This position is filled

The Polygon Gallery is a vibrant art institution that creatively responds to shifting perceptions of the world through the histories and evolving technologies of photography and related media. For over four decades (the majority as Presentation House Gallery) the organization has presented more than 300 exhibitions, earning a reputation as one of Canada’s most adventurous public art galleries.

Applicants are now invited for the position of Manager, Individual Giving & Membership. Reporting to the Associate Director, this person will oversee The Polygon’s cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship needs for its Members and Leadership donors. The position is focused primarily on effective and efficient ways to expand philanthropic support, to advance The Polygon’s mission.

As The Polygon is a small shop, this position is both vision and action – both creating campaigns and imagining new avenues to increase and engage donors, while also (for instance) processing memberships and updating the database.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develop and coordinate Membership and Leadership Giving campaigns.
2. Develop and implement strategies for meeting annual revenue targets for Membership and Leadership Giving.
3. Develop and coordinate donor promotions and special events.
4. Process all gallery donations (including individual, corporate, and foundation gifts), entering information into the Raiser’s Edge database, and producing tax receipts and fulfillment packages.
5. Work collaboratively with the Guest Services team to develop and implement strategies for maximizing revenue from Admissions and Memberships, and motivate staff to increase sales in all areas.
6. Ensure completion of regular data maintenance duties, and collaborate with the Manager, Grants and Foundations to develop and maintain procedures that ensure the integrity of donor data.
7. Maintain excellence in customer service to nurture and maintain positive relationships with The Polygon’s visitors, Members and donors.

Qualifications:

Broadly speaking, we are looking for someone with fundraising experience. Most often, this will have been as part of a Development Office in a charitable organization, however this could also be someone skilled at relationship-building, partnership development, hosting and hospitality, or any other transferable skills that can be articulated. Experience with the development and implementation of philanthropic campaigns is a definite asset.

An interest in and curiosity about the cultural sector, and the visual arts in particular, is an important qualification and a massive asset.

Fundraising work is sensitive and requires thoughtfulness, humility, generosity, and discretion. Understanding how to manage personalities, relationships, difficult conversations, and bold requests is an art, and the qualified applicant should be able to provide examples of how they have successfully achieved this in their career to date.

We are interested in candidates who have demonstrated commitment to building and/or supporting equitable and diverse environments.

We, of course, are looking for someone who is an excellent and collaborative colleague, to work on our small-but-mighty development team within our still-small-and-even-mightier staff.

Job Particulars:

The Manager, Individual Giving & Membership will work four days a week with a good amount of flexibility. There will certainly be evening work required on occasion. All Polygon employees earn a living wage as specified by Living Wage Canada. The Polygon provides sufficient flexibility in work arrangements to ensure that candidates are able to accomplish their work while maintaining healthy lives with personal and family obligations and passions outside of their careers. We encourage applications from candidates with a broad range of backgrounds, including age, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, class, and ability.

Application Process:

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter in a single document to Jessica Bouchard at j.bouchard@thepolygon.ca. Interviews with qualified candidates will begin immediately. Position will be posted until filled. Only those invited for an interview will be contacted.

Image: Ema Peter