Director of Philanthropy

WHO ARE WE?

Shelter Movers is a national, volunteer-powered charitable organization providing moving and storage services at no cost to individuals and families fleeing abuse. We collaborate with local businesses and community agencies to support people, primarily women and children, as they transition to a life free of violence. Every year, in collaboration with community partners, our volunteer teams contribute tens of thousands of hours across Canada to support people transitioning to lives free of violence and abuse.

WHO ARE WE?

Shelter Movers is a national, volunteer-powered charitable organization providing moving and storage services at no cost to individuals and families fleeing abuse. We collaborate with local businesses and community agencies to support people, primarily women and children, as they transition to a life free of violence. Every year, in collaboration with community partners, our volunteer teams contribute tens of thousands of hours across Canada to support people transitioning to lives free of violence and abuse.

Working at Shelter Movers means creating a meaningful impact for families experiencing abuse. It also means showing allyship and playing a tangible role in breaking the cycle of gender-based violence in Canada. We are growing and looking to add caring, compassionate, competent people to join our team.

PURPOSE OF YOUR ROLE

The Director of Philanthropy leads Shelter Movers’ national fundraising strategy, revenue generation, and donor engagement efforts, ensuring the organization secures the philanthropic support required to sustain and expand services for survivors of gender-based and family violence across Canada.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the Director provides leadership across major gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, community giving, stewardship, fundraising operations, revenue planning, and donor-facing storytelling. The role plays a critical part in organizational sustainability, revenue diversification, public engagement, and long-term growth.

Working within a national, region-based service delivery model, the Director collaborates closely with national and regional Directors, senior leaders, volunteers, Marketing & Communications, volunteers, and the Board of Directors to advance fundraising priorities, strengthen donor relationships, and build a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization.

YOUR FOCUS

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of Shelter Movers' national fundraising strategy.
• Accountable for overseeing the achievement of annual fundraising targets in excess of $5 million through a diversified revenue portfolio.
• Develop annual fundraising plans, revenue forecasts, performance targets, and key performance indicators.
• Monitor fundraising performance and recommend strategic adjustments as required.
• Identify and implement opportunities for revenue growth, donor acquisition, donor retention, and revenue diversification.
• Ensure fundraising activities align with organizational priorities, strategic objectives, and emerging opportunities.

Major Gifts & Strategic Relationships

• Manage a portfolio of major donors, foundations, corporations, and high-capacity prospects representing more than $2 million in annual giving.
• Lead cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal strategies for key donor relationships.
• Develop and execute strategies to secure six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Partner with executive leadership, board members, volunteers, and community leaders to advance fundraising opportunities.
• Strengthen and support a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
• Provide fundraising guidance, coaching, and strategic support to Directors, staff, board members and volunteer leaders engaged in donor cultivation and solicitation, where applicable.
• Represent Shelter Movers externally with funders, donors, community partners, and sector stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Fundraising Capacity Building

• Provide leadership, coaching, and strategic direction to the Philanthropy (and, as needed, Marketing & Communications) teams.
• Support performance management, goal setting, professional development, and succession planning for direct reports.
• Lead a collaborative national fundraising model that aligns local and national fundraising priorities.
• Provide strategic fundraising support and coaching to Directors and local fundraising leaders across multiple regions.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and knowledge sharing across philanthropy, communications, and chapter-based teams.
• Build fundraising and communications capacity across the organization by supporting staff, volunteers, and leaders to understand and contribute to philanthropy and public engagement goals.

Fundraising Operations & Systems

• Oversee fundraising forecasting, pipeline management, reporting, and performance tracking.
• Ensure strong fundraising processes, policies, and stewardship practices.
• Support CRM strategy, donor data integrity, prospect management, and fundraising analytics.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to inform fundraising strategy and decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards and applicable regulatory requirements.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team and may contribute to organizational planning, decision-making, and execution.
• Advise the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leaders on fundraising trends, opportunities, risks, donor engagement, communications priorities, public engagement, and revenue forecasting.
• Support Board and committee engagement related to philanthropy, revenue generation, donor stewardship, communications, and public-facing fundraising initiatives.
• Contribute to organizational sustainability, growth planning, risk management, and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure fundraising, marketing, and communications priorities are aligned with broader organizational goals and operational realities.

Marketing, Communications & Public Engagement

• Partner closely with national marketing and communications teams, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, brand standards, fundraising goals, and public engagement objectives.
• Support (and as needed, lead) organization-wide communications planning, including campaigns, newsletters, social media, website content, public awareness initiatives, media opportunities, and stakeholder communications.
• As needed, contribute and support the development of compelling organizational narratives, impact storytelling, and survivor-centred messaging for a range of audiences, including donors, volunteers, partners, referral agencies, media, and the broader public.
• Partner on the strategic direction for fundraising campaigns, donor communications, stewardship materials, sponsorship proposals, annual reports, impact reports, and public-facing campaign content.
• Help to ensure consistency, quality, and strategic alignment across organizational communications, fundraising communications, brand positioning, and external engagement.
• Support visibility and recognition opportunities for corporate partners, sponsors, funders, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Help to ensure marketing and communications activities reflect Shelter Movers’ values, trauma-informed principles, and survivor-centred approach.

Unique Experience / Knowledge

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and survivor-centred service - demonstrated through GBV sector experience/knowledge.
• Passion for Shelter Movers’ mission and the prevention of gender-based and family violence.
• Advanced understanding and interest in gender studies, including anti-racist, anti-oppressive frameworks and intersectionality of challenges faced by women and particularly survivors of abuse in the local community is an asset.

Skills You Will Need

• 10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, including leadership roles with increasing responsibility.
• CFRE designation is an asset.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing six- and seven-figure gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Experience leading fundraising teams and managing performance.
• Experience overseeing marketing, communications, campaigns, public engagement, and organizational storytelling.
• Strong strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue management skills.
• Experience working effectively with Boards of Directors, executive leaders, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Experience leading fundraising within a multi-site, national, or highly collaborative organizational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and lead through relationships rather than formal authority alone.
• Strong communication, storytelling, relationship-building, and presentation skills.

ROLE DETAILS

• JOB TYPE: Full-Time | Permanent
• COMPENSATION: $115,000 - $130,000
• LOCATION: Canada / Remote / Travel to Events, as needed
• HOURS OF WORK: 35 hours per week (with some evening and weekend availability as needed)

SOME OF THE EXTRAS

• Health/Dental Coverage
• Phone Stipend
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted fitness membership
• Parental Top-up
• Paid time-off

Shelter Movers is pleased, and committed to providing an accessible recruitment and selection process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We strive to ensure that all candidates are treated with dignity and respect and are provided with equal opportunities throughout the hiring process.

Accommodations are available upon request and may include, but are not limited to, adjustments to the interview format, accessible meeting locations, assistive technology, or additional time. To request an accommodation, please contact our People & Culture team at View email address on apply.j-vers.com. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential and will be used only for the purpose of providing appropriate accommodations.

Note that the successful candidate will be subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check and reference check.