Executive Director

Job Opportunity: Executive Director

Organization: Coquitlam Foundation

Reports To: Board of Directors

Position Type: Full-Time, Flexible Hours (Weekends/evenings required for events)

Location: Fully Remote (Preference given to candidates residing in the Tri-Cities, BC)

Application Deadline: August 3, 2026

Help Shape the Future of Community Giving in the Tri-Cities

The Coquitlam Foundation is looking for a dynamic, community-minded leader who is ready to build on more than three decades of philanthropic success and help lead the Foundation into its next stage of growth as our Executive Director.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a relationship-builder, strategic thinker and confident ambassador who is passionate about bringing people together and harnessing the power of local giving to strengthen our community. Working closely with an engaged Board of Directors, the Executive Director will build connections, cultivate donors and partners, and expand the Foundation’s reach across the Tri-Cities.

If you are an experienced non-profit leader who is confident cultivating donor relationships and securing financial support, has strong financial and operational skills, and thrives in a visible, relationship-driven role, we would like to hear from you.

About the Coquitlam Foundation

Established in 1992, the Coquitlam Foundation connects local generosity with opportunities to make a lasting difference. We work with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to build enduring legacies and support local non-profits, community initiatives and students across Coquitlam.

Guided by our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, we are focused on building strong relationships, growing our investment funds and strengthening our organization to expand our reach and impact in the years ahead. The Executive Director will play a key role in turning these priorities into action and helping drive the Foundation’s ongoing success and future growth.

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED) is a pivotal leadership position responsible for supporting the Coquitlam Foundation Board in strategic goal-setting and operational excellence.

The ED is the visible face, champion, and vital link to the community. As our primary ambassador, this individual will connect deeply with local community leaders, businesses, and residents to foster a deep sense of belonging and collaboration within the Tri-Cities. The ideal candidate possesses a genuine passion for enhancing the vibrancy, sustainability, and unique community spirit of our region.

This role balances outward-facing leadership, strategic fund development, and community networking with essential day-to-day internal administrative, bookkeeping, and operational execution.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Fund Development & Strategic Growth

• Actively advance the strategic plan of the Board, focusing heavily on sharpening strategic direction and growing the Foundation's endowment funds to the next level.
• Lead fund development efforts by confidently pitching the Coquitlam Foundation to prospective donors, corporate partners, and professional wealth advisors.
• Integrate local Tri-Cities culture, diverse heritages, and grassroots community values into fundraising efforts and community initiatives, ensuring the Foundation's work resonates deeply with residents.
• Act with comfort and conviction when making financial asks, identifying and capitalizing on new philanthropic opportunities to expand the Foundation's capital.

2. Stakeholder, Fundholder & Community Relations

• Serve as the principal point of contact for fundholder relations, nurturing existing donor relationships and ensuring their philanthropic goals are stewarded with integrity.
• Foster, build, and sustain strong relationships with new donors, elected officials, non-profit organizations, volunteers, and members of the public.
• Utilize strong local networking skills to bridge connections across diverse community groups and stakeholders.
• Actively attend community, networking, and specific fundholder events to promote the Foundation, expand its reach, and engage the changing face of the community. This will require working select evenings and weekends.
• Implement the Foundation’s events including annual fundraiser, awards night, and any information sessions.

3. Board Liaison & Strategy Implementation

• Work hand-in-hand with the Board of Directors to implement their long-term vision, strategic objectives, and operational plans.
• Act as the vital link between the Board’s governance decisions and the day-to-day execution of operations.
• Work with the Foundation’s committees and implement the action items that result from the meetings.
• Provide robust governance and administrative support to the Board and its active committees.

4. Financial Management & Foundation Accounting

• Direct the financial operations of the organization, ensuring complete accountability, adherence to the operating budget, and alignment with contractual outcomes.
• Manage day-to-day bookkeeping duties and financial tracking.
• Utilize specialized knowledge of foundation and fund accounting to accurately manage the tracking of our endowments, while working directly with our portfolio managers.

5. Management, Administration & Technology

• Oversee the daily administrative operations and organizational needs of the Foundation in a fully remote environment.
• Manage, configure, and maximize the organization’s Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 suite to maintain efficient digital workflows, document storage, and communication.
• Manage marketing and communication services to consistently elevate the Foundation’s brand profile.
• Maintain a stable, predictable block of core working hours during the week to ensure accessibility for stakeholders, while enjoying overall schedule flexibility.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive management and/or leadership experience in the non-profit, charitable, or a relevant community-focused sector.
• Fundraising & Networking Excellence: Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build local networks, cultivate donor relationships, and make confident financial asks.
• Financial Acumen: Practical experience in bookkeeping and a solid working knowledge of foundation/charitable fund accounting principles.
• Community Connection: An extensive, nuanced knowledge of the Tri-Cities community and an organic ability to engage authentically with a diverse public. A profound commitment to the legacy of local residents is fundamental to success.
• Adaptability & Drive: A proven ability to adapt to a tight financial environment within a dynamic, changing environment.
• Governance: A sound, practical understanding of non-profit board governance and working board structures.
• Education: Post-secondary education in business, non-profit management, communications, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of professional experience and community leadership.
• Technical Skills: High proficiency in administering and managing organizational workflows via the Microsoft Teams/365 suite. Experience using Community Suite and/or Airtable platforms would be a bonus.
• Location: Fully remote, but ideally located within the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody) to seamlessly facilitate local networking, public speaking, and event attendance.

Compensation & Benefits

· Compensation: $80,000 – $100,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

· Flexibility: Enjoy the autonomy of a fully remote role with flexible hours, designed to balance operational stability with personal flexibility. This is a full-time position based on 40 hours per week.

· Vacation: 4 weeks of paid vacation per year.

· Benefits: Comprehensive health and benefits package included.

· Impact: The unique opportunity to directly shape the philanthropic legacy, growth, and community support systems of the Tri-Cities.

Ready to make a difference?

Please submit your résumé and a cover letter outlining your experience in non-profit leadership, fund development and financial management to ***email_hidden***.

Application & Timeline Note: We aim to hire this position for late August/early September. Because a deep commitment to our region is vital to this role, we strongly encourage candidates to use their cover letter to highlight their personal connection, history, or passion for the Tri-Cities community.

The Coquitlam Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.