SUMMARY
The Director of Philanthropy is a fundraising leader responsible for executing a comprehensive philanthropic revenue strategy to support programs serving vulnerable and marginalized populations.
With a primary focus on major gifts fundraising, the role also provides strategic leadership for planned giving, and direct marketing/annual giving programs. The Director builds meaningful donor relationships grounded in mission impact, ethical storytelling, and community outcomes, while fostering an internal culture of philanthropy. The Director of Philanthropy works collaboratively with the Director of Marketing and Community Engagement to align fundraising strategy and donor communications.
THE ROLE
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Develop and implement a major gifts strategy targeting donors capable of giving $10,000+.
- Build, manage, and actively advance a portfolio of approximately 75+ qualified major-gift donors and prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Develop donor investment opportunities, tailored proposals, impact reports, and funding agreements that connect philanthropic support to Haven’s mission and community outcomes.
- Build a practical legacy-giving program focused on bequests and other deferred gifts, including donor education, documentation, and stewardship.
- Partner with Marketing and Community Engagement on annual giving, monthly giving, direct-response fundraising, donor acquisition, and retention strategies.
- Support and inform the Ambassador Council, including annual goal setting, meeting coordination, and regular updates on Haven’s operations and programs.
- Support the Executive Director in staffing and engaging the Board Fundraising and Development Committee and prepare clear fundraising dashboards and reports.
- Contribute to fundraising budgets and revenue forecasts; use donor data to improve retention, upgrades, and fundraising performance.
- Champion a culture of philanthropy across all levels of the organization.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN YOUR FIRST YEAR
- A clear and active major-gifts pipeline, with agreed prospect stages, next actions, and relationship owners.
- Stronger relationships with priority donors and prospects, supported by consistent cultivation and stewardship.
- Major-gift commitments that contribute meaningfully to Haven’s revenue goals.
- Better visibility into fundraising results, donor retention, and upgrade opportunities.
- A practical foundation for growing legacy giving over time.
WHAT YOU BRING
- Seven or more years of progressive fundraising experience, including direct responsibility for a major-gifts portfolio.
- A demonstrated record of personally securing five- and/or six-figure gifts.
- Strong donor relationship management, solicitation, proposal-writing, and stewardship skills.
- The ability to translate complex social-service work into credible, donor-centred cases for support.
- Experience working effectively with senior leaders, community volunteers, and cross-functional staff teams.
- Experience with planned giving, annual giving, or direct-response fundraising is an asset.
- Comfort using a donor database/CRM and fundraising data to plan activity and measure results; DonorPerfect experience is an asset.
- Sound judgment and a commitment to ethical, consent-based storytelling that protects the dignity and privacy of people served.
- A university degree in fundraising, nonprofit management, social services, business, or a related field; CFRE designation is an asset.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Salary range: $70,000 - $80,000
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits.
