Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships
Women’s College Hospital Foundation
Women’s College Hospital Foundation (WCHF) is proud to work with a dedicated community of passionate donors and volunteers to support Women’s College Hospital as it advances health for women and revolutionizes healthcare for the benefit of everyone.
WCHF’s donor family today includes over 39,000 individuals, corporate partners, and foundations.
With the generous support of the donor community, Women’s College Hospital Foundation is focused on raising funds for the life-changing work taking place at Women’s College Hospital, including groundbreaking new women’s health research, clinical care that puts the unique needs of women and their families first, and innovations that create a stronger health system for everyone.
Women’s College Hospital
Founded in 1883, Women’s College Hospital (WCH) became the first place in Canada where women could study and practice medicine.
WCH is a major teaching hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. It is revolutionizing healthcare for a healthier, more equitable world – by thinking and acting differently. WCH is breaking down barriers to care having launched Canada’s first virtual hospital; it is transforming surgeries — such as turning joint replacements into day surgery – and it is becoming a provincial hub for critical networks such as Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centres and Substance Use care programs. Women’s College Hospital is always working to build a healthcare system that is more accessible, effective and inclusive for everyone.
Guided by voices from its communities, WCH has developed a 2025-2030 Strategic Plan that has built on new knowledge. Curiosity as an essential driver of progress and growth. WCH believes that curiosity serves as a driving force behind effective and innovative solutions that will shape the future of healthcare and benefit everyone.
Mandated by the Ontario government to be a leader in health system solutions, Women’s College Hospital is now home to the provincial Centre for Digital Health Evaluation which is leading a national initiative to strengthen Canadian capacity to evaluate digital health interventions. WCH is building on its established success to continue to be a major catalyst for modernizing a 1950’s model of care within healthcare.
MORE THAN A REASON. THE FOUNDATION’S CAUSE
WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL
For 140 years, Women’s College Hospital has developed revolutionary advances in healthcare by challenging the status quo. WCH is still shaped by leaders who break down barriers in the pursuit of equity and excellence for the 21st century.
Women’s College Hospital is a world leader in health for women, health equity, and health system solutions – a hospital designed to keep people out of hospital by addressing issues related to population health, patient experience, and system costs. A healthy society requires a level playing field where everyone has access to timely, high quality, efficient, and compassionate care.
WCH sees a future of Healthcare Revolutionized, where WCH is setting a new pace for transformative redesign in healthcare, confronting gender and social inequities that threaten people’s health, bringing virtual care into the mainstream, and reimagining how healthcare services can be delivered to help solve our health system’s most urgent issues and to close health gaps for all.
Women’s College Hospital Vision
Healthcare revolutionized for a healthier and more equitable world.
Women’s College Hospital Mission
To transform healthcare for women and gender diverse people, delivering better outcomes, access and patient experience through equitable and connected care, learning and discovery.
Women’s College Hospital Core Values
Equity | Quality | People | Courage | Partnership | Curiosity
MORE THAN A PARTNER. A DRIVING FORCE.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
The Foundation is proud to support Women’s College Hospital as a leader in women’s health and broadening health care access and advancing equity in underrepresented groups. WCHF is guided by their strong values and commitment to building a better Canada by advancing health equity for women and for all.
It’s not a secret. Our healthcare system needs to change. High costs, hallway medicine, and a lack of gender-focused research are pressing challenges threatening the health of Canadians today.
Support of donors helps Women’s College Hospital drive change, close health gaps, and create a more equitable system. Donors and partners share the vision of healthcare revolutionized – a new future in which healthcare is radically redesigned. With the support of its Foundation, WCH is building on its established success to continue its role as a major catalyst for modernizing a 1950’s model of care within healthcare.
The aim is to shift the balance of power, to confront gender and social inequities that threaten people’s health, to bring virtual care into the mainstream, and to reimagine how ambulatory healthcare services are delivered to close health gaps for all.
