Associate Vice President, Major and Transformational Giving

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 160,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is seeking an experienced AVP of Major & Transformational Gifts to lead a 25+-person fundraising team and drive a historic campaign. You will steward high-value donors, partner with PMCF and UHN leadership, and work across clinical and research units to optimize major gift strategies.

Reporting to the VP, Campaign & Development, you will shape strategy, expand the donor portfolio, and ensure high-impact revenue growth for a landmark cancer care program.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in progressive leadership roles in major gift fundraising.
• Minimum 5-7 years of people leadership experience.
• Experience cultivating transformational gifts ($5M+) is an asset.
• Exceptional relationship management with donors, families and advisors.
• Experience in healthcare/academic environments preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic fundraising and operational leadership for the Major & Transformational Gifts team.
• Manage a portfolio of major ($1M+) and transformational ($5M+) gift prospects/donors.
• Lead, coach and motivate a team of fundraisers to achieve goals.
• Support leadership and volunteers in the development of transformational gifts.
• Collaborate across units to align strategies and donor experience with goals.
• Mentor staff and foster an inclusive, IDEAA-aligned culture.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

People leadership

Relationship management

Strategic planning

Donor stewardship

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

At The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF), our vision is to create a world free from the fear of cancer. Cancer remains the number one cause of death for Canadians and our top priority is to accelerate cancer research and care.

Our role is to garner support for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, one of the world’s leading cancer research and treatment centres, through philanthropy, fundraising events, and our world-renowned lottery program. The work we accomplish drives groundbreaking research, relentless innovation, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of cancer patients and their loved ones.

Now, we have an opportunity to blaze an even brighter future for everyone affected by cancer.

We will Carry The Fire for cancer patients everywhere, lighting the way forward through discovery, reigniting our commitment to transform cancer outcomes and ease the profound suffering cancer causes patients and their loved ones.

At the PMCF, every one of us carries the fire for someone else. Join us as we inspire a movement and help us achieve our vision to change the way we understand, diagnose, and treat cancer.

Job Description

Union: Non-Union

Site: 700 University Avenue

Department: Major and Transformational Giving

Reports to: Vice President, Campaign & Development

Hours: 35 hours

Hiring Range: $160,000 - $220,000 (plus other compensation elements such as bonus, pension, and more)

Status: Permanent, Full Time

Vacancy: New

Posted Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Closing Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026

As we prepare to launch a historic, comprehensive fundraising campaign for The Princess Margaret, we are seeking an engaged, strategic and results-driven leader to help lead and grow the Major and Transformational Gifts program. Reporting to the Vice President, Campaign & Development, and working closely with the Chief Development Officer, the Associate Vice President, Major & Transformational Gifts (the AVP) will set the pace for the team and provide leadership to a talented group of direct reports, including major gift fundraisers, and contribute to strategy and operations across a broader team of 25+ fundraising professionals. In addition to managing a personal portfolio of major and transformational gift donors and prospects, the AVP will be a collaborative team player and an effective resource for colleagues, helping Major Gifts staff devise, communicate and execute strategies that will inspire giving.

With superb relationship management skills and a deep commitment to stewardship, the AVP will strengthen relationships with donors and prospects, leaders across The Princess Margaret and UHN. In addition, the AVP will collaborate closely with leadership, clinicians and researchers from across The Princess Margaret and UHN; PMCF Board members; senior campaign volunteers; and other colleagues in achieving their goals and mandate.

The AVP will focus their time, attention, and efforts in the following areas:

• In close collaboration with the Vice President, Campaign and Development, provide strategic fundraising and operational leadership for the Major & Transformational Gifts team
• Manage a dedicated portfolio of major ($1,000,000-$4,999,999) and transformational ($5,000,000+) gift prospects/donors, generating fundraising revenue toward our ambitious fundraising goals, and driving results on an annual basis and for the duration of the campaign
• Lead, motivate, coach and inspire a team of direct and/or indirect reports to achieve and surpass their individual and collective goals
• Support PMCF leadership, staff and volunteers in the development and execution of transformational gifts
• Support various elements of business development, strategic planning and operations, including staff recruitment and retention, professional development, budget planning, reporting, and the establishment, monitoring and achievement of fundraising goals and non-financial metrics
• Provide mentorship and guidance in major giving for a growing and high-performing Major & Transformational Gifts team, contributing to overall team culture and performance
• Work collaboratively across business units (such as Campaign, Stewardship & Donor Experience, Estates & Gift Planning, Community & Corporate Partnerships, and Leadership & Annual Giving) to ensure strategies and plans are aligned; contribute to strong cross-business supporter engagement; enable an exceptional supporter experience; and foster revenue generation opportunities within and outside of the immediate portfolio
• Promote a culture of philanthropy across The PMCF, The Princess Margaret and UHN

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in progressive leadership roles in major gift fundraising, with a proven track record of independently securing $1M+ gifts
• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience as a people leader, including of fundraising staff
• Experience in successfully cultivating, soliciting and stewarding transformational ($5M+) gifts is an asset
• Exceptional relationship management skills, including agility in navigating complex dynamics with donors, their families, and professional advisors
• Demonstrated success engaging, motivating and supporting senior volunteers to advance major and transformational gift fundraising goals
• Experience working in complex healthcare and/or academic environments is preferred
• A bachelor’s degree or higher, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience
• Strong understanding of the Canadian philanthropic landscape
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, clinicians, researchers, and other colleagues
• Strong and consistently demonstrated alignment with the values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (IDEAA)

Additional Information

We believe that the way we work together is just as important as what we accomplish. By making choices and taking actions that align with our values, we achieve greater success, and our work lives become happier and more meaningful.

At The PMCF, we strive to foster a culture built on Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE). Central to these values is our commitment to IDEAA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism.

What you can expect from working at The PMCF:

• A sense of purpose that you won’t get anywhere else. You will be making a difference for millions of people impacted by cancer
• An open-minded and friendly culture that encourages you to bring your best ideas forward
• A hybrid work environment that fosters collaboration and teamwork. Our in-office days are Tuesday, Thursday, and one other day per week in office, or as required subject to business needs

UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity and welcome all applicants including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC, persons with disabilities and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position.