Stewardship and Communications SpecialistCalgary, AB or Toronto ON / Hybrid (2-3 days in office)Full-time, 40 hours/week$65,000 - $75,000 annually, starting range based on skills and experienceWhy you'll love working at WindmillAt Windmill, your work goes beyond a job – you'll be helping skilled immigrants and refugees rebuild their careers in Canada. Here's what you can expect:Impact with purpose – every relationship you steward connects more newcomers with the tools to succeed.Diversity in action – join a team as diverse as the clients we serve, where different perspectives are celebrated.Collaboration & support – work alongside colleagues who share a mission-driven mindset.Room to grow – take initiative, bring new ideas, and help impact a national development strategy.Balance that works – hybrid schedule, vacation, and a company-wide winter break.Inclusive culture – part of Canada's 50-30 Challenge, we're committed to equity and representation.The role:Windmill Microlending is seeking a capable and committed individual to join our Development team as the Stewardship and Communications Specialist.This full-time role reports to the Associate Director, Development, and plays a vital role at the intersection of fundraising and storytelling, ensuring that all communications support donor engagement, stewardship, and revenue growth.The successful candidate will lead the planning and execution of stewardship communications, proposal writing, private funder reporting, and philanthropic thought leadership, in close collaboration with the development and marketing teams.Key responsibilities:Stewardship and reporting (60%)Draft and deliver all standard and customized stewardship reports for individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, grant makers, and guarantors—ensuring accuracy, data integrity, and timely submission.Develop and implement personalized stewardship and engagement plans to strengthen long-term donor relationships; use data insights to inform communications and improve donor retention.Lead stewardship planning and engagement for major donors, foundation and corporate partners, guarantors, Named Loan Funds, and Community Bond investors, ensuring all activity is accurately tracked in Salesforce.Collaborate with Client Success Coaches to ensure timely and accurate updates for annual Named Loan Fund cohort reports.Grant writing and proposal development (20%)Draft and edit compelling proposals and grant applications to foundations, corporations, and government funders, tailored to funder interests and program alignment.Maintain a library of reusable content, key metrics, and templated language for efficient proposal development.Work closely with program and finance teams to collect accurate budgets, outcomes, and narratives to support applications and reports.Track proposal submission deadlines and reporting requirements to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables.Donor storytelling & campaign content (10%)Develop and write impactful donor profiles and stories that highlight supporter motivation, impact, and partnership with Windmill.Integrate donor voices into proposals, reports, and campaign materials, ensuring stories are compelling, authentic, and mission-aligned.Collaborate with fundraisers to identify storytellers, conduct interviews, and manage content approvals.Repurpose donor content for digital platforms, including social media and e-newsletters, to broaden engagement and campaign reach.Contribute donor-focused storytelling content to major campaigns, including regional initiatives, anniversaries, and special events.Organizational communications support (10%)Support the creation of donor- and alumni-related communications content, including Windmill's e-newsletter, social media messaging, and annual impact report.Contribute to the organization's communication planning processes and ensure fundraising messaging is aligned with Windmill's brand and mission.Participate in cross-departmental projects and provide writing or research support as needed.Ideal candidate:You are a relationship builder at heart—someone who understands that stewardship is more than a task; it's a mindset. You believe in the power of thoughtful engagement to cultivate lasting donor relationships and are motivated by deepening supporters' connection to a mission that transforms lives. Whether crafting a personalized impact report or planning recognition strategies for a major donor, you bring a sense of care, accountability, and purpose to every interaction.The ideal candidate is adept at designing stewardship experiences that are timely, meaningful, and data informed. You are highly organized and strategic in your approach, using donor insights to drive retention, strengthen partnerships, and demonstrate impact with authenticity. You're just as comfortable liaising with fundraisers, finance teams, and client-facing colleagues as you are with writing a report, understanding that exceptional stewardship is both collaborative and cross-functional.While you bring strong written communication skills, you view storytelling and reporting as essential tools to reinforce trust, gratitude, and continued support from donors, partners, and investors.Qualifications and knowledge:Bachelor's Degree, preferably in communications, marketing or business-related program3-5 years of experience in a fund development role preferredKnowledge of donor-based CRM systems, ideally Salesforce, and prospect research databasesCompetencies and characteristics:Deeply relationship-focused, with a passion for nurturing long-term engagement and a strong understanding of donor stewardship best practices.Strategic and methodical, skilled in planning and executing stewardship journeys that are personalized, scalable, and aligned with donor motivations.Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to juggle multiple projects, meet deadlines, and uphold high standards in donor deliverables.A thoughtful communicator, capable of expressing appreciation and impact with nuance, professionalism, and warmth.Data-savvy, able to draw insights from CRM systems (ideally Salesforce) to inform communications, track engagement, and measure impact.A collaborative connector who enjoys working across teams to gather stories, updates, and data that enrich funder relationships.Inspired by Windmill's mission, and eager to play a role in supporting newcomers' success by stewarding the generosity of those who make it possible.Compensation and benefits:Starting salary range $65,000 - $75,000 annually, based on skills and experience required for the roleHybrid work solution with 2 or 3 days in the office, with the balance from home in Calgary or Toronto.Full-time, 40 hours/weekThree weeks' vacation, plus a company-wide winter breakBenefits plan – medical, dental, short-term & long-term disability, and life insuranceAnnual Wellness Budget to support personal well-beingAccess to GRSP with matching employer contributionsEvolving DEI initiatives – our staff is representative of our client baseOpportunities for skill development in a supportive and inclusive environmentHow to apply:To apply, please send your resume and cover letter (including salary expectations) by email to hr@teamwindmill.org with the subject line: Stewardship and Communications SpecialistApplications without a cover letter will not be considered. We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. About Windmill Microlending: Windmill Microlending enables immigrants and refugees to build careers in Canada while reducing poverty and labour shortages. We do this by offering affordable loans along with career assessment coaching, financial literacy training, and mentorship for newcomers who lack access to mainstream credit. Since 2005, Windmill has provided over 14,000 loans to clients in healthcare, IT, financial services, law, engineering, and many other fields to triple their incomes as a result of our affordable loans and support. Windmill is a registered Canadian charity supported by donations and community bonds from the private sector and grants from the public sector. At Windmill, you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of newcomers. Join a diverse, dynamic team at a leading Canadian not-for-profit where empowering our clients starts with creating an enjoyable workplace for our staff. Our commitment to a fulfilling environment is evident in our 85+% average employee engagement scores on our annual survey.Windmill Microlending is an equal-opportunity employer. Adhering to Canada's Human Rights Act, Windmill grants equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, colour, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, ethnic origin, age, or place of origin. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. As an active participant in the Federal Government's 50-30 Challenge, we are committed to building a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians by attaining gender parity and significant representation of underrepresented groups on our board and in senior management positions.Information on Windmill Microlending - http://www.windmillmicrolending.org
