Major Gifts Manager

From our origins as one of Canada’s first food banks in the 1980’s, The Stop has blossomed into a thriving community hub where neighbours participate in a broad range of programs that provide healthy food, foster social connections, build food skills, and promote civic engagement. We believe that nutritious, sustainable, and culturally appropriate food is a human right for all.

At The Stop, we hire people who are passionate, dedicated, and love what they do. We have a mindset of community support and a culture of collaboration, passion, and dedication. Our goal is to deliver, both to our community and to our employees, an environment that allows people to meet challenges and provides the opportunity to make an impact on the community within which we operate.

Reporting to the Director of Development and Communications, the Manager, Major Gifts is a leadership role within our fundraising team. You’ll provide strategic oversight of our fundraising efforts, directly manage a portfolio of major donors and corporate partners, and guide the success of our foundation.

You’ll also lead and mentor the team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth. Acting as a bridge between our programs and fundraising, you’ll ensure that our donor relationships are fueled by authentic, compelling stories of impact.

If you’re an experienced fundraiser who can lead every stage of the donor cycle, inspire high‑performing teams, and balance strategic vision with hands‑on portfolio management, The Stop is looking for you.

In this role, you’ll have the chance to influence systemic change and tackle one of our city’s most pressing challenges: food insecurity. Because building community is at the heart of our work, you’ll share daily chef‑prepared lunches with colleagues as part of living our mission together.

• Manage a portfolio of up to 75 major gifts prospects and donors, securing gifts of $5,000+ through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Expand the major gifts and foundations pipeline through strategic prospecting, qualification, and engagement of new donors, strengthening future revenue and donor retention.
• Build strong pipelines between mid‑level and major giving, ensuring donor relationships progress smoothly.
• Partner with program staff to develop proposals, reports, and impact stories tailored to donor interests.
• Collaborate with the Director to refine and execute The Stop’s fundraising strategy in alignment with our mission and values.
• Identify new opportunities to diversify revenue streams and deepen donor engagement.
• Establish best practices, policies, and procedures that ensure ethical, effective fundraising.
• Raise awareness of food insecurity and social justice issues among internal and external audiences.
• Serve on the organisation’s leadership team, contributing to strategic goals.
• Manage and mentor two Development Officers, providing guidance, feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Lead regular team meetings, set clear performance goals, and celebrate successes.
• Foster a supportive, high‑performance culture that empowers staff to exceed fundraising targets.

• Oversee accurate donor record management in our CRM (Virtuous), ensuring data integrity.
• Track, analyse, and report on fundraising activities and outcomes for senior leadership and the Board.
• Ensure all fundraising activities comply with CRA regulations and Imagine Canada standards.

• Proven track record in securing major gifts ($5,000+) from individuals and foundations.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in fundraising, including team management and mentorship.
• Strategic thinker with strong foresight, problem‑solving skills, and the ability to spot and seize opportunities.
• Exceptional relationship‑builder with clear, persuasive communication skills and the ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences.
• Experience managing corporate/foundation partnerships.
• Proficiency with fundraising CRMs and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Commitment to anti‑racism/anti‑oppression, ethical fundraising, and community well‑being.
• Knowledge of the Canadian charitable sector and CRA…