Associate Director, Principal Gifts & Strategic Initiatives
THE OPPORTUNITY
CIFAR is seeking an Associate Director, Principal Gifts & Strategic Initiatives to help manage and drive overall strategy and tactics in support of transformational gifts of $1M+ and a future campaign. With a history that spans over 40 years as a global leader in the research community, CIFAR provides donors with compelling opportunities to support innovation and growth.
Reporting to the Vice President, Advancement, the Associate Director will support the Advancement team’s work to strengthen relationships with existing donors and inspire prospective donors to support CIFAR’s ambitious impact agenda. Responsible for devising and implementing effective approaches to engage the CIFAR community, guiding strategies to secure 7- and 8-figure gifts, and delivering an excellent donor experience, the Associate Director will increase the overall level of rigour in principal gift development and donor relations, using excellent project management skills to ensure dynamic portfolio management, proposal development, cultivation planning and data management to support significant growth.
Highly strategic and self-motivated with the ability to build unity around organizational objectives, the Associate Director will collaborate effectively with colleagues, organizational leadership and senior volunteers to deliver on short, medium and long-term Advancement goals.
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 Associate Director. Additionally, please note that while the new Associate Director will not have personal frontline development goals, past experience as a major gift officer is desired and will support success.
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 Associate Director can expect 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
● Manage strategic oversight and task management of the top prospect portfolio for the Advancement team.
● Partner with the Vice President, Advancement and gift officers to plan, implement, manage, and evaluate strategies, initiatives, and projects designed to enhance and advance principal gift donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, successfully moving projects and relationships forward.
● Assist in the execution of prospect/donor strategies for cultivation, proposal development, solicitation, and stewardship, and serve as a strategic thought partner for gift officers and programmatic partners.
● Support pipeline workflow to guarantee timely completion of tasks and assignments along with proposal tracking within the 12-month and 3-year planning cycles, monitoring department productivity to ensure operational challenges are addressed in a timely manner.
● Maintain and track the overall principal gift portfolio strategies and next steps, reporting monthly on updates, moves, and needed assistance.
● Assist with strategic engagement opportunities for VIP donors.
● Work closely with the Vice President to strategically support all aspects of campaign planning, execution, and management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and maximizing impact.
● Interact with donors in person, by phone, and/or through written communication in a manner that builds engagement and support.
● Manage a variety of other key tasks and projects as assigned in support of building and advancing donors’ relationships, including the provision of data analytics, project management, and strategic writing support as required.
● Utilize exceptional writing skills with a commitment to accuracy and attention to detail to complete proposals and other donor communications.
● Create supporting documents such as constituent data, reports, action item follow-up, and other materials for pipeline and Board meetings.
● Maintain excellent relationships with CIFAR’s larger team, with a focus on Research, Communications, and Finance, by establishing trust, respect, and rapport within a professional working relationship.
● Work with the Vice President to support the engagement of Board members and other senior volunteers to ensure they are supported and effectively utilized to support Principal giving and optimum donor relations.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
● Progressive experience in fundraising, with a demonstrated track record of success in cultivating, closing and stewarding major gifts.
● Experience supporting fundraising activity in a university, research or hospital environment is a definite asset.
● University degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
● Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to manage multiple, varied, and ongoing projects simultaneously.
● Organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects while delivering quality service and achieving business results.
● Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to work cross-functionally and in partnership with colleagues and volunteers to achieve goals.
● Highly strategic with strong creative thinking skills to help develop and implement solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
● Experience supporting a philanthropic campaign is an asset.
● Knowledge of general finance and accounting principles and regulations related to the non-profit sector.
● Experience using databases as a key tool for building relationships; familiarity with Salesforce is an asset.
● Understanding of the philanthropic community, with knowledge of the Canadian philanthropic landscape.
● Analytical with demonstrated skills using data to support evidence-based decision-making.
● Proven ability to train, coach and motivate staff and volunteers.
● Excellent verbal communication skills with proven success using exceptional writing skills to increase revenue.
● Proven ability to work with a diverse population while respecting cultural and linguistic differences and fostering an inclusive work environment.
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-AD@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 30, 2025. All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.
The target hiring range for this position is $100,000 – $128,000 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.
