Director, Major Gifts

THE OPPORTUNITY

Toronto Humane Society is seeking an action‑oriented and relationship‑driven fundraiser to serve as Director, Major Gifts at a genuinely exciting moment for the organization. The Director will have the opportunity to establish and shape a major gifts program from the ground up, bringing both the strategic vision and the hands‑on execution needed to move from foundation‑building to transformational impact. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and working as part of the Development team, the Director will join a passionate, collaborative, and diverse team that is deeply committed to THS’s mission and to each other.

The Director will play a central role in building a culture of philanthropy, helping colleagues, volunteers, and senior leadership understand and embrace their roles in donor engagement and relationship‑building.

Building and managing a portfolio of donors and prospects across the full relationship lifecycle—from identification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship—is essential. THS brings a strong existing donor database with untapped potential, and the Director will build on this foundation to develop a robust and sustainable major gifts pipeline. Volunteer relationship management will be a significant and rewarding part of the work, engaging board members and other senior volunteers as active partners in donor strategy and cultivation.

The ideal candidate brings a strong track record in major‑gift fundraising, with strategic instincts, entrepreneurial spirit, relationship discipline and genuine passion. This role will help reshape how donors and communities understand animal welfare, and will shape and build the major gifts team with plans to hire two additional staff as the program grows.

• Build and lead a major gifts program, establishing the strategy, infrastructure, and donor relationships needed to drive long‑term philanthropic growth.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for identifying, cultivating and stewarding major and planned‑giving prospects and donors, developing strategies to deepen engagement and increase giving over time.
• Build and manage a personal portfolio of donor and prospects, implementing major giving strategies at the 6‑figure level and above.
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to ensure major‑gift strategies are aligned with THS mission, vision and values.
• Analyze the major‑gift program performance with a focus on portfolio effectiveness, including pipeline growth, conversion rates, revenue outcomes, using insights to continuously drive improvements.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy across the organization, helping colleagues and volunteers understand and embrace their roles in building meaningful donor relationships.
• Lead the planning and execution of major donor events and fundraising campaigns, strategically engaging and expanding the donor portfolio.
• Regularly evaluate and refine fundraising strategies to ensure alignment with the changing landscape of major‑gift fundraising and the priorities of the 2025‑2030 Strategic Plan.
• Engage and support senior volunteers and leadership as active partners in donor strategy and relationship management.
• Participate in the development and operationalization of policies, protocols, and processes related to major gifts and donor relations.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality in all donor interactions and ensure adherence to data integrity and ethical fundraising principles.

• Build, develop, and lead a team, modeling strong leadership behaviours to foster a culture of trust, collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement across the team.
• Mentor and support the Major Gifts team members and other internal stakeholders in managing their donor portfolios, sharing advanced techniques for donor analysis, segmentation, and engagement.
• Build and manage the human, financial and operational objectives of the Major Gifting team, ensuring resources are aligned with program priorities and strategic goals.
• Provide strategic direction to the team and colleagues on targeted major donor communications, recognition, and…