Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts

Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts

Executive Profile Presented By

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health’s primary philanthropic partner and the leading charity investing in health care innovation in British Columbia, raising essential funds for specialized adult health care services and research for people across the province. In partnership with donors, the Foundation supports Vancouver Coastal Health’s key institutions, including VGH & UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and Community Health Services.

The Foundation is one of BC’s largest fundraising organizations, whose dedicated staff team of more than 110 people raised $149+ million last year from 13,600 committed supporters. Approximately 70% of the Foundation’s annual revenue is raised by the Philanthropy & Campaign Division, including the Foundation’s exceptional team of major gifts fundraisers focused on gifts of over $100,000.
Recognizing the significance of the team’s work – which amounts to approximately $60 million raised every year – the Foundation has created the new role of Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts to lead this dynamic group.

The Lead will provide strategic leadership and management of the four Philanthropy Advisors, each of whom have goals of up to $10 million, as well as managing their own pipeline of major gift prospects. This is a senior role in the Foundation with significant leadership, fundraising, and cross-Foundation collaboration expectations. As well, the Lead will play a key role in fundraising for VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s campaign, its most ambitious fundraising campaign in history and the largest ever health care campaign in BC.

This is a unique opportunity to further enable major gift best practices and help achieve the Foundation’s strategic priorities by:

Playing a pivotal leadership role in a historic and transformative campaign;

Shaping and advancing major gifts strategy at a critical moment of growth;

Partnering with senior leaders, physicians, and volunteers to secure significant gifts;

Combining big-picture strategic thinking with hands-on leadership of a high-performing team; Working at the intersection of campaign fundraising, clinical priorities, and organizational strategy; Joining an established, deeply committed, and high-performing fundraising team.

Information for Candidates

This search is being led by VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s search partner,

Christoph Clodius at The Discovery Group, at christoph@thediscoverygroup.ca.

If you’re interested or curious, or know someone who is, please be in touch.

Application Timing and Selection Process:

All submissions should be received by August 7, 2026. Please apply to Christoph with a cover letter/expression of interest and resume/CV, in a combined single document.

Candidates will be evaluated on an ongoing basis, so we are encouraging early and/or immediate applications and enquiries.

Compensation & Benefits:

The successful Director can expect a starting salary between $135,600 – 169,500 depending on experience. Salary is reviewed annually for success factors such as skills, experience, and internal equity. Additionally, each year, the Foundation considers its overall performance and awards a bonus Organizational Performance Incentive. Once hired, employees have the opportunity for their salary to increase over time up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $203,400.

The Foundation’s top-notch total rewards package includes enrollment in the Municipal Pension Plan, dental and extended health benefits (with premiums paid by the Foundation), life insurance, subsidized access to the VGH fitness facilities, parking, transit, and cycling centre and a Health Spending Account.

Vacation includes 4 weeks each year and eligibility for the 9-day fortnight program in the summer months. The remote work policy allows individuals to work up to 10 days per year remotely, and a hybrid work model is available (up to 50% of their time at home).

About the “Lead” Job Title

The title Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts reflects both the role's seniority and strategic nature. As part of an evolving leadership structure at the Foundation, "Lead" has been introduced to recognize positions with significant responsibility, influence, and decision-making authority. Internally, the role is equivalent in level to a Director.

Externally, however, the Foundation has intentionally adopted the title "Lead" to better reflect its relationship-centred approach to philanthropy. Rather than emphasizing organizational hierarchy, the title conveys leadership, partnership, and trusted stewardship in working closely with donors to advance transformational giving.

This change is part of a broader evolution in the Foundation's titling philosophy. Traditional titles such as "Officer" are being replaced with "Advisor" and "Lead" to better represent the consultative, collaborative, and donor-focused nature of philanthropy. These titles reinforce the Foundation's commitment to building meaningful partnerships with donors while recognizing the strategic leadership these roles provide.

Please see the following link for a full description: https://thediscoverygroup.ca/portfolio/vgh-ubc-hospital-foundation/