Director of Philanthropy

Position Overview: The Director of Philanthropy is responsible for advancing our client’s philanthropic growth in Toronto. This role provides strategic leadership for major and leadership giving, builds and stewards a high-value donor pipeline, and strengthens Weizmann’s visibility and donor community in Toronto.

The Director will manage a portfolio of leadership and major gift donors and prospects, lead solicitation strategy and donor engagement planning, and serve as the senior staff partner to the Toronto Chapter. Working closely with the Chief Philanthropy Officer and national colleagues, the Director will help position our client for sustained growth and long- term campaign success.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and execute a regional fundraising strategy that grows the major and leadership gift revenue in Toronto.
• Build and manage a robust portfolio of donors and prospects, strategically moving relationships through cultivation, solicitation, commitment, and stewardship.
• Actively identify, qualify, and engage new major-gift prospects, leveraging volunteer relationships, referrals, events, networks, and strategic prospecting to expand their donor base in Toronto.
• Demonstrate the confidence and judgment to initiate relationships, make ambitious asks, and move donor conversations toward solicitation and commitment.
• Create individualized engagement and solicitation strategies that align donor interests with their research priorities and institutional funding needs.
• Deliver significant year-over-year growth in major and leadership giving in Toronto with the goal of building toward ambitious multi-million-dollar annual revenue goals.
• Partner with national colleagues (Communications, Stewardship, Events, and Research) to deliver high-quality donor experiences and coordinated relationship management.
• Maintain a disciplined prospect strategy and forecasting, ensuring a strong pipeline health and effective use of moves management tools (Raiser’s Edge NXT).
• Represent our client in Toronto’s philanthropic community and build the organization’s profile among key networks and influencers.
• Serve as the senior staff partner to the Toronto Chapter, working closely with the volunteer leadership to achieve fundraising and engagement objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance, coaching, and tools to enable volunteer fundraising success, including donor introductions, cultivation opportunities, and solicitation support.
• Partner with Chapter leadership to identify and recruit new volunteer leaders and committee members who expand our client’s reach and influence.

Donor Engagement & Institutional Knowledge

• Build strong fluency in the client’s research priorities, breakthroughs, and impact, translating complex science into compelling philanthropic narratives.
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop donor-centric proposals that are strategic, personalized, and mission-aligned.
• Ensure donors receive timely, meaningful stewardship that strengthens long-term relationships and increases lifetime giving.
• Create meaningful opportunities for donors and prospects to engage directly with their scientists and leadership, strategically leveraging these relationships to deepen engagement and advance philanthropic conversations.

Success in this role looks like…

• A growing and well-qualified donor pipeline
• Meaningful growth in new major-gift donors and prospects
• Increased major and leadership gift revenue year over year
• Strong donor retention and upgraded giving
• An engaged and high-performing Toronto chapter
• Effective collaboration across a national, geographically distributed team
• Strong presence and credibility in the philanthropic community

Core Competencies

Strategic Relationship Management

• Builds trust-based relationships with high-capacity donors and prospects, demonstrating sound judgment, discretion, curiosity, and the ability to engage donors around complex and significant philanthropic opportunities.

Revenue Leadership & Accountability

• Sets clear goals, drives disciplined execution, and delivers results. Uses data, forecasting, and relationship intelligence to guide priorities and maximize impact.
• Communicates with confidence and credibility with donors, senior volunteers, and organizational leadership. Brings a polished, diplomatic approach and strong interpersonal awareness.
• Effectively supports and mobilizes volunteer leaders fostering alignment and momentum while encouraging strong individual ownership of fundraising efforts.

Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Works effectively within a national team structure, partnering across business units to deliver results, high-quality stewardship, and a strong donor experience.
• Brings energy, persistence and creativity to building relationships and generating philanthropic opportunities. Proactively opens doors, follows through consistently, and is comfortable creating opportunities rather than waiting for them to emerge. Operates with a high degree of independence, takes ownership, anticipates needs, and moves opportunities forward with minimal direction while maintaining alignment with organizational goals and priorities.

Intellectual Curiosity & Storytelling

• Demonstrates genuine curiosity and the ability to understand complex scientific ideas, identify what will resonate with different donors, and translate research and institutional priorities into compelling, accessible philanthropic opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience

• University or College degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum 7+ years’ progressive fundraising experience, with a demonstrated track record of personally cultivating, soliciting and closing major gifts (six and seven figure level preferred)
• Proven track record managing and growing a major gifts portfolio and achieving ambitious revenue targets
• Experience partnering with and mobilizing senior volunteers and boards in fundraising activity
• Demonstrated ability to translate mission impact into compelling donor engagement and solicitation strategies
• Solid knowledge of Toronto’s philanthropic landscape, including familiarity with key philanthropic communities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively
• High level of professionalism, discretion and integrity
• Experience with fundraising CRM systems; familiarity with Raisers Edge NXT is a strong asset