Senior Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships

View full job posting and application details at: https://thewellspringfoundation.org/employment/senior-director-philanthropy-partnerships/

The Senior Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships is Wellspring’s senior fundraising leader, accountable for developing and executing the strategy required to sustain and grow the organization’s approximately $2 million annual operating budget. This is a hands-on fundraising leadership role. The Senior Director will lead the fundraising team by example, personally managing a significant portfolio of major donors, foundations and strategic partners, while building a disciplined, high performing culture focussed on donor retention, revenue growth and measurable results, infused with Wellspring’s organizational values.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

STRATEGIC GROWTH & INCOME GENERATION (75%)

• Develop and execute Wellspring’s comprehensive fundraising strategy and annual revenue plan, with clear targets for sustainable year-over-year growth, diversified income and long-term financial health. Take direct accountability for achieving agreed fundraising goals and providing early warning and corrective action when performance is off track.
• Personally manage a significant portfolio of high-capacity individuals, foundations, corporate partners and other strategic funders. Maintain an active schedule of qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, including personally making significant asks and securing transformational and multi-year commitments.
• Protect Wellspring’s existing revenue base through intentional stewardship, renewal planning and meaningful engagement. Build and execute strategies to increase the value, duration and depth of current donor and partner relationships.
• Ensure Wellspring has a healthy, well-researched and actively managed pipeline across all priority revenue streams. Establish clear moves-management expectations, next actions, revenue projections and conversion targets for both the Senior Director’s portfolio and the wider development team.
• Lead and strengthen Wellspring’s corporate and strategic partnership strategy, building a growing pipeline of aligned partners and developing compelling opportunities for significant investment.
• Provide strategic direction and senior relationship leadership for foundation, institutional and international grant opportunities, ensuring proposals are aligned with Wellspring’s strategy and supported by strong funder relationships.
• Oversee the development of a growing legacy-giving pipeline, ensuring legacy conversations are thoughtfully integrated across donor journeys and that team members are equipped to introduce legacy opportunities.
• Support and oversee emerging fundraising and partnership initiatives within Rwanda and East Africa that diversify and grow Wellspring’s global revenue streams.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Director of Communications to translate program impact into compelling fundraising narratives, lead targeted campaigns and special appeals, and develop strategic engagement opportunities within Canadian education, church and community networks.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & CULTURE (15%)

• Lead, mentor, and build the capacity of a small, passionate development team across Canada and Rwanda.
• Establish individual and team revenue targets, portfolio goals, activity expectations and key performance indicators. Hold regular pipeline and performance reviews, coach team members toward results, address underperformance promptly and celebrate meaningful progress.
• Model and instill our Christ-centered organizational values across the development team, keeping remote team members highly motivated, collaborative and engaged in learning and development.
• Participate strategically in Wellspring’s global Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning and performance, risk management, and building a healthy team culture, modelling servant-hearted leadership.
• Provide trusted counsel to the ED and Board on fundraising strategy, performance, risks and opportunities. Equip and actively engage Board members and senior leaders as ambassadors, connectors, cultivators and where appropriate, participants in donor engagement.
• Participate in team retreats and pursue relevant professional development that strengthens fundraising leadership, cross-cultural effectiveness and organizational impact.
• Undertake any other professional duties which may be reasonably delegated by the ED in support of our mission and strategy, including contributing occasionally and appropriately to projects or initiatives.

STEWARDSHIP, FORECASTING & COMPLIANCE (10%)

• Oversee meaningful, timely and tailored stewardship journeys that connect donors and partners directly to the impact of Wellspring’s education programs and strengthen retention and future giving.
• Maintain accurate fundraising forecasts and pipeline data, oversee the development budget and collaborate with the Finance Manager to provide monthly and quarterly reports on revenue, retention, pipeline movement, probability-weighted forecasts and performance against target.
• Provide clear strategic guidance to the ED and Board on revenue trends, concentration risks, donor retention, pipeline health, emerging opportunity and corrective actions.
• Ensure all fundraising activities comply with CRA and other relevant global regulatory standards, data protection laws, and ethical fundraising practices.
• Ensure all fundraising and external engagement activities and documentation uphold Wellspring’s Child Safeguarding Policy and ethical standards.

REQUIRED QUALITIES, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 8 years of progressively senior fundraising experience, ideally within national/international development or the wider charitable sector, including demonstrated leadership of a fundraising function or team
• A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field OR an equivalent of education and substantial senior fundraising experience or a combination of both.
• A compelling, measurable record of personally cultivating, soliciting and securing significant gifts from individuals, foundations, and or corproate partners, including multi-year commitments. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their direct contribution to revenue growth, donor retention and portfolio development.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading high-performing fundraising teams, setting revenue and activity targets, coaching fundraisers, managing performance and creating a positive culture focused on both relationship and results.
• Established Canadian networks and a demonstrated ability to open new doors, build trusted senior-level relationships and expand the Wellspring community of funders and partners.

Skills and Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of major-gift fundraising, portfolio and moves management, donor acquisition and retention, foundation and corporate partnerships, campaigns, stewardship and pipeline development.
• Strong ability to set revenue targets, assess fundraising return on investment, build probability-weighted forecasts, interpret performance data and translate insights into timely action.
• High proficiency with CRM systems (such as Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge), Google Workspace and other digital tools, with a demonstrated commitment to accurate, timely portfolio and pipeline data.
• An engaging and credible communicator who can articulate a compelling case for support, listen deeply, navigate complex donor conversations, make clear and courageous asks, and represent Wellspring with diverse stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, partners, churches and education leaders.
• Strong knowledge of CRA charity regulations, ethical fundraising practices, privacy requirements and responsible donor due diligence.
• Broad understanding of international development, education and global philanthropy. International experience in the Global South and/or demonstrated understanding of the East African context is an asset.

Personal Qualities and Behaviours

• A courageous, disciplined and deeply relational fundraising leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, strong work ethic and genuine enjoyment of frontline donor engagement.
• Demonstrated alignment with Wellspring’s vision, mission, values and philosophy of relational fundraising, together with a commitment to locally led and asset-based community development.
• Strong fit with Wellspring’s organizational culture and servant-hearted leadership, with demonstrated cross-cultural skills, emotional intelligence, and a highly relational team player.
• Alignment with and affirmation of Wellspring’s Christian faith foundation and statement of faith.
• Fluency in English

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Remote role based in Canada.
• Frequent travel locally and across Canada, and occasionally to Rwanda.
• Regular collaboration across time zones with colleagues in Rwanda and Canada.
• Occasional work requirements outside of traditional hours or at weekends for special projects such as donor events or meetings.
• Ability to provide a clear criminal background check in line with Wellspring’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Manual dexterity required to use desktop computer and peripherals
• Extensive visual concentration
• Attention to detail required while subject to multiple interruptions
• Manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines
• Salary Range: $95,000 – $120,000.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email your cover letter of no more than two pages outlining your motivation and relevant experience for the role; your CV or resumé; and your statement of faith in English to applications@thewellspringfoundation.org and copy libby@thewellspringfoundation.org

Deadline for Applications: 20th September 2026

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis before the deadline and until the role is filled. We encourage you to apply early if you are genuinely interested, are legally able to work in Canada, and believe you would be a great fit for this role.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Target Start Date: Oct/Nov 2026