Director, Development (Cultivation and Principal Gifts)

Areas of Focus

• Principal Gifts & Donor Cultivation: Working closely with McMaster leadership, the Director will support the identification, cultivation and advancement of McMaster’s most significant philanthropic relationships and opportunities, with a particular focus on principal and transformational gifts.
• Strategic Partnership with Senior Leadership: The Director will work closely with the Vice-President, University Advancement and senior leaders across McMaster to advance priority donor relationships and philanthropic opportunities.
• University-Wide Fundraising & Campaign Leadership: The Director will bring a University-wide perspective to principal-gift opportunities and help build the pipeline required to support McMaster’s future campaign ambitions.
• Collaboration & Fundraising Excellence: Success in this role will depend on the Director’s ability to influence, convene and create alignment across a complex and highly collaborative environment.

Qualifications:

Education:

• A University degree
• CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) designation is considered an asset
• A Master’s degree is an asset

Experience:

• Proven track record of success in securing $1M and above complex gifts
• Minimum of 8 years demonstrated experience in major giving fundraising, preferably within the post-secondary system
• Experience leading and managing teams of high-performing, donor-centred development professionals

Knowledge/Skills:

• Must have the following skills and abilities:
• Vision, and the ability to think strategically with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset
• Superior skills in critical analysis, judgement, decision-making, building effective relationships, and communications (oral, facilitation and written);
• High level of initiative, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent judgement and discretion
• Deep understanding of the mission of a research-intensive university
• Superior skills in human resources, volunteer and budget management, with strong financial acumen and comfort with data analytics
• High level of comfort and credibility working with senior academic leaders, as well as donors and volunteers
• Ability to work at the highest strategic levels of the Faculty or Administrative Office/Unit(s), to gain and maintain the trust of senior academic leadership and supporters and also take strategy and move it through to tactics and action
• Experience staffing senior leaders on fundraising visits
• Ability to navigate and be effective within a complex organization that values collaboration in addition to individuality and creativity
• Superior skills and knowledge in attracting and maintaining relationships with donors and supporters
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills; writing winning proposals and associated development materials and correspondence
• Donor-centred and goal-oriented with a reputation for integrity and transparency
• Competencies in understanding tax legislation and the philanthropic landscape
• Strong skills with computers and relational donor databases (Advance)

Must be knowledgeable about:

• University Advancement policies and procedures
• McMaster University policies and guidelines
• Canada Revenue Agency regulations regarding Charitable Giving

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.