Senior Philanthropy Leader

Alberta Cancer Foundation; Calgary; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alberta Cancer Foundation in Alberta is seeking a Senior Philanthropy Leader to advance a regional major gifts program from our Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. You will balance personal fundraising, regional strategy design and execution while building a high-performing team to drive revenue growth and deepen donor relationships.

This role partners with clinicians, researchers and site leadership to create coordinated donor engagement under a one-Foundation approach, ensuring

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• Proven record of cultivating and soliciting major gifts.
• Experience in planning and executing capital and comprehensive campaigns.
• Experience leading or mentoring staff.
• Solid knowledge of ethics and best practices in fundraising.
• CFRE designation is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of donor databases and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage a regional major gifts program and donor pipeline.
• Lead and develop a high-performing regional fundraising team.
• Partner with clinicians, researchers and leadership to grow revenue.
• Oversee donor engagement, stewardship, and timely follow-up.
• Translate organizational strategy into actionable team plans.
• Ensure coordination and coverage aligned to Foundation priorities.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor relations

Campaign planning

Team leadership

CRM (Salesforce)

Ethical fundraising

CFRE designation (asset)

Education

Post-secondary degree in Business/Marketing/Communications or equivalent

CFRE designation (asset)

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Make a Meaningful Impact in the Lives of Albertans

At the Alberta Cancer Foundation, we exist to create more hope and more moments for Albertans facing cancer, no matter where they live or the type of cancer they’re facing. But we can’t do it alone. It is the collective actions of our team – alongside our volunteers, partners and donors that are pivotal to ensuring every Albertan facing cancer has the support they need and the treatment they deserve, now and into the future.

Opportunity

Are you a leader that brings out the best in your team and champions their success?

Do you want a leader that brings out the best in you and champions your success?

Do you want to be innovative and have the autonomy to strive for big wins while you grow?

Do you want to work with leaders in business, healthcare, fundraising, and community?

Do you value an environment where trust and flexibility ensure work-life balance?

Do you believe in a culture where having fun together & delivering results is possible?

Do you know someone affected by cancer and driven to make a difference?

IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO THESE QUESTIONS, THIS OPPORTUNITY IS WORTH EXPLORING...

Reporting to the AVP, Philanthropy, this key leadership role will be critical in the delivery of the Foundation’s fundraising strategy and be a pivotal member of the supportive and high-performing provincial major gifts team.

Based in our new, world-class cancer facility, The Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Senior Philanthropy Leader is responsible for advancing an integrated, regional major gifts program. Never the same day twice, this position balances personal fundraising, regional strategy design and execution, and team leadership to drive revenue growth and deepen donor relationships. They will lead and develop a high-performing team and play a critical role in building a strong, sustainable culture of philanthropy across the cancer centre.

This role also serves as a strategic partner to internal stakeholders, fostering collaboration across clinical, research, and leadership teams, and contributing to a coordinated, “one-Foundation” approach to donor engagement.

In collaboration with the Philanthropy team, this role is responsible for building and stewarding key internal and external relationships, ensuring strong visibility, coordination, and coverage aligned to Foundation priorities.

How You’ll Contribute

Revenue Generation

• Manage a personal portfolio of major and transformational gift prospects and donors, with a focus on gifts of $50K+ and active pipeline development
• Develop and execute regional major gifts strategies aligned to Foundation priorities and provincial direction set by the VP and AVP, translating strategy into actionable plans.
• Build and maintain a strong regional pipeline to support both major gift activity and future transformational opportunities, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors
• Lead and support the development of compelling donor strategies and proposals, aligning donor interests with institutional priorities
• Cultivate new donor networks and expand relationships at the major and transformational gift level
• Partner with physicians, researchers, grateful patients, and site leadership to advance fundraising opportunities and foster a culture of philanthropy
• Provide exceptional donor experience through high-quality engagement, stewardship, and timely follow-up
• Support and contribute to transformational gift and partnership strategies in collaboration with the AVP, particularly through prospect development and local relationship activation
  

Leadership

• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to a regional team, including development of individual targets and fundraising strategies
• Foster a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and continuous development
• Lead by example in building a safe, supportive and inclusive team dynamic
• Support team members in building and managing their portfolios across mid-level, leadership, and major gifts
• Remove barriers and provide guidance to enable team success in achieving revenue and activity targets
• Oversight of Philanthropy Coordinator and Philanthropy Officer(s) and their respective site coverage, ensuring a welcoming environment for donors and guests and appropriate site management.
  

Strategic Development & Administration

• Translate organizational strategy into clear, actionable plans for team members; monitor progress toward goals and targets

• Monitor and evaluate progress towards goals, adjusting plans to drive performance and results

• Support team members in building and managing their portfolios across mid-level, leadership, and major gifts
• Promote consistency in prospect management, donor experience, and CRM best practices across the team
• Identify and address operational barriers and apply a continuous improvement mindset to enable efficient team performance
• Contribute subject matter expertise to cross-functional initiatives and organizational projects

What You’ll Bring to the Team

• A post-secondary degree in a relevant discipline, including Business, Marketing, Communications, and/or combination of education, experience and training acceptable to the Foundation.
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience and a proven record of successful cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, including five- and six-figure contributions, with exposure to supporting larger transformational gifts
• Experience in planning and execution of capital and comprehensive campaigns.
• Demonstrated experience leading or mentoring staff and contributing to the development of high-performing teams
• Solid knowledge of ethical principles and best practices relating to fundraising, prospect research, donor relations and communications
• CFRE Designation is considered an asset
• Previous experience and familiarity with Salesforce or equivalent donor database management systems and Microsoft Office suite.
• Knowledge of CRA, Federal and Provincial laws as they pertain to charitable work
• Knowledge of healthcare environment considered an asset
• Clear Background Check
• Driver’s License & access to personal vehicle
  

Why Join the Alberta Cancer Foundation?

We offer a flexible, supportive workplace where your well-being matters—along with a competitive compensation package, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work alongside a passionate, mission-driven team.

This posting will remain open until September 28, 2026