Director, Philanthropy

Salary Range: $135, 000 - $145, 000 CAD annually

Every child has the right to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. For over 100 years, Save the Children has been the world’s first and leading independent children’s organization, and in Canada and around the world, we do whatever it takes, every day and in times of crisis, to make those rights real.

Are you a fundraising leader who thrives on turning vision into transformational impact? Save the Children Canada is looking for a Director, Philanthropy to shape and lead our philanthropy program, grow philanthropic revenue in ambitious and sustainable ways, and build the relationships that change children’s lives for generations to come.

Lead philanthropy growth. Build what comes next

Save the Children Canada is seeking an accomplished major gifts fundraising leader to help shape the future of our philanthropy program. This is an opportunity for a strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser with a proven track record of developing and executing successful major and principal gifts strategies, securing transformational philanthropic investments, and building high-value donor pipelines.

We are looking for a builder. Someone who is energized by creating systems, strengthening infrastructure, establishing disciplined fundraising practices, and turning opportunity into sustainable growth. While this role inherits important assets and momentum, success will require a leader who is equally comfortable designing strategy and personally advancing relationships with Canada's most influential philanthropists.

Reporting to the Chief External Engagement Officer, you will lead the evolution of Save the Children Canada's philanthropy program, expanding our presence in Canada's major philanthropic markets and helping connect our purpose to high-net-worth individuals, families, foundations, and institutions capable of making transformational investments for children in Canada and around the world.

What you’ll do

• Set the vision: Develop and deliver a multi-year philanthropy strategy with clear priorities, revenue objectives and performance measures for ambitious, sustainable growth.
• Lead with an integrated approach: Provide strategic leadership across major and principal giving, foundations, planned giving, stewardship and prospect development.
• Build meaningful donor relationships: Manage a focused portfolio of our highest-capacity donors and prospects, securing significant, multi-year and transformational investments, including seven-figure opportunities.
• Grow a healthy pipeline: Use disciplined portfolio and moves management, prospect research, relationship mapping and strategic networking to build forecasts and drive revenue growth.
• Activate our High Net Worth Fundraising Cabinet: Partner with the Chief External Engagement Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Cabinet Co-Chairs to engage members, open doors and advance significant philanthropic opportunities.
• Partner with leaders and the Board: Offer strategic counsel, prospect briefings, and cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for our highest-priority philanthropic relationships.
• Tell a compelling story: Create cases for support and customized donor propositions that connect donors’ passions with our programmatic and humanitarian priorities.
• Advance sophisticated giving: Develop giving strategies for high-net-worth individuals, families and foundations, including multi-year commitments, donor-advised funds, gifts of securities, planned and estate gifts, and blended giving.
• Steward with heart: Deepen relationships through meaningful engagement, compelling impact reporting, recognition and personalized experiences.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy: Engage and equip executives, Board members, volunteers and colleagues to contribute to fundraising success, and collaborate across External Engagement for a seamless donor experience.
• Lead with data and integrity: Use fundraising data, donor intelligence, analytics and emerging trends to guide strategy and forecasting, while upholding donor intent, ethical standards and organizational policies.
• Be our ambassador: Represent Save the Children Canada with donors, foundations, philanthropic advisers, senior volunteers and sector networks.
• Lead and grow a team: Provide strategic direction, coaching and performance management; manage budgets, recruitment, change and career development; and foster a respectful, values-driven, safe and inclusive workplace.