Women’s College Hospital Foundation Vision
Revolutionizing Health Care for Women and Broadening Health Access for All.
Women’s College Hospital Foundation Mission
To fund Women’s College Hospital, attract partners to improve the health of women and underserved people, and to reimagine healthcare delivery
Women’s College Hospital Foundation Values
They are guided by their values in everything they do: Equity | Quality | People | Courage | Collaboration
Leadership
During the Fall of 2024, the Board of Directors in partnership with Preston Human Capital Group, conducted an exhaustive search for Women’s College Hospital Foundation next President & CEO. The board unanimously selected Sandra Sualim, who stepped into the role in December 2024.
Sandra brings a wealth of experience to WCHF, having served as President and CEO of Humber River Health Foundation for nearly four years. Previously, she held the role of Executive Director at BGC Foundation Canada and has significantly contributed to philanthropic initiatives at SickKids Foundation and Havergal College.
A passionate advocate for equitable healthcare access, Sandra is dedicated to ensuring that women and equity-deserving individuals receive the care they deserve. Her collaborative approach has established her as a respected partner among leaders and organizations committed to fostering growth and meaningful change.
Where could you fit in?
You are reading this Position Profile because it’s entirely possible you could become the Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships. Consideration for the role starts with your own – objective – personal analysis.
In other words, are you the right fit? This opportunity will appeal to an accomplished major gift fundraiser, someone with sophisticated relationship skills, experience leading a high-performing team with full accountability and impressive campaign experience.
Do you have the top-flight success in major gifts, the zeal for business excellence, and a creative leadership style that inspires the very best of your team? The role demands clear-eyed objectivity, quick intelligence, the highest degree of organization, focus on process and tireless, flat-out commitment to results. You are collaborative, excited by new engagement practices, and have a deep understanding of reputational dynamics in fundraising success. Outgoing and diligent, you listen, you work collegially, and you build stretch-targets. And then blow right past them. If this is you, read on.
Position Overview
Organization: Women’s College Hospital Foundation
Title: Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships
Reports to: President & Chief Executive Officer
Team: 7 total, 2 direct
Location: Hybrid. 76 Grenville Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2
Compensation: $180,000 – $220,000 with an annual variable incentive, comprehensive benefits, HOOPP pension and vacation package
Key Internal Relationships are in support of/as designate for the President & CEO with:
- The Foundation’s Board of Directors, Fundraising Committee, Governance Committee
- WCH Senior Leadership Committee, Medical Directors, Program Directors and Public Affairs
Key External Relationships:
- Donors
- Select funding and community partners as designated over time
- Maintaining strong community relationships as a senior leader and ambassador of the Foundation among our external stakeholders
The Role
The Vice President, Philanthropy and Partnerships will report to the President & CEO. Our successful candidate will be part of the executive leadership team and will play a vital role in supporting Women’s College Hospital Foundation’s strategic fundraising priorities. They will be accountable to the Foundation’s philanthropic revenue activity, leading and managing the team, including budgeting and program direction. Our candidate will work closely with executive leadership and the Foundation Board to ensure the philanthropy pipeline is robust and tactics are in place to ensure a best-in-class donor journey at every stage of giving.
Our candidate will lead a team of seven, with two direct reports. The Vice President will be an active fundraiser, overseeing their own Major Gift portfolio of donors at various stages of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, and will work collaboratively across teams within the Foundation and Hospital to ensure that donors receive the appropriate recognition and care. An ambassador for the Foundation, the Vice President will be a visible and proud representative of the organization and will consistently and convincingly demonstrate the role and importance of philanthropy and its impact to the Hospital, and to the level of care offered at Women’s College Hospital.
Primary Responsibilities
Philanthropy & Partnerships
- Plan and develop short- and long-term strategies that are both strategic and tactical in nature to support WCHF in accomplishing organizational goals.
- Develop strategies and approaches to diversify the base of support, and to generate increasing levels of giving.
