Director of Development

Employment Terms: Full-Time, Permanent

Start date: June 2024

As a charitable not-for-profit foundation, Upper Canada College (UCC) is grateful for the generosity of a close-knit community of alumni, parents, faculty and staff to advance the College’s mission and vision and support its continued growth and innovation.

Currently in the quiet phase of its bicentennial campaign, the College’s Advancement team is partnering with our community to grow the potential of our sector-leading financial assistance program, launch and strengthen new and existing programs and curricula that develop the potential of our students, and build and renovate new spaces and facilities that unlock future possibilities for learning, community, service, wellbeing and pluralism. 

The successful cultivation and stewardship of relationships with major gift donors is at the heart of our campaign. 

As a Director of Development, you’ll join a team of more than 20 advancement professionals — specialists in engagement, communications, operations and gift development — as a senior development professional with the skills and attributes to build relationships and inspire transformational gifts. With a portfolio of approximately 125 prospects and donors, you’ll be responsible for the development, planning, implementation, and evaluation/reporting of strategies for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of potential major gift donors, while creating enduring, high-value relationships with the College. 

The Director of Development’s primary responsibility is to develop and execute cultivation and solicitation plans for priority major gift prospects, attentively managing each prospect through the major giving process, resulting in the successful solicitation and stewardship of major gifts toward the engagement and fundraising goals established by the VP, Advancement.

The Director of Development provides supervision, management and training of one direct report, a Development Officer.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Revenue Generation and Relationship Building: 

• Develop and strengthen lasting and meaningful relationships between assigned prospects and the College, with the goal of a successful solicitation and fulfilling stewardship outcomes, involving senior leaders, senior volunteers, and colleagues where appropriate to enhance and deepen the knowledge and investment of prospective donors in support of future generations of UCC students
• Develop individual prospect strategies, in collaboration with members of the Advancement team, with the goal of maximizing opportunities to align philanthropic capacity with approved College priorities 
• Maintain Raiser’s Edge with up-to-date prospect strategies, meeting notes, and action plans for one’s portfolio 
• Prepare documentation and correspondence to support fundraising initiatives (e.g. briefing documents, cover letters, follow-up correspondence, and other communications materials)
• Where appropriate, work with the Community Engagement team to plan and co-ordinate events related to major gift fundraising activities

Program Administration: 

• Monitor own activities to determine effectiveness versus goals 
• Assess current donor strategies, and develop new elements and revisions to attract new donors and to upgrade current donor giving 
• In collaboration with database management colleagues, ensure integrity and security of donor database 
• Direct and manage the assignment and workflow of a direct report (Development Officer

Stakeholder Relationships: 

• Work with the Manager, Donor Relations and Stewardship to develop individualized, effective stewardship strategies and plans for assigned donors 
• Provide support to the leadership team, staff and volunteers in planning and conducting fundraising activities, including identification, cultivation and solicitation of individual donors 
• Monitor donor reports for changes, and identify areas potentially needing attention 
• Support, track and report on the contributions of volunteers

Job Requirements

Experience, Knowledge and Competencies:

• Completion of a recognized university degree, with at least seven years of experience in fundraising in a not-for-profit setting. 
• Experience asking for major gifts and developing personalized proposals appropriate to the size of the gift and the needs of the prospective donor
• Experience in stewarding major gift donors over successive years to ensure donor engagement and satisfaction with outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to navigate the internal organization to develop and/or validate major gift proposals as appropriate to the mission and operations of the organization, aligned to its fundraising priorities
• Demonstrated expertise with volunteer relationship management
• Values diverse perspectives and fosters an inclusive community and work environment

What We Offer 

• Unparalleled opportunities for professional development including workshops, networking sessions, a leadership program, and visiting experts and scholars 
• Flexibility to substitute statutory holidays in recognition of diverse religious and cultural practices 
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, including health care and lifestyle spending accounts 
• Pension plan, generous vacation time, self-funded sabbaticals, parental leave top-up 
• Significant support for personal and family wellbeing and mental health, including the Employee and Family Assistance Program 
• Paid volunteer time off for involvement in the communities that matter to you 
• Social events for colleagues and their families 
• Collaborative and supportive team members and colleagues 
• Free on-campus parking

About UCC

Upper Canada College is a place where tradition, excellence and innovation meet. At UCC faculty and staff thrive for many reasons: our dynamic, supportive environment; cutting-edge facilities; diverse and collaborative community; and competitive compensation and benefits. Surrounded by expert educators, dedicated students and a network of learning partners and resources, you’ll be inspired to explore your passions and be your best. Your work fosters the development of graduates who think critically, solve complex problems and lead lives of impact. 

At UCC we are grounded in our mission to provide transformational learning opportunities and our values of learning, service, community, pluralism and wellbeing.

UCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, encouraging applications from all qualified individuals including women, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ persons.  UCC embraces pluralism – celebrating differences, cherishing similarities, and giving voice to multiple perspectives. If you are contacted regarding a UCC opportunity, please advise if you require any accommodations.

​Please apply online on our ADP website by May 3, 2024 2:00pm.  We thank all candidates in advance; however, we will contact only those selected for an interview.​

To learn more about UCC, please visit ucc.on.ca