Vice President, Philanthropy (RFT 1.0 FTE)

Position Information Posting Number:

ROM25-410E

Title:

Vice President, Philanthropy (RFT 1.0 FTE)

Position Status:

Regular Full-time

FTE:

1.0

Job Schedule:

Days

Department:

Foundation

Union:

Non-union

Site:

Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

Number of Vacancies:

1

About The Royal As one of Canada’s foremost mental health care and academic health science centres, The Royal has a clear purpose: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. This is at the core of everything we do and it is driven by the passion, focus and dedication of our employees. Every day, the work that we do transforms the lives of people with mental illness through specialized mental healthcare, advocacy, research and education.

Position Summary The Vice President, Philanthropy is a member of The Royal Foundation’s leadership team. Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP provides strategic leadership for the Foundation’s philanthropy program—advancing major, leadership (mid-level), and planned giving to support The Royal’s vision of lives reclaimed from mental illness and addiction.

An experienced fundraiser and people leader, the Vice President oversees a team of fundraisers as well as fundraising operations and support staff, ensuring a coordinated, data-informed, and high-performing approach to donor engagement.

The role provides strategic direction, mentorship, and operational oversight for all philanthropic activity within its areas of accountability, including campaign implementation and volunteer engagement related to leadership, major, and planned giving. With an understanding mindset, the ideal candidate will bring a joyful, inspiring energy and a passion for further building inclusive, collaborative and high-performing teams.

This position is based at the Foundation offices at 1145 Carling in Ottawa. The Foundation currently offers a hybrid work environment with Tuesday, Thursday, and one other day per week in office, or as required subject to business needs. The role requires willingness and availability to work flexible hours, including some after-hours work and weekends from time to time.

The hiring range for this position is $160,000–$185,000 plus incentive compensation of up to 10% annually, benefits, and HOOPP pension.

Duties Philanthropy Leadership

Strategic Direction: Provide leadership and oversight for all fundraising activity within leadership giving ($1K-$25K), major giving ($25K+), and planned giving.

Fundraising: Maintain a personal portfolio of 60-100 strategically significant prospects and donors, advancing them through the fundraising cycle to achieve assigned goals.

Team Leadership: Guide, coach, and evaluate fundraisers to ensure effective strategies, goal achievement, and professional growth.

Performance Management: Establish clear fundraising goals and activity expectations for all members of the Philanthropy team, tracking progress and results.

Financial Oversight: Oversee annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance metrics for Philanthropy to ensure effective resource allocation and return on investment.

Equity & Inclusion: Ensure fundraising strategies and donor engagement approaches reflect principles of inclusion, equity, and reconciliation.

Campaign & Volunteer Leadership

Campaign Execution: Lead campaign implementation and performance within the areas overseen by Philanthropy, collaborating with colleagues on the broader campaign strategy led by the President & CEO.

Volunteer Engagement: Partner with the President & CEO to recruit, engage, and activate the Campaign Cabinet and other volunteer fundraisers.

Clinical Engagement: Support the President & CEO in engaging hospital and clinical leadership on priorities for philanthropy.

Board Relations: Collaborate with board members and volunteer committees to foster engagement, ensure alignment, and equip them to serve as ambassadors for The Royal.

People & Culture

Coaching: Lead, coach, and develop Philanthropy staff to achieve individual and collective goals.

Team Culture: Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture aligned with the Foundation’s Culture Code and values.

Respect & Equity: Model and uphold The Royal’s Respectful Workplace policy and commitment to health equity and inclusion.

Donor Insights & Pipeline Management

Prospect Research: Oversee prospect identification, research, and analysis to inform strategies and strengthen the donor pipeline.

Pipeline Management: Direct prospect clearance, moves management, and portfolio activity across Philanthropy to ensure balanced capacity and continuous movement through the donor cycle.

Systems & Reporting: Partner with Operations to maintain CRM accuracy, reporting, and operating procedures that enable effective portfolio and pipeline management.

Program Support: Ensure the Donor Insights & Pipeline function supports all fundraising programs by providing high-quality data, analysis, and tools that drive informed strategy and performance.

Collaboration Across the Foundation

Leadership Collaboration: Work with the Foundation’s leadership team to implement the strategic plan and align Philanthropy activities with organizational priorities.

Communications & Donor Experience: Partner on donor experience, recognition, stewardship, impact reporting, proposal writing, fundraising tool development, and donor communications to ensure consistent and meaningful engagement.

Community Partnerships & Events: Collaborate with the CP&E team to support the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of select sponsors; engage volunteer leaders and donors in key event opportunities; and coordinate stewardship events and donor gift announcements.

Operations: Partner on CRM data integrity, reporting, operating procedures, grant management, and risk management to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Executive Partnership: Partner with the President & CEO on the Foundation’s strategic and operating plans, campaign advancement, and top prospect and volunteer engagement.

Risk, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

Compliance: Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and donor agreement obligations, including CRA requirements and ethical fundraising standards.

Risk Management: Partner with Operations to identify and mitigate risks related to donor agreements, privacy, and major gifts.

Innovation: Stay informed of philanthropic trends and innovations, integrating best practices that enhance performance and donor experience.

Ambassadorship: Represent the Foundation in the community, cultivating relationships with civic, corporate, and community leaders to advance philanthropy.

Qualifications And Competencies

Passion and enthusiasm for the mission, vision, and strategic direction of The Royal and The Royal Foundation.

Progressive fundraising leadership experience, with proven results in delivering successful donor development strategies and programs, ideally within a hospital, education, or other complex setting.

Demonstrated track‑record of success is required in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, corporate, and foundation prospects and donors of major gifts and planned gifts at the 6‑figure level or higher.

Knowledge and demonstrated experience with mid‑level giving strategies and programs.

Experience in the successful execution of major fundraising campaigns is a strong asset.

Experience developing budgets, forecasts, and tracking and reporting against goals.

Demonstrated success in building and retaining a high‑performing team including recruiting, developing, managing, and inspiring staff.

Experience providing leadership, supporting, and mobilizing senior volunteers.

Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building abilities.

Excellent communication skills including superior verbal, written, and presentation skills; language abilities in French will be considered an asset.

University degree or equivalent experience and education.

Knowledge of financial, legal and regulatory requirements of a non‑profit organization.

Qualities and Behaviours

Strategic and analytical with a creative mindset.

Data‑driven in strategy development and decision making.

A leader who can motivate and inspire groups and individuals.

Ability to understand and articulate complex health care fundraising priorities to prospects and donors.

Committed to the highest standard of ethical fundraising practice.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of The Royal Foundation. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Sylvie Battisti, Senior Vice President, KCI Search + Talent by email at

TRF@KCITalent.com .

Although the application submission deadline is December 1, 2025, interested candidates are encouraged to submit resume and letter of interest to the email address early, as applications will be considered on a rolling basis and candidates may be invited to interview before the deadline.

Additional Information

All applicants must provide a recent resume that clearly indicates that they meet the required qualifications.

Please apply by clicking on the Apply button below.

The Royal sincerely thanks all applicants for their interest in a career with us; however, only those ...