Senior Director, Development
THE OPPORTUNITY
CIFAR is seeking an experienced major gift fundraiser and confident relationship builder to be their new Senior Director, Development, playing a lead role in the Advancement team’s work, strengthening relationships and inspiring prospective donors to support this important Canadian-based global research organization as they convene extraordinary minds to address the most important questions facing science and humanity.
Reporting to the Vice President, Advancement, the Senior Director will lead a team of two direct reports, coaching and mentoring them as they work to raise funds in support of CIFAR’s ambitious strategy and impact agenda. As a skilled relationship builder with an entrepreneurial spirit, the Senior Director will work collaboratively with volunteers and colleagues across the organization, finding and articulating the right opportunity to ignite a prospective donor’s passion and secure their support.
With an established track record of success identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts of $100,000 or more from individuals and family foundations, the Senior Director will build relationships conveying meaningful impact, providing opportunities to engage with CIFAR’s mission, and delivering an excellent donor experience. Working directly with leading global philanthropists and with a focus on principal gift fundraising ($500K+), the Senior Director will personally solicit donations while simultaneously supporting organizational leaders and volunteers in this work. It’s an exciting time to join as the team is poised to raise $25M+ this year and has ambitious plans for growth.
Although a background in science is not required, a desire to learn and a genuine curiosity about the work of CIFAR are important elements of success for the new Senior Director.
CIFAR is located at MaRS Centre, West Tower, 661 University Avenue in Toronto and is currently operating in a hybrid work environment with a minimum of three days per week in office. The Senior Director can expect occasional travel for meetings and occasional meetings outside standard business hours.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH (CIFAR)
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a globally influential research organization proudly based in Canada. We mobilize the world’s most brilliant people across disciplines and at all career stages to advance transformative knowledge and solve humanity’s biggest problems, together. We are supported by the governments of Canada, Alberta and Québec, as well as Canadian and international foundations, individuals, corporations and partner organizations.
Since our founding in 1982, CIFAR has evolved and grown from a small group of Canadian academics to a leader in the global research community.
For over 40 years, CIFAR has pursued a unique research model. Unlike traditional research agencies that fund research projects and labs, CIFAR builds and continuously challenges global networks of researchers who want to push boundaries and take risks. We convene the world’s greatest minds to solve the most pressing, complex questions facing science and humanity. We bring in promising early-career researchers to ensure that the freshest, boldest thinking is at the heart of our work. We support interdisciplinary and deeply collaborative fundamental research that inspires new directions of inquiry, builds new knowledge, and yields breakthroughs across borders and disciplines. We stick with ideas over the long term if they yield positive results, always insisting on intellectual renewal and rigorously assessing outcomes. We minimize red tape and value nimbleness.
Our global community of researchers has transformed the world around us — from launching a revolution in artificial intelligence (AI) to changing how we understand the critical early years of human life. Today, CIFAR is a global powerhouse, enabling researchers to generate exciting new ideas, insights and knowledge that improve lives and help ensure a better future for generations to come. Partnerships with other research organizations, foundations, corporations, media, philanthropists and governments are critical for amplifying our impact.
The work conducted in CIFAR programs contributes to a platform of robust, reliable knowledge that can feed new technologies, processes and public policy. In an era when the very concept of ‘fact’ is widely disputed, when scientific knowledge is treated as just another opinion, CIFAR’s work is more important than ever.
More than 1,000 researchers from over 30 countries have contributed to our research programs over the years as fellows, advisors, Canada CIFAR AI Chairs, and CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars. Our community of researchers is regularly recognized with major research awards, including the Nobel Prize, the Turing Award, the Breakthrough Prize, and the Körber European Science Prize.
Every year, we welcome over 3,000 international policy makers, scholars, and citizens to our workshops, symposia, and public events.
Nearly 40 years later, our focus still centres on bringing together the world’s best scholars and scientists to address high-risk, important, and complex questions. We have also expanded to include the development of future research leaders, knowledge mobilization, and leadership of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy.
As our organization has evolved, so has our name. Today, CIFAR (pronounced “see-far”) symbolizes the global, interdisciplinary, and unbounded nature of the challenges we address.
