DIRECTOR FUNDRAISING & SUSTAINABILITY

ROLE OVERVIEW

DIRECTOR FUNDRAISING & SUSTAINABILITY

About us

The Volunteer Well is a Canadian non-profit focused on making support easier to give and easier to find. We connect people who want to help with individuals and communities who need support, creating spaces where generosity, dignity, and human connection can thrive. You’ll also have opportunities to build experience in areas such as digital marketing, corporate relations, finance, program coordination, and operations, depending on your interests and availability.

Our work centers on reducing barriers to volunteering and access to resources, particularly for those facing systemic challenges such as women, seniors, newcomers, low-income individuals, and other marginalized groups. Through community-driven programs, events, partnerships, and advocacy, we help people feel seen, supported, and connected.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: when people are given the opportunity to share their skills, time, and care, communities grow stronger — and everyone benefits.

What You’ll Be Doing

As our Director of Fundraising & Sustainability, you won’t be running events or writing grant applications day-to-day. Instead, you’ll sit at the board table and help us think smartly about money, growth, and long-term resilience.

You’ll help us answer questions like:

● Where should our funding come from?

● What’s realistic for a charity at our stage?

● How do we build donor relationships the right way?

● How do we grow without drifting from our mission?

You’ll use your experience, judgment, and network to guide strategy — not to manage operations.

You’ll advise the Board and CEO on grants, major donors, partnerships, sponsorships, campaigns, and sustainable funding models. You’ll help us put the right policies and guardrails in place so we grow ethically and responsibly.

This is a role for someone who enjoys seeing the bigger picture — and helping an organization make thoughtful, steady decisions behind the scenes.

Key Responsibilities

Governance & Strategic Oversight

● Lead the development and refinement of a multi-year fundraising plan that aligns with mission priorities and growth targets.

● Provide the Board with regular updates on fundraising performance, emerging opportunities, and sector trends.

● Ensure all fundraising activities comply with CRA regulations, gift-acceptance policies, and ethical standards.

Fundraising & Sustainability Support

● Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, foundations, and community stakeholders.

● Contribute to the organization’s financial sustainability by actively supporting fundraising initiatives. This includes leveraging corporate relationships, personal networks, and other channels to promote funding opportunities.

● Identify and advise on new funding streams—such as grants, cause-related marketing, events, and online campaigns—to mitigate risk and increase financial resilience.

● Recommend policies and practices for effective recognition, reporting, and retention of donors at all levels.

Collaboration & Role Boundaries

● Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Fundraising Committee without managing day-to-day fundraising operations.

● Work closely with Communications & Marketing to align messaging and impact stories with fundraising goals.

● Leverage personal and professional networks to open doors for sponsorships, in-kind support, and partnership opportunities.

Policy & Process Development

● Lead the creation and periodic review of gift-acceptance policies, conflict-of-interest guidelines, and donor privacy practices.

● Advise on tools and systems for tracking prospects, managing pipelines, and reporting on key performance indicators.

● Collaborate with Finance and Governance Committees to identify and mitigate financial risks related to fundraising activities.

Why This Role Matters

If this role is filled well:

● Our programs stay strong.

● Our volunteers have the support they need.

● The individuals and families we serve don’t lose access to connection and resources.

● We reduce financial risk.

● We build stability instead of scrambling year to year.

If it isn’t?

We risk burnout, short-term thinking, and missed opportunities to serve our community well. Your guidance helps protect the heart of this organization.

What You’ll Grow & Gain:

After 6 months in this role, you’ll feel more confident:

• Deepen your governance and board-level leadership experience.
• Strengthen your strategic fundraising lens.
• Expand your network across community, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.
• Contribute meaningfully to equity-driven community impact.
• See your advice directly shape an organization’s growth.
• Leave knowing you helped build something sustainable.

Your Professional Development & Experience:

• Practical, hands-on experience within a community-focused non-profit.
• Professional references based on meaningful involvement.
• A clearer understanding of your strengths and interests in community and non-profit work.
• You’ll make a tangible difference in your community while contributing to a cause that promotes inclusivity, connectivity, and support for those who need it most.

You’ll also be part of a board that cares deeply about inclusion, human connection, and doing things thoughtfully — not performatively.

Time Commitment & Expectations

● Around 8 hours per month.

● 4–6 board meetings per year (virtual or in-person) plus the AGM.

● A minimum 3-year term (with option to renew).

● Occasional strategy conversations with the CEO or committees when needed.

We value consistency, but we also understand that this is a volunteer role. We work with real humans who have real lives.

What We’re Looking For

● Experience in nonprofit development, with a proven track record of securing grants, major gifts, and corporate partnerships.

● Ability to craft long-term fundraising plans and adapt to evolving financial landscapes.

● Strong network within philanthropic, corporate, or community sectors; exceptional interpersonal and stewardship skills.

● Deep familiarity with Canadian charitable fundraising regulations and best-practice governance.

● Comfortable advising across teams and committees, and aligning fundraising with communications, programs, and finance.

● Skilled at designing KPIs, dashboards, and reporting frameworks to measure impact and inform decisions.

● Demonstrated alignment with equity, diversity, and inclusion principles; lived experience or allyship with marginalized communities is an asset.

You’ll be treated like a partner. Our board works collaboratively. We share ideas openly. We ask thoughtful questions. We support each other. We care about impact, but we also care about how we work together.

If helping a growing charity become financially strong — without losing its heart — feels meaningful to you, we’d love to start a conversation.

Lived experience and Diversity Statement

The Volunteer Well is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized, and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, low-income families, and other equity-deserving groups. We recognize that lived experience is a valuable asset and will be considered where applicable to the role.

If you feel drawn to this opportunity and believe your skills and perspective could support our work, we welcome your resume at hr@volunteer-well.org.