What you’ll bring

• Post-secondary education in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including significant experience leading major and/or principal giving in a complex charitable or not-for-profit organization.
• A track record of developing and implementing philanthropy strategies that delivered measurable, sustained revenue growth.
• Proven success personally cultivating, soliciting, securing and stewarding six- and seven-figure gifts from high-net-worth individuals, families and/or foundations, including multi-year commitments.
• Experience building and managing high-value donor pipelines and portfolios using prospect development, relationship management and moves-management practices.
• Experience engaging fundraising cabinets, Boards and executive leaders to expand philanthropic networks and advance major, principal and transformational giving.
• Advanced knowledge of donor-centred philanthropy, including major and principal giving, foundations, planned giving, stewardship and prospect development, with a strong understanding of the Canadian philanthropic landscape.
• The ability to turn organizational priorities into compelling cases for support tailored to donors’ interests and motivations.
• Strong strategic, financial and analytical skills, using data, forecasting and performance measures to drive results.
• Advanced communication, interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills, with the discretion and judgment to build trusted relationships with donors, senior volunteers, executives and diverse stakeholders.
• People leadership, project management and organizational skills, with the ability to set clear direction, develop high-performing teams and manage complex priorities within demanding timelines.
• Sound judgment, strategic thinking and adaptability, with decisions grounded in our values, ethical fundraising standards and donor intent.
• Ability to travel occasionally, locally, nationally and internationally (less than 10%).

Even better if you have

• A graduate degree and/or Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation.
• Experience in international development, NGO/INGO, healthcare foundation or post-secondary advancement environments.
• French language skills.
• People management experience in a unionized environment.

Who we are

Our values guide how we work and the decisions we make: Accountability, Human Rights, Justice, Courage, Reciprocity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are committed to Reconciliation, Equity, Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion (READI), to child safeguarding, and to a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace where people can do their best work.

What we offer

The salary range for this position is non-union pay band 9 between  $135, 000 - $145, 000 CAD depending on skills and experience. In addition to this, our employees will have the following package of additional benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package for you and your dependents available three months after employment start date. Coordinated benefits for your partner paid by Save the Children Canada.
• Hybrid workplace including opportunities to work remotely and flexible work hours to support employee wellbeing and work life balance.
• 4 weeks of annual paid vacation.
• In addition to annual leave, we offer an end of year office closure December 25 - January 1 (SAVE Days) so we can all recharge simultaneously.
• 5 paid personal days.
• 3 paid float days.
• 10 paid sick leave days.
• Parental leave top-up.
• Employer contributions to group pension plan. Access to help save for a first home through the pension provider.
• Learning and development opportunities and specialized training including professional development time.
• Confidential Employee Assistance Program services available to you and your dependents from your first day of employment.
• Organization-wide membership access to Headspace.

How to apply?

If you are interested in this position, please visit the career page at https://www.savethechildren.ca/ and submit your resume and cover letter. Applications will be reviewed on ongoing basis. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that AI is used in some components of the recruitment process.

It is our individual and collective responsibility to ensure all children are protected from deliberate or unintentional acts that lead to the risk of, or actual, harm caused by our employees. Each employee shall be aware that there may be additional vulnerabilities facing children associated with their age, socio-economic background, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, identity, sexual orientation or identity, and is committed to ensuring this does not form barriers to effective safeguarding.

Each employee is committed to fostering and sustaining a safe environment through proactive, accessible, and effective approaches that seek to prevent and respond to any harm to the children including but not limited to sexual exploitation and abuse. SCC and all its employees will take all reasonable steps to make itself safe, both as an organisation and in the conduct of all aspects of its day-to-day operations of emergency, humanitarian, developmental, policy, campaigning and administrative work.

SCC supports and acts in compliance with the Human Rights Code. SCC is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). Providing an accessible and barrier-free environment is a shared effort, and as an organization, SCC is committed to working with the necessary parties to make accessibility for all a reality. If you require an accommodation during any stage of the recruitment or employment process, please notify People & Culture at peopleandculture@savethechildren.ca

This recruitment process may involve the use of AI-enabled or automated tools within ADP Workforce Now to help manage job postings and application workflows. These tools may assist with tasks such as organizing applicant information, identifying potential matches based on job-related qualifications, or supporting communication and scheduling.

All hiring decisions are made by our People & Culture team and hiring managers. No automated tool makes final decisions about your candidacy. If at any point you have questions about how your information is used, please contact our team at peopleandculture@savethechildren.ca