Director, Development (Cultivation and Principal Gifts)

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 118,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster University seeks a Director, Development Principal Gifts & Cultivation to play a central role in identifying, cultivating and advancing McMaster’s significant philanthropic relationships and opportunities.

Reporting to the Vice-President, University Advancement, the Director will build a robust pipeline of principal-gift prospects and craft thoughtful cultivation strategies to move opportunities from identification through to successful completion.

Qualifications

• University degree required.
• CFRE designation is considered an asset.
• Master’s degree is an asset.
• Proven track record of success in securing $1M+ gifts.
• Minimum of 8 years demonstrated experience in major giving fundraising.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate and advance McMaster’s principal and transformational gifts.
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of major-gift prospects.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to position opportunities for transformational philanthropy.
• Develop thoughtful cultivation strategies and guide opportunities from identification to closure.
• Lead and mentor high-performing donor-centered development professionals.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Donor relationships

Communication

Leadership

Data analytics

Education

University degree

CFRE desirable

Master’s degree desirable

Job description

Director, Development (Cultivation and Principal Gifts)

Regular/Temporary

Regular

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

2026/11/09

Job Type

Continuing

Close Date

2026/11/24

Employee Group

TMG

Favorite Job

Department

UA Office of the VP, Univ Adv

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Salary Grade/Band

Band N

Salary Range

$118078.00 - $177116.00 (annual)

Job Code

006169

Hiring Range

$118078.00 - $154829.00

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Newly Created Position

Target Number of Openings

1

35

Job Description

About McMaster University

At McMaster University, we are driven by a shared purpose: advancing human and societal health and wellbeing. Through world-class research, transformative education and meaningful community impact, we are addressing some of the world’s most complex challenges and creating positive change locally and globally.

Consistently ranked among Canada’s leading universities and recognized internationally for research excellence, innovation and student success, McMaster is home to more than 37,000 students, over 200,000 alumni worldwide, and a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, learners and partners.

As McMaster looks to the future, philanthropy will play an increasingly important role in enabling the University’s ambitions. Through meaningful partnerships with donors, alumni, foundations, corporations and community leaders, McMaster is creating opportunities to accelerate discovery, enhance the student experience, support breakthrough research and strengthen its impact on society.

About University Advancement

University Advancement connects McMaster’s mission and priorities with the alumni, donors and partners who help bring them to life.

Through fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship, advancement services and strategic partnerships, University Advancement builds meaningful relationships that strengthen the University and create lasting impact.

The division is entering an exciting period of growth and opportunity as McMaster prepares for the next phase of its fundraising ambitions. University Advancement is strengthening fundraising capacity, deepening donor engagement, building the pipeline for transformational philanthropy and advancing a coordinated, University-wide approach to campaign success.

The Opportunity

McMaster University is seeking an accomplished and highly collaborative fundraising leader to join University Advancement as Director, Development Principal Gifts & Cultivation.

Reporting to the Vice-President, University Advancement, the Director will play a central role in identifying, cultivating and advancing McMaster’s most significant philanthropic relationships and opportunities.

Working closely with McMaster leadership, including the Vice-President, University Advancement, the Associate Vice-Presidents, Pan-University Advancement; academic leaders; and other partners across the University, the Director will help build and manage a strong pipeline of principal-gift prospects and create thoughtful cultivation strategies that position McMaster for transformational philanthropy.

The Director will bring together institutional priorities, donor interests and relationships across McMaster to help shape compelling opportunities for support and help drive philanthropic opportunities forward from identification through to successful completion. They will work collaboratively with academic leaders and partners across the University, bringing a University-wide perspective to opportunities that may span multiple academic areas, research priorities and institutional initiatives.

This is a highly relational and strategic role requiring sound judgement, sophisticated fundraising expertise, executive presence and an ability to navigate complex relationships across a large, decentralized institution.

Why McMaster

This is an opportunity to join McMaster at an important moment in the University’s evolution and help shape the philanthropic relationships that will enable its future.

The Director, Principal Gifts & Cultivation will have the opportunity to work across McMaster’s extraordinary breadth of research, education and societal impact, partnering directly with senior University leaders to cultivate relationships capable of creating transformational change.

For a fundraising leader energized by big ideas, complex relationships and the opportunity to connect philanthropy with meaningful impact, this is an opportunity to help build the next chapter of fundraising at McMaster.

Areas of Focus

• Principal Gifts & Donor Cultivation: Working closely with McMaster leadership, the Director will support the identification, cultivation and advancement of McMaster’s most significant philanthropic relationships and opportunities, with a particular focus on principal and transformational gifts.
  Strategic Partnership with Senior Leadership: The Director will work closely with the Vice-President, University Advancement and senior leaders across McMaster to advance priority donor relationships and philanthropic opportunities.

University-Wide Fundraising & Campaign Leadership: The Director will bring a University-wide perspective to principal-gift opportunities and help build the pipeline required to support McMaster’s future campaign ambitions.

• Collaboration & Fundraising Excellence: Success in this role will depend on the Director’s ability to influence, convene and create alignment across a complex and highly collaborative environment.

Qualifications

Education

A University degree

• CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) designation is considered an asset
• A Master’s degree is an asset

Experience

• Proven track record of success in securing $1M and above complex gifts
• Minimum of 8 years demonstrated experience in major giving fundraising, preferably within the post-secondary system

Experience leading and managing teams of high-performing, donor-centred development professionals

Knowledge/Skills

• Must have the following skills and abilities:
• Vision, and the ability to think strategically with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset
• Superior skills in critical analysis, judgement, decision-making, building effective relationships, and communications (oral, facilitation and written);
• High level of initiative, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent judgement and discretion
• Deep understanding of the mission of a research-intensive university
• Superior skills in human resources, volunteer and budget management, with strong financial acumen and comfort with data analytics
• High level of comfort and credibility working with senior academic leaders, as well as donors and volunteers
• Ability to work at the highest strategic levels of the Faculty or Administrative Office/Unit(s), to gain and maintain the trust of senior academic leadership and supporters and also take strategy and move it through to tactics and action
• Experience staffing senior leaders on fundraising visits
• Ability to navigate and be effective within a complex organization that values collaboration in addition to individuality and creativity
• Superior skills and knowledge in attracting and maintaining relationships with donors and supporters
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills; writing winning proposals and associated development materials and correspondence
• Donor-centred and goal-oriented with a reputation for integrity and transparency
• Competencies to understanding tax legislation and the philanthropic landscape
• Strong skills with computers and relational donor databases (Advance)

Must be knowledgeable about

• University Advancement policies and procedures
• McMaster University policies and guidelines
• Canadian Revenue Agency regulations regarding Charitable Giving

Pay Transparency Statement

The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.

Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.