About this role
VACANCY: Associate Vice President, Major Gifts
REPORTS TO: Vice President, Major Gifts
LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario (hybrid working model)
STATUS: Permanent Full-time Employment
No. of VACANCIES: One (1) This posting is for an existing vacancy for which we are currently undertaking recruitment
Please note: This range reflects the expected compensation for the candidates who meets the stated qualifications. Actual pay may vary based on experience, education, and internal compensation practices.
ABOUT UHN FOUNDATION
Part of University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s #1 hospital, UHN Foundation raises funds for research, education and excellence in patient care at Toronto General and Toronto Western hospitals, Toronto Rehab and The Michener Institute of Education at UHN. Our donor community is UHNITED to help us change the status quo of healthcare – helping recruit and train the brightest medical minds from around the world, develop new treatments for disease, and advance bold medical research.
UHN’s Toronto General Hospital has been ranked the #2 hospital in the world on Newsweek’s 2025 World’s Best Hospitals list, citing our leadership in transplantation, cardiac and vascular care, and surgical innovation.
The Foundation´s vision and mission is to enable global leadership and innovation in health by developing strong relationships with UHN stakeholders. We are committed to supporting UHN's vision to create a healthier world by embodying our values of integrity, accountability, collaboration and inclusion.
Together with our donors, we are helping Canada’s #1 hospital reimagine healthcare.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Vice President (AVP), Major Gifts is responsible for providing strategic leadership to multiple operational areas/programs that have complex mandates/objectives. As part of this role, the AVP, Major Gifts envisions long term goals and objectives and responds with new programs and/or methods to improve the operational unit.
The AVP, Major Gifts is accountable for the optimization and effectiveness of operations, provides leadership to others who manage teams, and empowers the team through strategic planning, information sharing and collaboration to meet the goals of the team and Foundation. The AVP, Major Gifts oversees and leads interaction between participating teams to ensure commitments and Foundation goals are met including identifying opportunities for cross team collaborations, efficiencies, and new innovations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising & Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Lead the development and execution of major and transformational gift strategies in support of Foundation and hospital priorities, including oversight of fundraising campaigns and initiatives with goals exceeding $250 million.
• Personally manage a portfolio of approximately 150 high-capacity prospects and donors, leading all aspects of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, negotiation, closure, and stewardship, with a focus on gifts of $5 million and above. Achieve annual personal fundraising targets of approximately $7.5 million in cash revenue and $12.5 million in pledge commitments.
• Maintain accountability for personal fundraising performance while providing leadership and strategic support to ensure achievement of team revenue goals and contribution toward Major Gifts fundraising targets exceeding $100 million+ annually.
• Develop and execute complex donor engagement and solicitation strategies involving Foundation leadership, hospital executives, physicians, researchers, board members, volunteers, and other key stakeholders to maximize philanthropic support.
• Recruit, engage, coach, and support volunteer campaign leaders, board members, clinicians, researchers, and senior leaders in prospect identification, donor engagement, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with hospital leadership, physicians, researchers, healthcare partners, corporations, foundations, community stakeholders, and prospective donors to advance Foundation priorities and generate new philanthropic revenue opportunities.
• Collaborate with medical, research, clinical, and administrative leaders to develop fundraising priorities, compelling cases for support, donor proposals, gift agreements, impact reports, stewardship plans, and other donor-facing materials that align donor interests with organizational needs.
• Ensure fulfillment of donor commitments and compliance with donor agreements through effective stewardship, relationship management, and partnership with Marketing & Communications, Events, Stewardship, and other Foundation teams to deliver integrated donor engagement, recognition, and communications strategies.
• Participate actively in moves management, portfolio reviews, and strategic planning processes, leveraging fundraising best practices, market intelligence, and emerging philanthropic trends to strengthen fundraising performance, donor pipelines, and long-term growth.
People Leadership & Talent Development
• Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and mentorship to a team of major gift fundraising professionals and fundraising leaders.
• Recruit, develop, retain, and engage high-performing talent to build a strong and sustainable fundraising team.
• Establish clear performance expectations, goals, and accountability measures, and conduct regular performance reviews and development discussions.
• Contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of fundraising activities, ensuring achievement of established goals and performance targets.
• Support career development and succession planning through coaching, mentoring, learning opportunities, and leadership development initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture that reflects the Foundation's values of Integrity, Accountability, Collaboration, and Inclusion.
• Lead and support managers responsible for fundraising teams, ensuring consistent leadership practices and effective team performance.
• Promote employee engagement, well-being, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the Major Gifts team.
• Create an environment that encourages innovation, continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and professional excellence.
Strategic Leadership & Planning
• Contribute to the development and execution of the Major Gifts team's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with Foundation and hospital priorities.
• Work collaboratively with the Vice President, Major Gifts and peer leaders to establish annual goals, priorities, performance measures, and operational plans.
• Identify and implement innovative fundraising strategies, donor engagement approaches, and business practices to accelerate revenue growth and donor acquisition.
• Provide strategic leadership in the planning and execution of major fundraising campaigns and transformational giving initiatives.
• Assess organizational opportunities, risks, and market trends and recommend strategies to enhance fundraising effectiveness and operational performance.
• Lead change management initiatives that improve team effectiveness, fundraising outcomes, stakeholder engagement, and operational efficiency.
• Support the development of long-term fundraising pipelines and campaign strategies that position the Foundation for sustainable growth and success.
Operations & Performance Management
• Support operational leadership for assigned Major Gifts portfolios, campaigns, and fundraising initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Engage with continuous improvement initiatives to enhance fundraising systems, processes, reporting, and portfolio management practices.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, reputational, and fundraising risks.
• Oversee campaign and operational budgets, including forecasting, resource allocation, revenue projections, and expenditure management.
• Ensure effective utilization of fundraising resources and alignment of team activities with organizational priorities.
• Partner with Foundation leadership to translate strategic priorities into actionable operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Support cross-functional collaboration across Foundation departments to optimize donor experience, campaign execution, and organizational effectiveness.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
• A relevant 4-year degree or, a relevant 3-year degree/diploma combined with a professional certification or, an equivalent combination of formal education and relevant experience.
• Over 10 years of experience within a charitable/not-for-profit organization, in major gift fundraising.
• 5-7 years of experience as a people leader.
• Familiarity with and aptitude for Raiser’s Edge required.
• Experience in a large, complex not-for-profit healthcare organization is a definite asset.
• CFRE certification is preferred.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
• Fast-paced, service and results oriented environment
• May have some activity outside of the office to support meetings
• The Foundation has a hybrid work model. Staff will be required to be in office a minimum of 2 days per week and will be required to have a safe home office set up for the remainder of the working days (specifics to be planned with your manager).
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues in all positions throughout the Foundation
• Shared commitment and support of the overall Foundation goal
Alongside competitive salaries, we offer an extensive benefits package, flexible work arrangements, growth and development opportunities, defined benefits pension plan and birth parent/parental leave top-up.
University Health Network thanks all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. UHN has a diverse workforce and is an equal-opportunity employer.
Please note: All applicant screening and evaluation for this role are carried out manually by our recruitment team. We do not leverage AI in any part of the hiring process.
Deadline to Apply: June 22nd, 2026