As the world’s leading animal photojournalism agency, We Animals (WA) advocates for animals through photojournalism. Our global investigations and stories expose our complex relationships with animals, create ethical and cultural shifts in society, and empower human capacity for compassion and change. To support our mission, we investigate industries, mentor photographers, operate a stock site to share our visual content, and engage with media and NGO partners to shift attitudes, industries, and policy.

We are seeking a Director of Development to lead and grow our fundraising program. This is a senior leadership role responsible for setting fundraising strategy, driving revenue, and building the systems and relationships required to sustain and scale our work.

This role is both strategic and hands-on. The Director will set direction and lead execution, while building the structure, processes, and executing day-to-day fundraising activities.

Mission Alignment: This role requires more than technical skill; it requires deep philosophical alignment. We Animals is dedicated to ending the use of animals by humans—whether for food, fashion, entertainment, experimentation, or tradition. Please read our Mission, Values, and Purpose carefully before applying to ensure this is the right fit for your professional and personal ethics.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Fundraising Planning (30%)

Develop and lead the annual fundraising strategy, which has a current annual revenue target of $1.7M CAD, with clear KPIs across individual giving, major gifts, grants, and institutional funding
Own revenue forecasting, pipeline development, and performance tracking
Partner with the Executive Director to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy
Lead campaign planning across the year (e.g. year-end, monthly-giving campaigns, lead generation campaigns, annual matching campaigns, and special appeals)
Report monthly to the leadership team and quarterly to the Board on revenue performance and pipeline health

Campaign Leadership & Execution (25%)

Lead fundraising campaigns from planning through execution, including messaging, segmentation, timelines, and performance tracking, with final responsibility for campaign direction and results
Write and review key fundraising materials (appeals, donor communications, campaign briefs), keeping in line with the We Animals voice, tone, and branding.
Work closely with the Marketing & Communications team to integrate fundraising communications into shared planning and content workflows
Continuously assess and improve campaign performance based on results

Grants & Institutional Funding (15%)

Set direction for foundation funding
Work closely with the Executive Director on proposal development and submission processes
Maintain a clear grant pipeline and calendar
Ensure reporting requirements are met, and relationships are maintained

Donor Strategy & Major Gifts (10%)

Set overall donor strategy, including segmentation, stewardship, and growth of the donor pipeline with support from the Donor Engagement Specialist
Support and guide the Donor Engagement Specialist in execution
Identify and support key major donor opportunities in partnership with the Founder & President

Team & Systems Management (15%)

Manage and support the Fundraising team (currently Donor Engagement Specialist)
Ensure CRM integrity and effective use of fundraising systems
Improve internal processes related to donor tracking, reporting, and stewardship

Note: These percentage breakdowns are general and may vary by time of year and the organization’s specific needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

5+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit fundraising at the management level or above, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals within a small team
Strong writing, editing, and English communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, compelling fundraising materials
Management experience with a demonstrated ability to lead and mentor staff, ideally in a remote environment.
Strong understanding of charitable sector rules and regulations, including CRA regulations and US fiscal sponsorship nuances.
Proficiency with CRM/donor database systems and digital fundraising tools. (We use Keela and FundraiseUp.)
Expertise with project management tools (Asana) and the Google Workspace
Values alignment: a demonstrable understanding of, and commitment to, our organizational philosophy regarding animal advocacy. You must be comfortable working in an environment that challenges the status quo of human-animal relationships.
Demonstrated ability to work remotely effectively.
Ability to travel once per year (min.) for our annual team retreat and/or conferences.
Strong assets:
An understanding of animal advocacy and/or photojournalism
Familiarity with the animal advocacy giving landscape
Interest in and experience with AI tools in the nonprofit/fundraising sectors

PERKS OF WORKING WITH US

Flexible hours
Remote work
Three weeks’ paid vacation (prorated based on hours worked) plus an extended holiday closure period
Benefits package
Remote work stipend
Paid training opportunities and professional development allowance
A friendly, funny, talented, and caring team

MORE ABOUT US

We are a federally incorporated non-profit based in Toronto, Canada. We are a small team with 14 staff members (~12.5 FTE), fully remote and distributed across different time zones in North America and Europe. We offer a flexible working schedule, professional development opportunities, and operate with autonomy to support diverse needs and working styles. Visit our website weanimals.org.

HOW TO APPLY

If you’d like to apply for this position, please visit our website and complete our application form by April 26, 2026.

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