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. Working across the organization, 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. The Director will need to build and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects across the full relationship lifecycle, from identification and cultivation through solicitation and stewardship. THS brings a strong existing donor database with untapped potential, and the Director will have the opportunity to build on this foundation to develop a robust and sustainable major gifts pipeline. Volunteer relationship management will be a significant and rewarding part of this work, engaging board members and other senior volunteers as active partners in donor strategy and cultivation. The ideal candidate will bring a strong track record in major gift fundraising, with the strategic instincts, entrepreneurial spirit, relationship discipline and genuine passion needed to build a program that will support THS’s ambitious 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. This is a role for someone who wants to do more than manage a portfolio; it is an opportunity to help reshape how donors and communities understand animal welfare. The incoming Director will have the opportunity to shape and build the major gifts team, with plans to hire two additional staff as the program grows. ABOUT THE TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY Toronto Humane Society (THS) excels at everything a great humane society should. With industry-leading shelter care, animal training and behavioural support, and accessible veterinary services, THS has helped thousands of animals find loving homes and kept countless families together. But its mission to improve the lives of animals, is one that strives for continuous improvement pushes the organization to go further. Toronto Humane Society works across the full spectrum of animal welfare, including training and behaviour, temporary sheltering, veterinary care, and community-based support. At its core, this work is about meeting animals and the people who care for them where they are and building practical pathways that reduce crisis before it becomes irreversible. Through values-aligned partnerships, THS extends support beyond Toronto, working alongside remote and underserved communities to strengthen local animal welfare capacity. As a sector leader, THS pairs direct service with broader systems change, advocating for stronger legislation and helping communities and organizations improve the care they provide. In pursuing this mission, Toronto Humane Society becomes something more than a shelter. It is an educational resource and support system, a champion of accessible care, and a centre of excellence where best practices and bold ideas meet with unyielding optimism and a deep love for animals. With a team of industry-leading experts and a passionate community network, THS works to reduce animal homelessness, ensure access to care, and preserve the human-animal bond. Toronto Humane Society is like no other. Philanthropy is central to making this vision real. The strategic plan calls for a major donor led, transformational capital campaign. This is a goal that reflects a genuine inflection point for the organization. THS is building the kind of infrastructure, relationships, and credibility that attract transformational gifts, and it is actively seeking the fundraising leadership to get there. Vision: To be a leader in animal welfare, working for a compassionate society where all animals are respected and valued. Mission: To improve the lives of animals. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Major Giving

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.

Team Leadership

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 stewardship activities.
Conduct objective and constructive performance reviews as scheduled.

Compliance and Stakeholder Management

Present a positive and professional image of the organization when interacting with employees, clients/customers, visitors, and other external stakeholders.
Understand external regulatory bodies governing the organization, and all Toronto Humane Society policies and protocols, and ensure staff work compliance within the regulations.
Ensure compliance with national and provincial regulations in all major giving initiatives, upholding ethical fundraising standards.
Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, and in-service training to further education, skills, and knowledge, including pursuit/maintenance of CFRE designation.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Progressive experience working in a fundraising position with a successful track record of cultivating, securing and stewarding major gifts at the 6+ figure level.
Comprehensive understanding of major gift fundraising principles, donor psychology, and engagement strategies that move donors along the giving continuum.
A motivated self-starter, eager to pursue new opportunities and develop lasting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, including setting clear goals and expectations, monitoring progress against objectives, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Strong organizational, planning, and execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple donor relationships and priorities.
Proven ability to work across organizational structures, managing resources and collaborating effectively with internal stakeholders to advance shared goals.
Experience working with donor management databases, with familiarity with Raiser's Edge considered an asset.
Combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essentials duties of the role. CFRE designation is considered an asset.

Toronto Humane Society

Open Positions

DIRECTOR, MAJOR GIFTS