Manager, Major Gifts

Association of Fundraising Professionals; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading youth mental health organization in Toronto seeks a Manager, Major Gifts to cultivate and manage a portfolio of major donors. The role focuses on fundraising of $50,000+, requiring strong communication and strategic skills. Ideal candidates bring 3-5 years of experience in fundraising and a commitment to youth mental health. The position offers a salary of $70,000–$80,000 and a hybrid work environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible work culture

Additional paid time off for winter and summer closures

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising.
• Proven track record of securing gifts of $50,000 and above.
• Familiarity with planned giving concepts and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead a personal portfolio with a revenue target of $600,000.
• Develop customized cultivation plans for each donor.
• Re-engage lapsed donors with tailored strategies.

Skills

Fundraising experience

Relationship management

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Emotional intelligence

Education

Post-secondary education in fundraising or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

Embark on a transformative journey with Jack.org, where you will play a pivotal role in reshaping youth mental health across Canada. Our mission is to empower young individuals with community, knowledge, and tools to champion mental well‑being. We envision a world where youth experience mental well‑being, not distress. We stand poised and determined for this crucial task, backed by committed donors, visionary leadership, and a high‑performing team eager to drive meaningful change.

Focused on addressing the prevalent issue of mental health distress among youth—particularly those systematically excluded from mental health dialogue and action—we continuously adapt our programming to reflect the diverse realities of young people across Canada. Our approach centers on upstream prevention of mental distress and the promotion of lasting mental well‑being.

As our new Manager, Major Gifts, you will lead a growing portfolio of major donors—cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $50,000 and above. You’ll play a vital role in strengthening Jack.org’s long‑term sustainability and mission impact by engaging individual and family foundation donors with care, strategy, and intention.

Join us in building a healthier future for young people—and supporting the incredible team making it happen every day.

Position: Manager, Major Gifts
Reporting to: Director, Development
Location: Toronto / Hybrid
Salary: $70,000–$80,000
Status: Full-Time, Permanent

About You

• Experienced fundraiser with a proven track record of securing $50K+ gifts from individuals and foundations
• Strategic and relationship-driven, with strong instincts for identifying and engaging major donor prospects
• Confident communicator and storyteller who understands how to inspire generosity through connection and impact

Your Impact

Reporting to the Director of Development, you’ll lead and execute our major gifts strategy, with a focus on growing a portfolio of supporters giving $50,000 or more. You’ll be responsible for securing new gifts, re‑engaging lapsed donors, and stewarding long‑term relationships that support our mission and long‑term sustainability.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Revenue Generation (45%)

• Lead a personal portfolio with a revenue target of $600,000
• Build and manage a strong pipeline of individual and family foundation donors with the capacity to give at the $50,000+ level
• Identify and cultivate new giving communities across Canada
• Develop customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each donor
• Collaborate with the Director and VP to support the role of the Founder and Board members in relationship‑building and fundraising activities

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship (30%)

• Develop and implement stewardship plans to ensure long‑term donor engagement and satisfaction
• Re‑engage lapsed donors with tailored strategies and touchpoints
• Lead the creation of customized proposals and impact reports
• Liaise with senior leadership when needed to deepen relationships

Planned Giving Program Oversight (5%)

• Support the development and execution of a planned giving strategy
• Implement lead generation and stewardship tactics for planned giving prospects
• Collaborate on campaigns that highlight legacy giving opportunities

  Planning and Administration (20%)

  • Support the annual budget and planning process for the major gifts portfolio
  • Maintain accurate and timely records in Salesforce
  • Represent the Development team internally and externally
  • Track and analyze portfolio performance, flagging risks or deviations

  Desired Skills and Competencies

  • Post‑secondary education in fundraising, sales, communications, or related field
  • 3‑5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising or sales, with a proven track record of closing $50K+ gifts
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Strategic thinking and entrepreneurial mindset
  • Deep relationship‑building ability, with emotional intelligence and professionalism
  • Familiarity with planned giving concepts and best practices
  • Experience with Salesforce or other CRM platforms
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
  • CFRE designation and French language skills are assets

  What’s in it for you?

  • A full‑time, permanent position with a salary of $70,000–$80,000 per annum
  • A competitive, comprehensive benefits package
  • An opportunity to grow your fundraising career while making a real difference in youth mental health
  • A flexible, trust‑based culture with uncapped mental health/sick days and flex hours
  • Additional paid time off during winter and summer office closures for collective rest
  • A collaborative, mission‑driven environment with passionate, high‑performing colleagues
  • A chance to build meaningful relationships and drive philanthropic support that powers national impact

  How to apply

  If you’re the person we’re looking for, apply with your cover letter and resume (PDF format preferred). The successful candidate must be able to start as soon as possible.

  While the work involves supporting a network of youth in all provinces and territories, this position is based at Jack.org’s headquarters in downtown Toronto (hybrid work, across home and office).

  At Jack.org, we strongly believe that having a diverse team with various skills and abilities will inspire creativity and drive innovation in our organization. We are committed to building a team representative of different backgrounds and perspectives, and we encourage applications from all candidates who represent the full diversity of communities across Canada.

  Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that equity‑deserving communities— including women, people of colour, people from the LGBTQ2S+ communities, and people with diverse abilities — are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification. At Jack.org, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic, and accountable workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply.

  Reasonable accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the hiring process. Accommodation requests can be made by contacting [e-mail].

  Thanks for applying! 💙