- Actively manage a portfolio of leadership gift prospects (individual and corporate) at various stages of cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
- Attend important donor calls to ensure a growing base of support for the organization.
- Support and mentor Foundation staff by guiding them through donor strategy and tactics, and by engaging them in donor visits and other actions where appropriate.
- Work with Hospital staff, medical professionals, and volunteer leaders to identify prospective donors, fundraising priorities, and gift opportunities.
- Work collaboratively with Vice President, Marketing Communications and Community Engagement and Stewardship and Communications teams to ensure that programs are in place for all donors to receive appropriate, consistent recognition and an accounting of the impact that their gifts have.
Strategic & Operational Leadership
- Participate with the President & CEO, senior management, and volunteer leaders in guiding the strategic direction of the Foundation.
- Actively manage the philanthropy pipeline and adopt strategies and tactics to support the donor journey at every level of giving from Annual to Principal Gifts.
- Work directly with the senior leadership team to set overall organizational policies and priorities.
- Coach and model behaviour to support leadership journey of all staff members.
- Consider and analyze the implications of proposed actions and decisions by individual areas on the whole of the organization (financial, operating and administrative aspects).
- Provide effective mentorship, training, encouragement, support, and leadership to staff, volunteers, and leaders in order to ensure collective attainment of annual and long-term financial goals.
- Systematically cultivate long term, collaborative, strategic relationships that are beneficial to the organization.
- Act as an ambassador for philanthropy to WCH, consistently and convincingly demonstrating the role and importance of private sector support.
- Through professionalism, integrity, and accountability, maintain and enhance the credibility of Women’s College Hospital and the Foundation.
- Keep current on issues affecting the philanthropic and voluntary sector and propose strategies to proactively address these issues and opportunities.
Integrated Fundraising Planning & Management
- Identify opportunities for and lend support in helping to build awareness of the Foundation and to foster a culture of philanthropy.
- Develop strategic and operational development plans and associated budgets; monitor relevant revenue and expense budgets.
- Lead and manage the affairs of the Philanthropy & Partnerships program, including budgeting, program direction, supervision and evaluation of assigned staff.
- Realign philanthropy operations as needed to facilitate and reinforce the effectiveness of strategic plans. This may include realigning key processes, team structure, management practices, communications, and the deployment of staff and volunteers.
- Actively participate in management and campaign leadership meetings.
- Work with all teams and provide strategic information and guidance to assist in developing goals, plans, and procedures.
- Participate in community initiatives to promote the organization and philanthropy.
- Engage relevant consultants and vendors and ensure their effective management.
- Remain abreast of best practices in the fundraising field, general management of development programs, privacy, the Income tax act, Canada Revenue Agency rulings and guidelines.
Major Gift Strategy & Major Gifts Fundraising
- Lead a rigorous focus on building the major gifts prospect pipeline by assisting in developing prospect identification and engagement strategies for new donors to the Foundation.
- Actively manage a portfolio of major gift prospects in support of fundraising priorities and other ongoing needs.
- Strategize with the Foundation President & CEO, other Foundation team members, and with volunteers when appropriate, on the approaches to major gifts prospects.
- Provide support, mentoring, coaching and encouragement to Foundation staff, Board members, and volunteers who are involved in major gift fundraising.
- Identify key physicians, clinicians, and senior staff to act as Foundation ambassadors and to help develop and solicit major gift prospects.
- Provide guidance, training, and support to any volunteers or hospital staff who serve as partners in fundraising activities.
- Maintain relationships with other healthcare philanthropy professionals to ensure ongoing knowledge of best practices and to benchmark the Foundation’s performance.
Communications & Donor Relations
- Develop strategies and work with Foundation colleagues to ensure effective stewardship is implemented across all donors.
- Lead the development of stewardship strategies, plans, and practices for all donor levels.
- Collaborate closely with Hospital Communications colleagues in the development of key communication materials to support philanthropy and stewardship activities, and to ensure alignment on all key messages.
