Senior Manager, Principal Gifts

Duration: Indeterminate

Type: Full-time at 37.5 hours per week

Location: Hybrid in Ottawa, ON. Remote candidates outside Ottawa can be considered

Reports to: Director, Corporate, Foundations and Legacy Development

Salary range: $85,299 to $106,624

Who we are

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is a national not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring an appreciation of our 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

Reporting to the Director, Corporate, Foundations & Legacy Giving, the Senior Manager, Principal Gifts plays a key role in advancing the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s (CWF) unrestricted fundraising efforts through the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-value individual donors. This position is responsible for growing and stewarding a portfolio of major and principal gift donors, with a focus on retention, larger and multi-year commitments, and the realization of principal and complex gifts.

The Senior Manager provides specialized expertise and functional leadership in principal and complex giving and works collaboratively with internal teams and senior leadership to develop and implement effective donor strategies and ensure sound revenue planning and risk management. Through strategic donor engagement and relationship-building, this role contributes directly to the long-term stability and growth of CWF’s unrestricted revenue.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Portfolio and Revenue Management

• Leads the management and growth of an unrestricted major and principal gifts portfolio ($1,000+ annually), with a focus on retention, upgrades, and long-term donor value.
• Develops and advances strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship approaches to deepen donor engagement and increase multi-year commitments.
• Assesses donor capacity and readiness, managing complex and sensitive relationships to support sustained trust and portfolio movement.
• Oversees disciplined moves management and stewardship practices, ensuring accurate documentation and follow up through the CRM system.

Principal and Complex Gift Movement

• Identifies, solicits, and manages principal and complex gifts, including securities, non-cash assets, and donor advised fund contributions.
• Develops and implements policies, procedures, and guidelines related to principal and non-monetary gifts.
• Works in collaboration with Finance, Legal, and external advisors to structure and execute compliant and effective gift arrangements.
• Ensures appropriate review, documentation, and risk management for non-standard or complex gift transactions in alignment with organizational policy.

Analysis, Reporting, and Cross Functional Collaboration

• Uses donor data, performance metrics, and forecasting to inform portfolio strategy, revenue planning, and resource allocation.
• Prepares revenue projections, portfolio insights, and performance reports for senior leadership and Finance to support organizational planning.
• Collaborates across Fund Development, Marketing and Communications, and senior leadership to ensure coordinated donor engagement and aligned messaging.
• Maintains current knowledge of emerging trends in principal and complex giving and translates these into strategies, tools, and organizational best practices.
• Assists with other fundraising activities as required.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, in Fundraising, Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Finance, or a related field.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of related experience.
• Fluency in both English and French is considered an asset.

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 $85,299 to $106,624 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. Remote candidates outside of Ottawa can be considered.
• Manual dexterity required to operate computer and peripherals.
• Exposure to mental stress due to managing demands from multiple work activities and strict deadlines.
• Regularly interacts externally with major and principal donors, professional advisors (lawyers, estate planners, etc), and giving platform representatives.

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: May 31, 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!

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and accommodations are available upon request for candidates throughout the recruitment process.

AI Statement: The Canadian Wildlife Federation 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.