Director, Major Gifts

Salary range: $74,252 to $111,378 per year

Duration: Indeterminate

Type: Full-time at 37.5 hours per week

Location: Ottawa, ON (Hybrid) or Toronto, ON (Remote). Remote candidates outside Ottawa and Toronto can be considered (within Canada).

Reports to: Chief Conservation Officer

Who we are

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is a national not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring an appreciation of the natural world and a lasting legacy of healthy wildlife and habitat. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, developing and delivering educational programs, conducting research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and advocating for effective wildlife policy and regulation, CWF strives for a future in which Canada’s wildlife is conserved for generations to come.

Diversity is a fundamental part of our core values; we create every opportunity to become more inclusive. We encourage applications from qualified candidates from all diverse communities including, but not limited to, Indigenous persons, racially visible persons, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+, and women in non-traditional roles.

Position Overview

CWF is seeking a Director, Major Gifts to lead a growing major gifts program that secures significant restricted and designated support from individual donors, foundations, government agencies, and institutions. Reporting to the Chief Conservation Officer, this role builds and manages a pipeline of major donors, cultivates long‑term relationships, identifies strategic funding opportunities, and secures transformational gifts—including six‑ and seven‑figure contributions annually—to advance CWF’s conservation priorities across education, species and habitat initiatives, and cross‑cutting strategies.

The Director collaborates closely with the Conservation and Marketing & Communications teams to develop compelling proposals, oversee grant submissions, and ensure strong reporting and funder stewardship. Working in partnership with the Fund Development Department, the Director ensures unified prospect pipeline management and aligned stewardship across restricted and unrestricted revenue streams.

As a newly created leadership role, the Director, Major Gifts will also help shape CWF’s long‑term designated and major gifts strategy and build a team to expand organizational capacity and drive sustainable, mission‑aligned revenue growth.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Research & Fund Development

• Identify major gift, grant, and institutional funding opportunities aligned with CWF’s Conservation programs.
• Develop compelling, strategically aligned gift opportunities based on donor interests and program priorities.
• Stay informed on philanthropic trends and emerging opportunities to strengthen fundraising strategy.

Major Gift Relationship Management

• Build and manage a robust pipeline of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts, including six‑ and seven‑figure contributions.
• Prepare briefing notes, call reports, and customized solicitation materials to support donor engagement.
• Partner with organizational and Conservation leadership to align donor strategies and provide strong follow‑up.
• Collaborate with the Fund Development Department to ensure integrated pipelines and coordinated stewardship.

Grant & Proposal Management

• Lead the development of letters of intent, proposals, budgets, and presentations in collaboration with Conservation and Marketing & Communications.
• Manage the full grant lifecycle, from submission through reporting and renewal.
• Maintain a proposal and reporting calendar and track all grant activity through the CRM.
• Ensure high‑quality impact reporting to support donor retention.

Team Leadership

• Hire, supervise, and develop staff supporting major gifts and restricted/designated revenue.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and performance management to build a strong, collaborative team.

Collaboration, Reporting & Administration

• Work with internal subject‑matter experts to enhance proposals and donor communications.
• Maintain accurate donor and grant records and monitor fundraising performance.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and multi‑year revenue planning.
• Represent CWF to donors, partners, and stakeholders, fostering strong relationships and trust.

Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting significant gifts ($50,000+) from individuals, foundations, corporations, or institutional funders.
• College Diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience in Finance, Marketing, Business/Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience hiring, coaching, and developing staff, with the ability to build and lead a high‑performing team.
• Strong initiative and resilience, with a track record of meeting revenue targets and advancing donor relationships.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and donor portfolios.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with donors and senior leadership.
• Strong writing skills for proposals, cases for support, and donor communications.
• Experience using donor databases/CRM systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, reporting, and record‑keeping.
• Ability to represent CWF professionally in donor meetings, events, and public engagements.

Preferred Assets

• Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification.
• Grant writing experience and familiarity with foundation and institutional funding.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Bilingualism (English and French).
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple departments in a complex organization.

Work Conditions

• Full-time at 37.5 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. Overtime may be required, including occasional evening and weekend work.
• Salary will be determined based on experience and internal parity, and can range from $74,252 to $111,378 per year.
• Location: Ideally, based at our Head Office in Kanata (Ottawa West), Ontario, with hybrid flexibility to work from home two consecutive days per week; or Remote from Toronto. Candidates located outside of Ottawa and Toronto can be considered.
• Must be able to travel periodically for off-site meetings, visitations, conferences, and other activities when required. Travel will be at least once per quarter, typically by flight. If located outside of Ottawa, additional travel will be necessary.
• Manual dexterity required to operate computer and peripherals.
• Exposure to mental stress due to managing demands from multiple work activities, strict grant deadlines, and sensitive conservation topics.
• Regularly interacts externally with high-impact donors and funding partners (i.e private and public foundations, research organizations, philanthropic associations, etc).

Why work with us?

• We are a rapidly growing team of forward-thinking individuals who all share a common passion: wildlife and habitat!
• Friendly and casual work environment.
• Opportunity to expand your network of conservation and program experts.
• We are committed to work-life balance.
• We are committed to building a more diverse workforce.
• Relevant professional development opportunities for career growth.
• We offer a competitive benefits plan at no cost to employees which include health, dental, vision, and LTD. Enrollment to Employee Assistance Program.
• We offer Group RSP enrollment with up to 5% matching.
• 13 paid stat holidays per year.
• Generous time-off policies include paid vacation days, sick days, float days, and appointment time.
• Complimentary subscription to our Canadian Wildlife magazine.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 26, 2026

HOW TO APPLY: Cover letter and resume should be submitted. Only the candidates who meet the requirements and are selected for an interview will be contacted. We thank you for your interest in the Canadian Wildlife Federation!

AODA Statement: CWF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive, accessible hiring process. Please notify the HR Department if you require any accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

AI Statement: CWF does not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants. All applications are reviewed and evaluated by human members of our hiring team.