Vice President, Philanthropy (Temiscaming)

Introduction

The Ottawa Cancer Foundation is an independent charitable organization dedicated to providing direct support, practical services, and compassionate care to individuals and families affected by cancer across Eastern Ontario. For more than 30 years, the organization has played an important role within the region’s cancer care landscape, initially through funding research and clinical trials, and more recently through a community-based model focused on improving quality of life for those navigating the realities of cancer.

Today, the Foundation operates as a growing cancer support organization delivering programs, services, and resources for cancer patients, caregivers, and families within its Community Cancer Hubs and through a broad network of community partnerships. Following the recent opening of a second location in Ottawa’s west end, the Foundation continues to broaden access to care and strengthen its presence across the region.

Role Overview

Summary of the Role

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice President, Philanthropy (VP) will lead the Foundation’s philanthropy function during a period of organizational momentum and increasing external engagement. The VP will help strengthen awareness, deepen donor confidence, and expand philanthropic investment in support of cancer care services across the region. As a member of the executive leadership team, you will lead fundraising and donor engagement across major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorship, events, foundations, planned giving, and future campaign initiatives.

You will oversee the development and execution of fundraising strategies designed to strengthen long-term philanthropic support, with emphasis on cultivating sustained donor relationships, increasing multi-year commitments, and supporting the Foundation’s future capital and infrastructure priorities. You will work closely with the CEO, Chief Mission Officer, VP of Finance and Operations, Board committees, and other senior leaders to align fundraising with evolving organizational needs and growth plans.

As an external ambassador, you will strengthen the Foundation’s visibility and presence throughout the region by engaging with donors, community leaders, corporate partners, volunteers, and stakeholders. You will represent the Foundation publicly, speak at events, build authentic connections, and navigate sensitive conversations with empathy, professionalism, and credibility.

Internally, you will lead and guide the philanthropy team, fostering alignment, communication, and operational effectiveness across functions. You will support day-to-day execution and long-term planning while ensuring the team delivers a high standard of donor experience and engagement. The Foundation’s ongoing evolution will benefit from your strategic perspective and practical leadership to balance immediate priorities with future opportunities for growth and impact.

Is This for You?

• You are an accomplished leader with a track record of leading sophisticated fundraising strategies, cultivating high-value donor relationships, and advancing long-term philanthropic growth within complex organizations.
• You have balanced strategic leadership with hands-on fundraising execution across major gifts, annual giving, corporate partnerships, foundations, planned giving, campaign activity, and donor stewardship.
• You understand how to move beyond transactional fundraising by building thoughtful, long-term engagement strategies that strengthen donor confidence and organizational sustainability.
• Experience leading or supporting capital initiatives, campaign planning, or infrastructure-related fundraising is highly valuable.
• You are highly relationship-oriented, comfortable representing the organization publicly, and able to engage with donors, volunteers, Board members, corporate leaders, and community stakeholders with authenticity and empathy.
• You are energized by external visibility, events, speaking publicly, cultivating relationships, and serving as an ambassador for the organization and its mission.
• You can read a room, adapt your approach, and foster meaningful connections with a wide range of audiences and stakeholders. Ability to communicate in both official languages is a strong asset.
• You combine strategic perspective with practicality, operating at both a high level and within the operational realities of a growing organization; you bring structure, direction, and accountability while remaining collaborative and approachable.
• You value purpose-driven work and compassionate, people-centered leadership within emotionally sensitive environments. You appreciate the realities faced by individuals and families impacted by cancer and are motivated to improve access to care, connection, and support across the region.
• Healthcare, cancer care, or charitable sector experience is beneficial, but transferable fundraising expertise and strong leadership capable of building community relationships are also highly valued.

Additional

This posting is for a permanent full-time position with The Ottawa Cancer Foundation.