Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships

ROLE PURPOSE

The Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships is a senior leadership role responsible for building and leading Connective’s fundraising and philanthropic capacity. Initially operating as a highly engaged individual contributor, the Director will work in close collaboration with Connective’s executive team and a network of external consultants to establish the fundraising infrastructure, donor relationships, and revenue diversification strategy that will support the organization’s long-term growth and mission impact.

This is a foundational role. The Director will build from the ground up establishing systems, cultivating relationships, and developing the case for support that positions Connective as a destination for philanthropic investment. Over time, as Connective’s fundraising activities mature, the role is expected to evolve into the leader of a dedicated philanthropy function with team leadership responsibilities.

REPORTING AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports and is accountable to the Chief Administrative Officer
• Works closely with Connective’s executive leadership team, including the CEO, VP of Communications and VP People & Culture
• Collaborates with the Communications, Strategy, Finance, and operational leaders to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities
• Partners with a network of external fundraising consultants and advisors
• Builds and maintains relationships with corporate, foundation, government, and community partners
• Liaises with internal and external stakeholders in support of the Connective Impact Fund

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of Connective’s fundraising and philanthropy strategy, establishing a multi-year roadmap that diversifies revenue and reduces dependence on any single funding source
• Identify emerging funding opportunities, philanthropic trends, and revenue sources that align with Connective’s mission and strategic direction
• Work in partnership with external consultants to build fundraising infrastructure and benefit from specialist expertise as the internal function matures
• Report regularly to the CAO and executive leadership on fundraising progress, pipeline status, and strategic priorities

Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships

• Advance Connective’s corporate partnership strategy — identifying, developing, and stewarding strategic collaborations and investment opportunities with corporate partners
• Develop and manage sponsorship opportunities, including national events, campaigns, and strategic initiatives that align with Connective’s mission and partner interests
• Build a compelling corporate partnership value proposition that articulates the mutual benefit of investing in Connective’s work
• Maintain a robust pipeline of prospective corporate partners and manage relationships through the full partnership lifecycle

Major Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major donor relationships building a portfolio of high-value individual donors committed to Connective’s mission
• Develop and implement a major gifts program with clear ask strategies, stewardship touchpoints, and donor recognition frameworks
• Maintain exceptional donor relations ensuring donors are engaged, informed, and inspired by the impact of their contributions
• Identify and qualify prospective major donors through research, networking, and relationship development

Connective Impact Fund

• Coordinate and support the development of Connective’s Impact Fund in partnership with internal leadership and external stakeholders
• Define the strategic purpose, governance structure, and fundraising approach for the Impact Fund in collaboration with the executive team
• Build relationships with prospective Impact Fund donors, foundations, and institutional supporters
• Develop the case for support and donor materials specific to the Impact Fund

External Narrative and Fundraising Infrastructure

• Help define and strengthen Connective’s external fundraising narrative, partnership value proposition, and case for support ensuring Connective’s story is told compellingly and consistently
• Establish fundraising systems, donor stewardship processes, reporting frameworks, and performance metrics that support a scalable, professional philanthropy function
• Implement or optimize donor management technology to support relationship tracking, pipeline management, and reporting
• Develop grant research and application processes to pursue foundation and government funding aligned with organizational priorities

Interested and Affected Parties and Community Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with a broad range of external partners, corporate, foundation, government, and community, that support Connective’s fundraising and partnership objectives
• Represent Connective at sector events, conferences, and community engagements to raise the organization’s philanthropic profile
• Collaborate with the Communications team to align fundraising messaging with Connective’s broader external communications strategy

Future Leadership (Evolving Mandate)

• As Connective’s fundraising function matures, lead the development of a dedicated philanthropy team, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of future team members
• Build team infrastructure, role clarity, and operating rhythms that enable a growing philanthropy function to perform effectively
• Mentor and develop future philanthropy staff, building organizational fundraising capacity over time

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Function with a high degree of independence while maintaining close collaboration with executive leadership and external consultants
• Adhere to Connective policies, procedures, and values
• Ability to work flexible hours as required; donor and partner engagement may include evenings and events outside standard business hours
• Periodic travel within British Columbia and potentially nationally for donor cultivation, partner engagement, and sector events

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

A relevant post-secondary degree in Business Administration, Communications, Non-profit Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum seven to ten years of progressive experience in fundraising, philanthropy, corporate partnerships, sponsorship development, business development, or revenue generation
• MFA-P, CFRE or other relevant designation strongly preferred
• Demonstrated track record of cultivating and closing significant gifts, partnerships, or sponsorships with evidence of building relationships that generate sustained organizational investment
• Experience building a fundraising or business development function from an early stage, including establishing systems, processes, and infrastructure
• Proven ability to develop compelling cases for support and fundraising narratives that resonate with diverse donor and partner audiences
• Experience with donor management or CRM platforms and fundraising reporting frameworks
• Strong knowledge of the philanthropic landscape in BC and Canada, including foundation, corporate, and government funding environments
• Experience working in or alongside a non-profit, social services, or mission-driven organization is a strong asset
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation is an asset

COMPETENCIES

• Relationship orientation; builds genuine, trust-based relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders. Understands that philanthropy is fundamentally about people, not transactions.
• Entrepreneurial drive; comfortable building from the ground up with limited infrastructure. Finds creative solutions, tolerates ambiguity, and generates momentum without needing a fully formed playbook.
• Strategic thinking; sees the long-term picture while executing in the present. Connects fundraising activity to organizational mission and builds plans that are ambitious and realistic simultaneously.
• Communication and influence; articulates Connective’s mission and case for support with clarity, conviction, and authenticity. Adapts style and approach to diverse audiences from individual donors to corporate executives.
• Execution discipline; follows through on commitments, manages a complex portfolio of relationships and initiatives without losing focus, and holds themselves accountable for outcomes.
• Collaborative leadership; works effectively across internal functions and with external partners and consultants. Brings people together around shared goals without requiring formal authority.
• Experience setting standards, managing quality, development and leadership of people.
• Mission alignment; genuinely motivated by Connective’s work and able to communicate that authentically to donors and partners.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to successfully complete a Criminal Records Check
• Ability to successfully pass a reference check
• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation for donor and partner meetings