Philanthropy & Communications Coordinator

Philanthropy & Communications Coordinator

Full-time (40 hours per week)

JA South Western Ontario is a member of JA Canada and part of JA Worldwide (JA), the world’s largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about business. Through the delivery of hands‑on, blended learning in entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness, JA empowers young people to grow their entrepreneurial ideas, hone their work skills, manage their earnings, and secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Since 1963, schools in South Western Ontario have relied on JA to prepare young people for success in an ever‑changing global economy. JA South Western Ontario is responsible for the geographic area including the counties of Essex, Chatham‑Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, Huron, Perth, Bruce, Grey, Wellington, Waterloo, Brant, Hamilton, Haldimand‑Norfolk, and Niagara.

The Philanthropy & Communications Coordinator is a unique role that links fundraising and marketing, playing a key part in advancing JA’s mission. This role reports directly to the Director, Philanthropy, and is accountable to the Director, Marketing and Communications. This position is ideal for a highly motivated professional who thrives in a collaborative, dynamic environment and is eager to contribute to many aspects of philanthropy.

The coordinator will work closely with senior leadership, support fundraising initiatives, and help communicate the impact of JA’s programs to the community. This is an opportunity to grow your skills, take ownership of meaningful projects, and make a tangible difference.

The Philanthropy & Communications Coordinator contributes to the revenue growth and sustainability of JA South Western Ontario. This role is involved with a variety of initiatives including grant applications, proposals, and reports, support for the organization’s annual fundraising activities, donor recognition and stewardship, and contributes to the events portfolio. The Philanthropy & Communications Coordinator works collaboratively across departments on sponsorship activities while stewarding relationships with new and existing donors, and provides support to the Director, Philanthropy.

• Take lead on the grant portfolio, preparing and submitting grants up to $10,000, balancing competing deadlines and priorities to meet deadlines and team goals.
• Research, identify and qualify funding opportunities across government, foundations, corporations, service clubs and individual donor segments.
• Create and prepare compelling grant proposals and applications, solicitation packages, letters of inquiry, and impact reports that effectively convey JASWO’s mission and impact.
• Monitor the lifecycle of grants and proposals from conceptualization through reporting to ensure timely deliverables and strong funder relationships.
• Collaborate closely with Director, Philanthropy, to track and evaluate fund development activities, anticipate challenges and ensure commitments are met as proposed.
• Assist with signature fundraising events, by helping to build meaningful engagement with donors, sponsors, and community supporters.
• Develop and steward a portfolio of third‑party and cause marketing events, strengthening partnerships and expanding visibility.
• Cultivate strong internal and external relationships by communicating clearly, listening actively, and representing the organization with professionalism and integrity.

• Maintain accurate records in Customer Relationship database (Sales Force) in accordance with organizational standards and best practices.
• Maintain and update donor database records, mailing lists, special announcements, and event invitations to ensure accurate and timely communications with donors and stakeholders.
• Attend and represent JA at community events as required, using discretion to identify opportunities for networking, relationship‑building, and raising the organization’s profile.

• Represent JA in the community with professionalism,…