Associate Director, Advancement, Woodsworth College

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 88,000 - 206,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious Canadian university in Toronto seeks an Associate Director of Advancement for Woodsworth College to lead fundraising and alumni engagement initiatives. The role involves developing strategies to enhance financial support, cultivating major donors, and overseeing related operations. Candidates must have significant fundraising experience and a commitment to inclusivity and equity.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years direct fundraising experience in a complex organization.
• Experience in management and directing the work of others.
• Demonstrated success in organizing complex programs and events.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement fundraising and alumni engagement strategies.
• Cultivate and solicit major gifts from prospects.
• Engage alumni and friends through events and programs.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Leadership skills

Client service orientation

Analytical and planning skills

Education

University degree

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

Arbor or similar database management system

Job description

Associate Director, Advancement, Woodsworth College

Date Posted: 09/19/2025
Req ID: 45228
Faculty/Division: Woodsworth College
Department: Woodsworth College
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00027354

Description:

The Faculty of Arts & Science is the heart of Canada’s leading university and one of the most comprehensive and diverse academic divisions in the world. The strength of Arts & Science derives from our combined teaching and research excellence in the humanities, sciences and social sciences across 29 departments, seven colleges and 46 interdisciplinary centres, institutes and programs. We can only realize our mission with the dedication and excellence of engaged staff and faculty. The diversity of opportunities and perspectives within the Faculty reflect the local and global landscape and the need for curiosity, innovative thinking and collaboration. At Arts & Science, we take pride in our legacy of innovation and discovery that has changed the way we think about the world.

Founded in 1974, Woodsworth College has become a thriving community of more than 5,500 students. We celebrate excellence in a collegial setting and commit to promoting accessibility and equity. Our mission is to provide the best educational experience for a diverse student body, which includes a large number of part-time and non-traditional students. In addition to being a locus of student life, we sponsor a variety of academic programs.

Dual reporting the Principal of Woodsworth College and the Senior Director, Advancement College Relations, the Associate Director, Advancement is a member of the Woodsworth College Senior Management Team. The incumbent leads and provides strategic direction in all aspects of fundraising, alumni relations and advancement communications for Woodsworth College. The Associate Director, Advancement is responsible for the identification and cultivation of donors at levels above $50,000 and provides leadership in the development and implementation of major gift fundraising programs at Woodsworth College.

As part of the Senior Management Team, the Associate Director’s main responsibilities are to develop, plan and conduct major gift, annual and leadership campaigns, to obtain donations for Woodsworth College’s fundraising priorities from individuals, corporations, and foundations; to assist the Principal in developing initiatives to enhance financial support of Woodsworth College; to direct the process of engaging Woodsworth College alumni and friends in the life of Woodsworth College through special events, volunteerism, and alumni programs with the objective of securing financial support to help fulfill Woodsworth College’s academic mission. The Associate Director will ensure proper stewardship takes place following a gift to maintain the donor's involvement, interest, and support. The Associate Director leads, mentors and guides a team of staff, and is also involved in the training and oversight of volunteers in areas of cultivation and solicitation activities

KEY RESULTS AREAS

• Develop, lead, and implement annual and multi-year plans and strategies to achieve growth in lifting Woodsworth College’s overall fundraising and alumni engagement results and to advance Woodsworth College’s highest academic, strategic and institutional priorities.
• Work closely with Woodsworth College’s academic leadership to translate academic priorities into compelling funding propositions and alumni engagement propositions that create opportunities to advance Woodsworth College’s academic, institutional, and strategic priorities, both within the immediate community of Woodsworth College alumni, friends, and partners, and among broader national and international constituencies.
• Represent Woodsworth College’s priorities and mission to external constituents as an effective, credible institutional leader, persuasively projecting opportunities for engagement and maximizing opportunities for giving. This will include contributing to Woodsworth College’s fundraising performance by assuming personal responsibility for cultivating and soliciting a portfolio of major giving prospects.
• Work closely with the leadership of University Advancement to ensure alignment with the University’s best practices for fundraising and alumni relations programs, compliance with relevant University and Provostial guidelines and policies, collegial and collaborative engagement with other University advancement programs, and to take full advantage of the broad range of Division of University Advancement (DUA) services and supports for the benefit of Woodsworth College’s advancement programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

EDUCATION:

A University degree, or an equivalent combination of education with advancement experience is required.

EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience with direct fundraising experience and a proven track record of executive advancement responsibility and leadership in annual, major and planned giving programs in a large complex organization, preferably in an educational or medical institution.
• Experience in organizing complex programs and events.
• Experience in management capacity and directing the work of others.
• Highly knowledgeable and experienced in both Woodsworth and traditional channels of revenue generation.
• Demonstrated strong client service orientation and experience fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

SKILLS:

• Proficient with and demonstrated experience working with Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience working with Arbor or a similar database management system.
• Demonstrated strategic conceptualization, analytical and planning skills.
• Knowledge of current trends as they relate to duties and responsibilities of the role.

OTHER:

• Vision, the ability to think and plan strategically, and a creative, entrepreneurial spirit.
• Demonstrated experience and success managing, motivating, and mentoring volunteers and advancement professionals, bringing out the best in teams and individuals.
• The ability to mentor, coach, motivate and inspire colleagues and volunteers.
• High level of initiative, maturity, tact and diplomacy; excellent judgement and discretion.
• A deep understanding of and sympathy for the mission of an academic and research-intensive university
• Genuine interest and commitment to inclusivity and social justice
• The ability to serve as an articulate, credible representative of the University with diverse constituencies and particularly with the sophisticated individuals who support the institution.
• The ability to understand the research and teaching dimensions of a proposed project, to conceptualize them in an integrated proposal, and to make a compelling case to a donor for philanthropic support.
• An engaging personal style, a sincere interest in people, patience, a willingness to listen, and the capacity to engender trust and to establish lasting relationships.
• Reputation for integrity, openness, decisiveness, and sound judgement.
• Passionate about creating accessible, equitable and inclusive programs and initiatives.
• Promotes values that advance equity, diversity, inclusion, respect, and civility in the workplace.
• A high level of comfort interacting with academic leaders as well as donors and volunteers.
• The ability to navigate and be effective within a complex matrix organization that values collaboration and teamwork as well as individual initiative and creativity.
• Excellent attention to detail and superb organizational skills, including the ability to set principal gift fundraising goals and to establish an internal system for meeting deadlines, tracking, follow-up, monitoring, and reporting of progress.
• Ability to work in a hectic and results-oriented environment with a strong focus on results; ability to meet deadlines and budgets.

Closing Date: 09/30/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Salaried
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
1AP -- Broadband Salary Range: $88,957 - $205,288
Job Category: Administrative / Managerial
Recruiter: Kylie Diep

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].