Job Description
Are you a strategic, relationship-driven fundraiser energized by unlocking transformational gifts and elevating a team’s ability to inspire visionary philanthropy?
UNICEF Canada is seeking to recruit a talented and high-performing individual in the bilingual role of
Director, Philanthropy .
Employment Type:
Permanent, Full-time (New Role, Vacant)
Reports to:
Vice President, Development
Direct Reports:
None
Salary Range:
$125,000 - $140,000 annually with benefits and 4 weeks paid vacation
Work Location:
Toronto
Work Environment:
UNICEF Canada currently operates under a Fixed-Hybrid model that requires team members to attend the office at least 2 days/week (Tuesday and Wednesday).
Why UNICEF & UNICEF Canada?
As UNICEF Canada launches a bold new Strategic Plan in 2026, a key priority remains raising funds to support children around the globe.
Be part of this exciting phase of impact!
Position Description
Reporting to the Vice President, Development, the
Director, Philanthropy
will be a major catalyst for ambitious fundraising growth, driving results aligned with the organization’s Strategic Plan while championing a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, and innovation.
The Director will manage a focused principal gift portfolio of roughly 50 seven- and eight-figure donors across revenue channels, with a special focus on qualifying new prospects and strengthening all fundraisers’ ability to develop transformational gift strategies.
Working closely with prospect managers and in consultation with the Vice President, Development, the Director will co-create qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that move prospects toward meaningful engagement and investment. A true team player, the Director will also both secure and steward new principal gifts and elevate the principal giving efforts of the entire Major Gifts team.
Key Accountabilities
Manage a focused Principal Giving portfolio of ~50 seven- and eight-figure individuals/families and related giving vehicles, leading qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship and with a particular emphasis on engaging unqualified prospects new to UNICEF Canada.
Build and maintain a robust donor pipeline by submitting 15–20 principal gift proposals annually and securing at least $5M in new commitments, while retaining and growing existing donors.
Develop a deep understanding of UNICEF’s program priorities and use this knowledge to craft compelling, innovative proposals that inspire transformational partnerships.
Build and expand the Principal Giving program across the Development team using relationship mapping, referrals, strategic networking, and event follow-up to drive new opportunities.
Leverage the networks and relationships of UNICEF Canada’s Senior Management Team and global UNICEF leadership to advance donor engagement.
Partner with the Planned Giving team to design and implement blended-gift and asset-based giving strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families.
Participate in pipeline reviews and prospect strategy meetings to advance Individual Philanthropy’s progress on principal-level prospects.
Build the skills and confidence of individual fundraisers – formally and informally – by offering coaching, sharing best practices, elevating philanthropic insights, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Contribute to cross-cutting Principal Giving strategy sessions with Philanthropy colleagues to strengthen alignment and long-term revenue growth.
Enhance the effectiveness of prospect managers by advising on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; champion donor-centric process improvements and help remove barriers to a culture of philanthropy across UNICEF Canada.
Implement plans supporting UNICEF’s billionaire strategy, collaborating across the Individual Philanthropy continuum and with Institutional Philanthropy; partner with UNICEF’s global Private Fundraising and Partnerships team and other National Committees to engage emerging and established billionaires with ties to Canada.
Identify and activate opportunities through UNICEF’s International Council for high-potential donors and prospects.
Provide insights and recommendations to the Vice President, Development on best practices for Principal Giving structures, processes, and business rules to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
Lead the transformational giving pipeline, activity metrics and KPI deliverables, and contribute to the revenue reporting and forecasting in coordination with the Director of Development (Major Gifts).
Support the maintenance of robust business rules and best practices for Principal Giving prospect clearance, coordination, data hygiene and integrity with support from the Prospect Researcher and other data specialists.
Contribute to organizational strategic and operational planning as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, bringing forward insights that elevate revenue growth and philanthropic impact.
Qualifications
Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience, with a professional fundraising designation recognized in Canada preferred (e.g., CFRE or equivalent).
8–10+ years of fundraising or relevant experience, with a proven record of success at the Principal Giving level.
Demonstrated experience personally cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding seven-figure gifts, including complex or blended gifts requiring negotiation and collaboration with institutional leaders.
Proven ability to create multi-layered, transformational gift proposals that inspire high-level philanthropic investment.
Skilled at building effective internal relationships, collaborating across teams, and sharing successes to strengthen organizational impact.
Demonstrated ability to partner with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to drive fundraising strategy, support board engagement and cultivate transformational donor relationships.
Able to work independently while being a highly engaged, team-oriented partner within a small, high-performing fundraising team.
Deep familiarity with the broader philanthropic community, influencers, and trends.
Experience navigating complex, multi-team environments.
Strong organizational, time management, and attention-to-detail skills.
Exceptional written and verbal communication, with the ability to influence and engage donors and cultivate long-term relationships.
Solid knowledge of fundraising best practices, including donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Highly motivated, enthusiastic, and mission-driven, with a strong work ethic and commitment to advancing UNICEF Canada’s impact.
Demonstrated interest in the organization’s programmatic work for children and willingness to invest time to develop deep subject-matter knowledge.
Proficiency with CRM databases and data-informed decision-making.
Willingness to travel domestically and occasionally internationally (approximately 10%).
Strong alignment with UNICEF Canada’s mission, vision, and values.
Bilingual (English/French) required, with strong verbal and written proficiency in both languages.
An Employer of Choice: What We Offer
UNICEF Canada is where diverse talent & passion come together to create extraordinary impact for every child. We are committed to being an employer of choice and building a culture that is inclusive, ambitious, compassionate, and high impact.
A ROBUST COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Extended Health/Dental benefits, Healthcare Spending Account, and Wellness Account
Life, AD&D, & Long-Term disability insurance coverage
Employer match contributions (5%) to a Group Pension Plan
Access to parental leave top-up
A COMMITMENT TO WELLNESS
Fixed-hybrid work environment to balance connection and collaboration with the work-life integration needs of our team
Minimum 4 weeks of annual vacation (increases with time served) & 1 additional day per year of service (max 30)
9 to 11 employee wellness days – an additional series of pre-set days off, given annually to further extend long weekends
Discounted rate for a GoodLife gym membership
Access to an Employee and Family Assistance Program
A CULTURE OF LEARNING & GROWTH
Access to a comprehensive global learning platform with over 1600 courses, webinars & resources
Internal leadership development, training, & mentorship programs that integrate Anti-Racism and diversity, equity and inclusion principles
Opportunities to access both local & global stretch assignments
You’ll join a global UNICEF family with a shared commitment to impact the lives of children
Our Commitment to Inclusive Workplaces & Recruitment
UNICEF Canada is an inclusive workplace and is committed to championing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process.
At UNICEF Canada, we believe strongly in personal connections, and our hiring process is entirely human-driven. We do not use AI or automated systems to review applications or conduct interviews. Each candidate is evaluated by our experienced team to ensure a fair and thoughtful hiring experience.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter as one document to
careers@unicef.ca
by
11:59 PM EST by...
