Advancement Officer

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Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is October 22, 2026 at 11:59PM

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

This fundraising-focused position leverages alumni engagement as a strategic tool to drive philanthropic support for faculty priorities. The Advancement Officer is responsible for cultivating relationships with alumni and other stakeholders with the explicit goal of securing financial contributions—from annual gifts to major donations. Through targeted outreach, tailored programming, and strategic relationship-building, the Officer develops and executes fundraising strategies that inspire giving and deepen donor commitment.

The Advancement Officer plays a critical role in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting prospects, ensuring that engagement activities are aligned with fundraising objectives and contribute directly to the Faculty’s advancement goals.

Key Accountabilities

Integrated Alumni Engagement & Fundraising

• Develop and implement specific strategies that build alumni affinity and support fundraising goals, including managing micro-campaigns, class giving and targeted alumni programming.

• Cultivate relationships with alumni through personalized outreach, one-on-one meetings, and targeted engagement opportunities that will strengthen their connection to the University and inspire support.

• Support alumni giving at all levels passing on prospects to colleagues to manage relationships, where appropriate.

• Build and maintain a portfolio of prospects with giving potential of $10,000 - $25,000, using Alumni Donor Experience relationship building strategies where possible.

• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to develop tailored solicitation strategies, gift proposals, and stewardship plans

• In collaboration with the Arts Alumni Engagement Officer and relevant Faculty colleagues, strategically mobilizes volunteers to enhance donor cultivation, stewardship, and advocacy efforts. These volunteers may serve as peer influencers, event hosts, fundraising ambassadors, or connectors—helping to expand the Faculty's reach and deepen relationships that lead to philanthropic support.

Ensure engagement activities are designed to foster long-term relationships that lead to financial support, volunteerism, and advocacy.

Strategic Planning & Collaboration

• Participate in the development of annual advancement plans, contributing ideas for integrated engagement and fundraising.

• Work closely with faculty members to understand priorities and translate them into compelling cases for support and/or proposals.

• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues and teams across the campus (Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Alumni Relations, etc.) to align efforts and share insights.

Data Management and Reporting

• Ensure correspondence and reporting related to relationships with alumni, prospects and donors are managed and recorded in accordance with the Office of Advancement systems and standards

• Complete follow up correspondence, briefings and updates to alumni, prospects, donors and internal stakeholders.

Communication

• Create effective alumni and friends’ engagement and fundraising materials for presentation to prospects/donors by coordinating content from Arts staff and faculty and working with Central Advancement and other university departments, as required.

• Develop solicitation proposals for projects tailored to the specific interests of prospects.

• Actively strengthen the uWaterloo and Arts brand through active integration of, and adherence to messaging, strategies and processes.

• Use social media as required to communicate and engage with target audiences.

• Proactively and consistently communicates with internal and external stakeholders

Required Qualifications

Education

• University degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience

• 3-5 years of progressive experience in fundraising, preferably in a post-secondary environment.

• Experience in advancement or alumni relations is considered an asset

• Demonstrated success in relationship management.

• Experience with the full scope of development activities including identification, cultivating, solicitation, recognition and stewardship is required.

• Soliciting gifts at the major gift level is considered an asset.

• Experience in creating, organizing and implementing unique experiences/events is required.

• Experience with the full volunteer management cycle and working with volunteers to support program development, advisory boards and fundraising activity such as cultivation and solicitation strategies is a strong asset

• Experience fundraising in a university is considered an asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and rapport with diverse stakeholders.

• Political acumen and problem-solving skills are required

• Strategic thinker with a passion for connecting people to meaningful causes.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Comfortable initiating conversations about philanthropy and articulating the impact of giving.

• Excellent communication skills, written and oral, including expertise in creating donor-focused and impactful proposals.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with all levels of staff, internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, across an organization

• Goal oriented, self-motivated with demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently and effectively as part of a team with a broad mandate in a fast paced environment.

• Familiarity with fundraising databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) is an asset.

• Computer literacy and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Equity Statement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at [email protected] or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.