- Ensure high value philanthropy proposals are best-in-class and on trend with industry.
Community & Engagement
- Maintain ongoing positive relationships with new and existing donors, volunteers, and community members.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with physician, clinicians, and staff.
- Act as a goodwill ambassador for the organization to donors and stakeholder groups, and act as a representative or spokesperson of the Hospital/Foundation when required.
- Prepare and deliver speeches and presentations to corporations, organizations, business groups, and boards when needed.
- Support the visibility of the Foundation in the broader philanthropic professional community to position the Foundation positively for employee recruitment and retention.
Team Leadership & Management
- Encourage the commitment of staff to the mission, vision, and values of the Foundation
- Inspire, direct, and manage philanthropy staff.
- Oversee the recruitment and retention of philanthropy staff including hiring, performance management, accountability and annual reviews, and professional development.
- Engage every member of the team in working collaboratively towards the integration of programs and activities in support of overall collective goals.
- Work with staff to develop and achieve performance goals, targets, and metrics for their programs and revenue streams
Qualifications
Our ideal candidate will be passionate about the mission, vision, and strategic direction of Women’s College Hospital and the Foundation and must have a proven record of success in:
- Leading the major and transformational giving portfolio within a sophisticated philanthropic institution.
- Cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, corporate, and foundation gifts at the multi-million-dollar level.
- Communications excellence: a careful listener who can synthesize accurately, someone articulate with messaging, an influencer with a strong and positive personal presence.
- Using an innovative and strategic business mindset to align and enhance organizational strategy, operations, and management.
- Leading, motivating, and managing a team of diverse staff, volunteers, and partners.
- Building strong, effective relationships; proven ability to manage Boards and/or other key constituencies requiring skilful leadership, influence, and persuasion skills.
- Driving internal growth, including the capacity of team members to succeed and reach their full potential.
- Comprehensive campaign leadership experience including building, recruiting and managing a Campaign Cabinet.
- Flexibility, dedication, humility, and a learner’s mindset.
Character & Competencies
- A self-starter with a can-do attitude and vision. A respected ability to motivate everyone for the mission – with infectious energy, insight, and drive, you spark fresh dynamism, aligning, challenging, and inspiring a diverse team to the very highest of standards.
- Forthrightness in holding people accountable – an honest approach to building a team and building careers – a great coach.
- An attitude that champions disruptive ideas that drive donor contributions and engagement.
- A highly analytical and data-driven fundraiser.
- An ability to paint a big picture by paying close attention to the details.
- A passion for life-long learning and staying current, for discovering, understanding, and implementing cutting-edge technologies and processes for greater reach and cost-effectiveness.
- Excellent problem-solving skills: structuring/analysis/synthesis.
- Honesty, openness, transparency, authenticity and you model these in all situations and for all interactions.
- The ability, insight, and drive to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
- Experience in a multi-stakeholder environment where you have led by consensus.
- A deep understanding that the ‘whole is greater than the sum of its parts’.
- A Servant/Leader ethos that becomes engrained in the Team Culture.
Ideally will exhibit:
- A positive attitude for self and team: anything can be solved; anything can be accomplished.
- A belief that opportunity can always be found.
- Refreshing but respectful candour.
- A modus operandi that puts the mission ahead of personal advancement.
- The highest of personal and corporate standards – ‘good enough’ is never enough.
Application Instructions
If you are looking for an outstanding challenge, working with a well respected and innovative President & CEO, and hospital leadership team for a very important, focused, and successful organization that is about to go through bold and transformational change, then please send your résumé, along with a covering letter explaining why you should be a serious candidate for this mission-critical position, to: Preston Human Capital Group at lindsay@phcap.ca by Friday January 10, 2025. Please note only qualified respondents will be contacted.
As an employment equity employer, WCHF actively seeks visible minorities, women, people with disabilities, and persons of Indigenous ancestry.
Women’s College Hospital and the WCH Foundation acknowledge the land we meet and work on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.