with an emphasis on multi-year grants.


• Support Senior Director, Fund Development to identify, cultivate and solicit major gifts from high-net worth donors.

External Stakeholder Impact (10%)

• Manage and coordinate the reporting process for ongoing grants in collaboration with other departments


• Work in collaboration with the Impact Reporting Specialist to translate program data into impact materials for both donor, volunteer, and community stakeholders.


• Support with the preparation of Annual Report.

Other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications & Skills:

• University or college equivalent in fundraising education or a minimum three-year fundraising experience


• Three (3) years of relevant experience from a comparable fundraising work environment 


• High level of proficiency working with Raiser’s Edge NXT & Database view, including extracting reports/queries, list and data manipulation, mail merge, etc. 


• High level of proficiency with suite of Microsoft Office products, especially Excel 


• Highly organized, able to prioritize and work independently 


• Knowledge of Canadian charity tax rules and familiar with tax receipting processes 


• Strong communication skills, with the ability to write professional donor-facing communications 


• Exceptional customer service skills and experience working with donors 


• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders of varying levels of seniority


• Superior written and oral communication skills


• Ability to work outside customary business hours during periods leading up to and during major events – includes some weekends and evenings


• Strong knowledge and practical usage of Microsoft Office (Work, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)


• Successful vulnerable sector police clearance


• Experience in digital marketing is an asset


• Basic graphic design skills is an asset


• Canva proficiency is an asset

Why Join BBBST?

• Have a life-lasting positive impact on children and youth in Toronto


• Great work culture with strong values


• Work with a caring and dynamic team


• We have a Social Wellness Committee to continue to build BBBST’s great work culture


• 3-week paid vacation


• 14-paid flex days per year


• Health Benefits – We have a very comprehensive plan, eligible after 90 days of successful probation

This is a hybrid role, with mandatory in-office work day(s) per week and the option to work remotely.

 BBBST does not use AI to screen, assess, or select applicants. The posting will be live until the position is filled, or until a candidate has been identified. We thank all applicants for your interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, we believe that an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace is essential for innovation and success. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and encourage them to apply.