Vice President, Community and Legacy Giving
Position Overview
Organization: Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation
Title: Vice President, Community & Legacy Giving
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Team: Two direct reports (Manager, Community Giving; Manager, Legacy Giving), four overall
Key Internal Relationships:
Foundation Senior Leadership Team
Hospital Executives, Physicians and Staff
Board of Directors
Key External Relationships:
Agency, Vendors & Consultants
Community relationships as a senior leader and ambassador of the Foundation
Location: Hybrid work model, currently minimum 3 days in office. When in office: 1 King Street West #702, Hamilton
Compensation: $150,000 – $185,000 plus HOOPP, and a comprehensive vacation and benefits plan. Salary will be determined commensurate with experience.
Is this you?
You are a creative and collaborative community and legacy fundraising expert who has a growth mindset. You are known for entering an organization and being a key contributor to that organization’s revenue growth. You do this through thorough discovery, data analysis, combined with a deep desire to test and learn and ultimately produce programs that are best in class and grounded in donor centric practices.
Your direct reports and cross functional teammates would describe you as the ultimate colleague. You are caring and considerate, thorough and thoughtful, respectful and responsible. You deliver on time, on budget and on target. You’d describe yourself as an annual giving expert. You’ve ‘owned’ this entire revenue function and have worked with both internal teams to generate revenue as well as agency partners. You are excellent at integrating Legacy Giving into your annual plans and are up to date legacy gift governance.
You would be energized, motivated and excited to lead community and legacy giving for a vital and growing hospital foundation representing the largest patient demographic in the province. If this sounds like you, read on.
About Hamilton Health Sciences
Hamilton Health Sciences is a community of 18,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves southwestern Ontario residents. They are the only hospital in Ontario that cares for all ages, from pre-birth to end-of-life. They offer world-leading expertise in many areas, including cardiac and stroke care, cancer care, palliative care and pediatrics. They are a world-renowned hospital for healthcare research. They focus daily on improving the quality of care for patients through innovation and evidence-based practices. As the largest employer in the Greater Hamilton region, they play a vital role in training the next generation of health professionals in collaboration with academic partners, McMaster University and Mohawk College. They are accredited with exemplary standing by Accreditation Canada. Hamilton Health Sciences are comprised of: Hamilton General Hospital; Juravinski Cancer Centre; Juravinski Hospital; McMaster Children’s Hospital; McMaster University Medical Centre; Regional Rehabilitation Centre; Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre; St. Peter’s Hospital; West End Urgent Care Clinic and West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. To learn more about Hamilton Health Sciences, click here.
About Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation
At HHSF they are all about appreciation, integrity and innovation. They believe that by working together, they can transform lives and create a healthier future for everyone.
Mission: To raise funds and manage donor gifts for the purpose of supporting outstanding clinical care and research for the communities served by Hamilton Health Sciences.
Vision: When donors give to HHSF, they are directly supporting healthcare services in the Hamilton region. Their contribution stays within the community and region, benefitting neighbors, friends and loved ones. By giving locally, donors have the power to make a significant and tangible difference.
Values: The Foundation believes that relationships and partnership are the basis of excellence in fundraising. Therefore they:
- Treat all donors, the Hospital and others with integrity, respect and appreciation
- Are accountable to their donors and community
- Encourage creativity and innovation in their activities
To learn more about the Foundation, click here.
The Position
The Vice President, Community & Legacy Giving will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will oversee a current team of four (with two direct reports), with expected growth over the coming years. The Vice President, Community & Legacy Giving is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team at the Foundation. The Vice President is responsible for developing strategies that drive donor engagement and secure sustainable revenue for the long term. The Vice President will provide strategic leadership and oversight for both the legacy and community giving (annual fundraising) programs, which includes the development of a robust mid-level donor program. They will be accountable for the design and implementation of integrated fundraising strategies that encompass direct response (direct mail, email, digital, door-to-door etc.), tribute giving, employee giving, monthly donors, mid-level donors, lotteries and legacy giving. Driving donor engagement across these programs, the Vice President and their team will ensure a seamless donor journey from annual revenue support through to long-term legacy commitments. The Vice President will work collaboratively with teams across the Foundation and hospital to ensure strategies that engage diverse donor segments are donor-centric and grounded in best practices.
The Vice President will possess a growth mindset, as there is ambition to significantly increase the revenue of the community portfolio in particular (currently ~$5M). The Vice President will be a data driven, collaborative and energetic leader who will foster a culture of excellence. The successful candidate will have an appetite for testing and measuring new tactics, through building the business case and securing vendor support when required. A strong writer, presenter and persuasive communicator, the Vice President will be an able and passionate representative of the Foundation in the community.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Planning
- Develop and execute comprehensive strategies for both legacy giving and community giving programs that align with the organization’s mission and financial objectives.
- Create and manage annual fundraising goals for both legacy and community giving initiatives, monitoring progress and adjusting tactics as needed.
- Lead data-driven decision-making to optimize engagement and revenue across donor segments, including annual, mid-level, and legacy giving donors.
Legacy Giving Program Management
- Design and implement a robust legacy giving program to cultivate and secure bequests, gifts of insurance, and other legacy type donations.
- Work with donors, estate planners, lawyers, financial advisors, accountants, and other allied professionals to facilitate gift arrangements that align with donor intent and organizational priorities.
- Oversee legacy donor recognition and stewardship programs to maintain long-term relationships and increase legacy commitments.
- Ensure marketing and communication strategies effectively promote legacy giving opportunities and educate prospective donors.
