Manager, Annual Fund

The Canadian Opera Company invites applications for the position of Manager, Annual Fund.

The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is the largest opera producer in Canada and one of the largest in North America, recognized at home and internationally for its artistic excellence and innovation. With the COC celebrating 75 years of Canadian opera, including two decades in its award-winning performance home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the company has embarked on a major creative revitalization that places more inclusive programming, new creative partnerships, and expanded community reach at the forefront of the COC’s ambitious goals.

Reporting to the Director, Development Operations the Manager, Annual Fund plays a pivotal role in cultivating a vibrant and engaged donor community. This position leads the strategy and execution of annual giving campaigns, with a focus on donor acquisition, retention, and revenue growth across broad-base giving programs. A central component of this portfolio is the Friends of the COC membership program, which the Manager will oversee to ensure strong donor engagement, revenue, and membership growth. The Manager, Annual Fund is accountable for Friends revenue targets and management of expense budget.

The Manager supervises two Development Coordinators and ensures a donor-centric experience that reflects the organization’s values of accessibility, inclusion, and artistic excellence. This role also provides strategic oversight of the company’s Tribute Giving program and supports the COC’s President’s Council and Golden Circle membership programs through the provision of concierge service and administrative support.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

ANNUAL FUND STRATEGY & CAMPAIGNS

• Lead the Friends of the COC membership program, ensuring strong donor engagement, retention, and growth through targeted communications and stewardship.


• Develop and implement annual giving plans across direct mail, email, social media, telemarketing, and digital platforms.


• Set and monitor KPIs for revenue, retention, donor upgrades, and acquisition ROI.


• In collaboration with the COC’s Special Events team, develop and execute in-person engagement strategies for Friends donors, with a focus on making their opera-going experience special and memorable.


• Manage campaign calendars, segmentation strategies, and creative direction of supporting collateral, in collaboration with the Marketing, Communications, and Development Operations teams.


• Analyze campaign performance and donor trends to inform strategy and capitalize on emerging opportunities.


• Manage vendor partners (e.g., direct mail, telemarketing, digital acquisition) to develop project workbacks, achieve campaign targets, and ensure alignment with brand standards.

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL AND GOLDEN CIRCLE SUPPORT

• Oversee donor services and concierge ticketing support provided by the Annual Fund team to President’s Council and Golden Circle donors.


• Coordinate donor communications for President’s Council and Golden Circle members in collaboration with the Major Gifts team, including renewal reminders and integration of tailored asks into mass communications.

TRIBUTE GIVING PROGRAM

• Lead the implementation of the Tribute Giving program, including In Honour, In Memory, and In Celebration gifts.


• Ensure tribute donors receive timely, personalized acknowledgments and stewardship that reflect the significance of their gift.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION

• Supervise Development Coordinators, ensuring timely, personalized, and scalable service to donors.


• Provide mentorship and support to annual fund staff.


• In collaboration with internal Customer Care outbound calling team, plan and implement outreach strategies, and ensure Development teams objectives are integrated successfully into workflows.


• Foster a collaborative, donor-first culture aligned with organizational values and fundraising goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 4–6 years of experience in fundraising, with a focus on annual giving, donor engagement, or mass marketing.


• Proven success in managing direct marketing campaigns and working with external vendors.


• Strong leadership, project management, and analytical skills.


• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building abilities.


• Proficiency with fundraising CRMs and donor data analysis (Tessitura experience an asset).


• Superior Data analytic skills – expert level experience in Microsoft Excel, PowerBI, or SQL


• Superior written communications skills


• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in donor engagement practices.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor events.


• Ability to travel locally for meetings and events as required.

In order to be considered for this opportunity, applications must be received by August 11, 2025

ABOUT THE CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY

Based in Toronto, the Canadian Opera Company is the largest producer of opera in Canada and one of the largest in North America. General Director David C. Ferguson joined the company in 2024, forming a leadership team alongside Music Director Johannes Debus. The COC enjoys a loyal audience, including a dedicated base of subscribers, and has an international reputation for artistic excellence and creative innovation. Its diverse repertoire includes new commissions and productions, local and international collaborations with leading opera companies and festivals, and attracts the world’s foremost Canadian and international artists. The company is an incubator for the future of the art form, nurturing Canada’s new wave of opera performers and creators with customized training and support. The COC’s purpose-built opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, is hailed internationally as one of the finest in the world. For more information, visit coc.ca.

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY

The COC deeply values equity and diversity across all levels of the organization and believes in fostering an inclusive, discrimination-free environment that fully supports our team’s personal and collective success. We are committed to building a workforce that reflects our community, our city, and our country and, in turn, the COC welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and abilities who share and embrace these values of anti-racism and inclusion.

The COC is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) in all parts of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

The Canadian Opera Company thanks all applicants in advance, however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls or agencies please.