Director, Major Gifts

Position Title

Director, Major Gifts

Toronto - Hybrid 3 days/week in office

$99,000-$110,000/ year

Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer, the Director, Major Gifts, is responsible for leading and executing innovative major-gift fundraising strategies that generate transformational philanthropic support for Stella's Place, thereby advancing its mission and building meaningful, lasting relationships with passionate donors and community champions.

This dynamic senior-level role encompasses strategic donor engagement, creative relationship-building, and inspiring team leadership, with a strong emphasis on securing game-changing gifts and partnerships, as well as managing development staff and thriving in a vibrant, fast-paced organizational environment. The successful candidate will cultivate and manage an exciting portfolio of major-gift donors and prospects, including visionary individuals and impactful foundations, who share our commitment to supporting young adults in living their lives as they choose.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-building superstar with 5+ years of progressive MG fundraising experience, a proven track record of closing 5 and 6-figure gifts, natural team leadership abilities, a talent for navigating complex environments with diverse stakeholders, experience building strong foundation partnerships, an entrepreneurial approach, skills in uncovering compelling prospect opportunities, and exceptional expertise in donor relations and stewardship that turns supporters into lifelong advocates.

• Develop and execute major gift strategies across identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, with annual targets of $1.5M–$2M.
• Manage a portfolio of 100–150 major gift prospects and maintain accurate moves management.
• Lead complex major gift solicitations, including securities, life insurance, grants, multi-year agreements, and transformational gifts.
• Prepare strategic, tailored proposals, presentations, briefing materials, correspondence, and gift agreements.

• Partner with and coach senior fundraising volunteers, providing orientation, prospect briefings, and strategic guidance on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and implement customized donor journeys to support donor management and stewardship strategies and activities

• Research, qualify and manage relationships with individuals, major foundations and corporate partners for gifts of $50,000+
• Write and prepare major proposals and multi-year partnership agreements
• Meet regularly with foundation program officers, corporate executives, and major individual donors to support the programs and strategic initiatives of Stella's Place

• Actively lead and attend high-level community events and major donor engagement opportunities
• Cultivate impactful event plans and follow-up engagement opportunities
• Research event attendees in advance and develop sophisticated strategies and executions to build cultivation pipelines.
• Brief senior leadership and volunteers with comprehensive briefing notes and follow-up plans
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to create strategy and lead the execution of major gift cultivation and stewardship plans
• Partner with and mentor other fundraising staff to execute comprehensive revenue generation strategies focused on Stella's Place priorities

• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to set annual and long-term major gift revenue plans and goals
• Stay informed on Stella's Place projects and strategic initiatives to effectively discuss them with donors and prospects

• Maintain accurate records. Write and submit customized impact reports for major donors

• Manage direct report(s) in strategy, goal setting and execution
• Participate actively as a member of an integrated development team; engage positively with other stakeholder groups and…