Director of Development at Hillel Ontario

hillel; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillel Ontario is seeking a Director of Development to lead fundraising initiatives, cultivate donor relationships, and grow annual campaigns across campuses. You will report to the VP of Advancement and drive revenue growth while championing a culture of philanthropy within the organization.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of fundraising experience, strong strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills to empower campus professionals, engage alumni, and secure significant

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of progressive fundraising experience.
• Strong donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship track record.
• Experience managing major gifts campaigns and donor relationships.

Responsibilities

• Steward and solicit a portfolio of donors and major gifts.
• Develop and execute annual fundraising plans and campaigns.
• Collaborate with campus professionals and leadership to grow revenue.
• Prepare grant proposals and manage donor databases and reporting.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Major gifts

Campaign management

CRM systems

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Director of Development

Hillel Ontario

About Hillel Ontario

Hillel Ontario is a recognized leader in the international Hillel movement, serving more than 14,000 Jewish students across nine universities and amplifying vibrant Jewish campus life across the province. We centralize organizational expertise so our campus professionals can focus on student engagement, leadership development, learning, advocacy, and building meaningful community connections.

Hillel embraces religious and political diversity, supporting a broad spectrum of identities through innovative programming, immersive experiences, and student leadership development. We empower the next generation of Jewish leaders to make an enduring impact on Jewish life, Israel, and the world.

Role Overview

The Director of Development will play a key role in advancing Hillel Ontario's fundraising strategy. Reporting to VP, Advancement, you will cultivate and steward donors, help grow annual campaigns, and inspire investment by connecting passionate donors and stakeholders to our mission and ensure that they feel inspired, valued, and engaged every step of the way.

We're seeking a strategic, relationship-driven advancement professional who is passionate about strengthening Jewish life on campus. You are a seasoned fundraising leader and collaborative self-starter who brings strategic thinking, creativity, and strong follow-through to building meaningful donor relationships and driving revenue growth.

If you thrive in a mission-driven organization, lead with care, creativity, and flexibility, and bring a genuine passion for community impact, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Relations and Solicitation

• Steward and solicit a portfolio of donors, conducting face-to-face cultivation, relationship management, and direct gift asks.
• Perform prospect research to prepare and execute on your own portfolio of donors.
• Engage in outreach to parents and alumni and build and steward long-term donor relationships through meaningful recognition and engagement programs.

Campaigns, Community Engagement & Fundraising Culture

• Drive annual campaign fundraising efforts in collaboration with the Advancement team.
• Collaboratively execute an annual fundraising plan and calendar designed to grow fundraising reach year over year.
• Plan and execute select donor and community events, creating meaningful opportunities to connect current and prospective donors with Hillel Ontario's students, campuses, and impact.
• Champion a culture of philanthropy across Hillel Ontario, fostering creativity, collaboration, accountability, and shared ownership of fundraising success.
• Identify and pursue new revenue streams, grant opportunities, and organizational partnerships.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to campus professionals on identifying, prospecting, cultivating, and engaging parents, alumni, and other potential supporters.
• Develop tools that empower non-development staff to build authentic relationships that translate into philanthropic support.
• Domestic travel will be required to visit campuses and their communities.

Grants and Operations

• Research, prepare, and submit grant proposals; manage grant relationships and reporting.
• Maintain in partnership with the development team the donor database management (Little Green Light), gift processing, acknowledgment, and monthly benchmark reporting.
• Work in partnership with the Digital team to ensure that all fundraising materials are on brand and represent Hillel Ontario as a reputable, sophisticated, data driven organization that is worthy of significant philanthropic investment.
• Analyze campaign data, donor trends, and fundraising outcomes to continuously inform strategy.

What You've Accomplished

• A Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, or advancement, with demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and campaign management.
• Proven success cultivating and soliciting major gifts and building long-term relationships with donors and key stakeholders.
• Experience developing and executing annual, major gift, capital, or other fundraising campaigns across multiple channels.
• Strong proficiency with donor management and CRM systems, with the ability to use data, reporting, and financial information to inform fundraising strategy.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor-facing communications and articulate organizational impact.

What You'll Bring to the Job

• A proactive, self-motivated approach with strong initiative, sound judgment, and a commitment to excellence.
• A relationship-first mindset and the ability to build trust with donors, colleagues, and community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tell compelling stories and inspire action.
• A collaborative leadership style, with the humility, flexibility, and patience to thrive in a