From kickstarting the revolution in artificial intelligence that powers the modern world to catalyzing research that shows how full-day kindergarten maximizes a child’s potential, CIFAR continues to have a profound impact on the world.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Actively manage a portfolio of donors and prospective donors, focused largely on individuals and family foundations at the principal gift level ($500K+).
- Meet strategic, financial and activity objectives in support of departmental and organizational goals.
- Conduct donor visits that build long-term relationships and identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward investments in CIFAR’s impact, with equal comfort acting both independently, as well as with colleagues, researchers or volunteers.
- Grow CIFAR’s base of support by identifying prospective donors through personal knowledge of the donor base, assessing connections to the organization and through work with volunteers, colleagues and researchers, providing leadership in evaluating capacity and alignment.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner for gift officers and programmatic partners developing and executing strategies for cultivation, proposal development, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Employ imaginative and innovative approaches, creating new giving opportunities that inspire increased support from existing donors and first-time support from prospective donors.
- Draft compelling and strategic communications (emails, briefing notes, proposals, stewardship reports) and engagement opportunities for donors, prospects and volunteers.
- Effectively engage and coach senior-level volunteers in activities that include identifying prospective donors, securing meetings, and closing and stewarding gifts.
- Provide leadership by actively coaching the Manager, Annual Giving and Manager, Foundations and Major Giving to success through ongoing feedback, annual performance management, and by supporting opportunities for professional development.
- Develop and implement annual and multi-year plans and strategies to achieve transformational growth.
- Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail for follow-up and stewardship of donors, including ensuring that information is accurate and up to date in the database.
- Actively engage with donors to understand their charitable and financial goals and prepare proposals for lifetime and planned gifts that best accomplish donor goals.
- Participate as a member of the Advancement team, collaborating with colleagues and playing a lead role in helping to raise the sights of what can be achieved.
- Establish and maintain first-class working relationships with CIFAR’s larger team, especially Research, Communications, and Finance, by establishing trust, respect, and rapport within a professional working relationship.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
- Relevant and progressive experience in fundraising and gift planning, especially in a major gift role with a demonstrated track record of success cultivating, closing and stewarding six-figure-plus gifts.
- University degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field.
- Knowledge and understanding of best practices in relationship development and major gift fundraising.
- Dynamic communicator with the ability to create compelling communications that strengthen relationships, convey impact, and secure philanthropic commitments.
- Exceptional written communication skills with the ability to tailor messages and proposals for diverse audiences.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong, effective relationships with donors, volunteers and colleagues that achieve goals.
- Strategic vision and leadership skills.
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to coach, motivate and engage others.
- Understanding of the philanthropic community, with deep knowledge of the Canadian philanthropic landscape considered an asset.
- Keen understanding of current finance and accounting principles and regulations in the not-for-profit sector.
- Demonstrated ability to work and interact with a diverse population while respecting cultural and linguistic differences and fostering an inclusive work environment.
- Organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects while delivering quality service and achieving business results.
- Direct experience working with planned giving donors, developing strategies and promoting planned giving vehicles is an asset.
- Experienced using databases as a key tool for building relationships; familiarity with Salesforce is an asset.
- Experience with a philanthropic campaign is an asset.
We encourage individuals to apply even if they do not meet every listed qualification, as long as you have a genuine interest in the opportunity and possess relevant experience or skills.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jill Anderson, Associate Vice-President, Search + Talent, by email at CIFAR-SD@kcitalent.com.
To view full position brief, please visit www.kcitalent.com
Interested candidates should send their resume and a letter of interest to the email address listed above by April 8, 2025. All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.
The target hiring range for this position is $160,000 – $175,000 and CIFAR offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a pension plan.
CIFAR is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Ensuring that every person feels valued and welcome, regardless of age, education, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, parental status/responsibility, immigration status, Indigenous status, religion, disability, language, race, place of origin, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic status, and other attributes is vital to achieving our mission.
CIFAR is committed to providing accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities. Please let the Search Consultant know the nature of any accommodation that you may require.
