Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships

About the Company

The Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for building and leading Connective’s fundraising and philanthropic capacity. Initially operating as a highly engaged individual contributor, the Director will work in close collaboration with Connective’s executive team and a network of external consultants to establish the fundraising infrastructure, donor relationships, and revenue diversification strategy that will support the organization’s long-term growth and mission impact. This is a foundational role. The Director will build from the ground up establishing systems, cultivating relationships, and developing the case for support that positions Connective as a destination for philanthropic investment. Over time, as Connective’s fundraising activities mature, the role is expected to evolve into the leader of a dedicated philanthropy function with team leadership responsibilities.

About the Role

Reports and is accountable to the Chief Administrative Officer. Works closely with Connective’s executive leadership team, including the CEO, VP of Communications and VP People & Culture. Collaborates with the Communications, Strategy, Finance, and operational leaders to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities. Partners with a network of external fundraising consultants and advisors. Builds and maintains relationships with corporate, foundation, government, and community partners. Liaises with internal and external stakeholders in support of the Connective Impact Fund.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Connective’s fundraising and philanthropy strategy, establishing a multi-year roadmap that diversifies revenue and reduces dependence on any single funding source.
• Identify emerging funding opportunities, philanthropic trends, and revenue sources that align with Connective’s mission and strategic direction.
• Work in partnership with external consultants to build fundraising infrastructure and benefit from specialist expertise as the internal function matures.
• Report regularly to the CAO and executive leadership on fundraising progress, pipeline status, and strategic priorities.
• Advance Connective’s corporate partnership strategy — identifying, developing, and stewarding strategic collaborations and investment opportunities with corporate partners.
• Develop and manage sponsorship opportunities, including national events, campaigns, and strategic initiatives that align with Connective’s mission and partner interests.
• Build a compelling corporate partnership value proposition that articulates the mutual benefit of investing in Connective’s work.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of prospective corporate partners and manage relationships through the full partnership lifecycle.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor relationships building a portfolio of high-value individual donors committed to Connective’s mission.
• Develop and implement a major gifts program with clear ask strategies, stewardship touchpoints, and donor recognition frameworks.
• Maintain exceptional donor relations ensuring donors are engaged, informed, and inspired by the impact of their contributions.
• Identify and qualify prospective major donors through research, networking, and relationship development.
• Coordinate and support the development of Connective’s Impact Fund in partnership with internal leadership and external stakeholders.
• Define the strategic purpose, governance structure, and fundraising approach for the Impact Fund in collaboration with the executive team.
• Build relationships with prospective Impact Fund donors, foundations, and institutional supporters.
• Develop the case for support and donor materials specific to the Impact Fund.
• Help define and strengthen Connective’s external fundraising narrative, partnership value proposition, and case for support ensuring Connective’s story is told compellingly and consistently.
• Establish fundraising systems, donor stewardship processes, reporting frameworks, and performance metrics that support a scalable, professional philanthropy function.
• Implement or optimize donor management technology to support relationship tracking, pipeline management, and reporting.
• Develop grant research and application processes to pursue foundation and government funding aligned with organizational priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with a broad range of external partners, corporate, foundation, government, and community, that support Connective’s fundraising and partnership objectives.
• Represent Connective at sector events, conferences, and community engagements to raise the organization’s philanthropic profile.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to align fundraising messaging with Connective’s broader external communications strategy.
• As Connective’s fundraising function matures, lead the development of a dedicated philanthropy team, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of future team members.
• Build team infrastructure, role clarity, and operating rhythms that enable a growing philanthropy function to perform effectively.
• Mentor and develop future philanthropy staff, building organizational fundraising capacity over time.

Qualifications

• A relevant post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Communications, Non-profit Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum seven to ten years of progressive experience in fundraising, philanthropy, corporate partnerships, sponsorship development, business development, or revenue generation.
• MFA-P, CFRE or other relevant designation strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record of cultivating and closing significant gifts, partnerships, or sponsorships with evidence of building relationships that generate sustained organizational investment.
• Experience building a fundraising or business development function from an early stage, including establishing systems, processes, and infrastructure.
• Proven ability to develop compelling cases for support and fundraising narratives that resonate with diverse donor and partner audiences.
• Experience with donor management or CRM platforms and fundraising reporting frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of the philanthropic landscape in BC and Canada, including foundation, corporate, and government funding environments.
• Experience working in or alongside a non-profit, social services, or mission-driven organization is a strong asset.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is an asset.

Required Skills

• Relationship orientation; builds genuine, trust-based relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders. Understands that philanthropy is fundamentally about people, not transactions.
• Entrepreneurial drive; comfortable building from the ground up with limited infrastructure. Finds creative solutions, tolerates ambiguity, and generates momentum without needing a fully formed playbook.
• Strategic thinking; sees the long-term picture while executing in the present. Connects fundraising activity to organizational mission and builds plans that are ambitious and realistic simultaneously.
• Communication and influence; articulates Connective’s mission and case for support with clarity, conviction, and authenticity. Adapts style and approach to diverse audiences from individual donors to corporate executives.
• Execution discipline; follows through on commitments, manages a complex portfolio of relationships and initiatives without losing focus, and holds themselves accountable for outcomes.