Community Giving Program Management
- Oversee direct response campaigns (direct mail, email, digital, door-to-door etc.) designed to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, ensuring integration across legacy and community giving strategies.
- Lead the planning and execution of tribute giving, employee giving, monthly donor programs, mid-level donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and lotteries.
- Implement segmentation and personalization tactics to enhance donor engagement and maximize the lifetime value of donors.
- Develop and implement strategies to grow mid-level donor relationships, including cultivation events, personalized communications, and tailored giving opportunities.
- Manage vendor relationships e.g. 50/50 Inspiration Community Lottery, Direct Mail.
Donor Engagement & Stewardship
- Work with cross functional teams to develop and manage a comprehensive donor engagement plan that integrates community and legacy giving, ensuring a seamless experience for donors across giving levels.
- Collaborate with marketing and communications teams to produce compelling messaging that inspires donor action and fosters long-term relationships.
- Implement personalized stewardship strategies for both annual and legacy donors, building strong, lasting connections with the organization.
Cross-functional Leadership and Collaboration:
- Collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team and cross-functional HHSF teams to foster a cohesive and synergistic environment, where collective efforts are directed towards HHSF’s unified vision and shared objectives.
- Develop and build collaborative and beneficial relationships with internal and external colleagues and partners, specifically within HHS including clinical, operational and administration departments, leveraging connections to enhance organizational effectiveness and drive fundraising and strategic initiatives
- Serve as a brand ambassador within the organization, educating and inspiring staff to embody the HHSF brand values and deliver exceptional service.
Team Leadership/Senior Leadership Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and coaching to a team, fostering a collaborative, motivational and respectful environment, with a focus on skill development and continuous learning to maximize team effectiveness and growth.
- Develop and maintain a high functioning team and continually assess structure, allocation of responsibility and process for optimal efficiency and workflow to achieve HHSF objectives.
- Offer critical insight and strategic guidance to inform HHSF strategic, operational, culture and human resource planning, aligning departmental efforts with boarder HHSF goals.
- Provide critical support and insight to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of HHSF’s long term strategic plan and annual operating plan
- Develop and monitor department’s annual operating budget, ensuring fiscal management, cost optimization and resource allocation.
- Actively participate in HHSF board meetings, senior leadership and management meetings, providing valuable perspectives and support to inform decision-making and drive fundraising success.
- Prepare and deliver a range of reports in support of the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders, ensuring transparency, clarity and alignment with strategy.
Participation in the HHSF Senior Leadership Team:
- As a key member of the HHSF Senior Leadership Team, actively contribute to the strategic direction and success of the organization.
- Provide leadership and embody authenticity and respect in all interactions with peers.
- Actively demonstrate a commitment to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, ensuring that contributions are both constructive and inclusive.
- Engage with fellow leaders, offer generous support and cultivate a culture of mutual respect and teamwork to enhance the collective effectiveness and cohesion of the HHSF Senior Leadership Team.
The Ideal Candidate
- 10+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with significant experience in both community (annual) giving and legacy giving.
- University degree (or equivalent) is considered an asset.
- Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is an asset.
- Proven success in leading multi-channel fundraising strategies, including legacy and annual giving initiatives.
- Expertise in donor segmentation, lifecycle management, and personalized stewardship strategies.
- Strong leadership and management skills with a history of leading high-performing teams.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage donors and stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong project management, problem solving, organizational and prioritizing skills to plan departmental and program initiatives.
- Able to lead a team toward a unified objective, challenging and motivating performance standards.
- Lead by example, mentoring, building the skills and competencies of others, and gaining respect and credibility at all levels.
- Someone who sees the big picture, can think strategically while also being responsible for tactical execution.
- Superior written and oral communication skills.
- A proven ability to build and foster beneficial relationships and partnerships while also successfully engaging a wide range of stakeholders in support of Foundation objectives.
- Strong interpersonal skills: an open communication style that acknowledges the opinions of others and creates an environment in which others feel comfortable sharing divergent points of view.
- Act as a role model to staff and others, demonstrating the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality and sensitivity.
- A commitment to personal excellence and honesty, exhibiting the highest standards of responsibility.
Why choose Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation?
At Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, they are committed to offering a comprehensive total rewards package that supports employee well-being:
- They provide a competitive hiring range of $150,000-$185,000, commensurate with experience, along with an annual performance-based incentive program.
- The package includes participation in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP), comprehensive healthcare, dental and travel benefits with a Health Services Spending Account, maternity and parental leave top up benefits, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
- Five weeks of paid vacation and your birthday off!
- They have a culture which supports and encourages continuous professional development and career growth opportunities.
Application Instructions
The Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer. Their commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within HHSF reflects a belief that they will make the greatest impact to their mission when everyone can genuinely and fully participate without barriers or exclusion. They are dedicated to creating a workplace reflective of the community we live, work and serve and welcome applications from diverse and equity deserving groups. HHSF is committed to providing a barrier-free recruitment process and work environment. Accommodation, if requested, will be provided throughout the recruitment process in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Should any candidate require accommodation in any phase of the recruitment process, please contact Lindsay Preston (lindsay@phcap.ca).
Preston Human Capital Group is conducting this search on behalf of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. If you are looking for an outstanding challenge and you meet the qualification criteria, we look forward to hearing from you. Please include a cover letter and CV addressed to Lindsay Preston at lindsay@phcap.ca. The posting closes on March 31, 2025, at 5pm ET. Please note only qualified respondents will be contacted. Thank you for your interest.