Director, Stewardship in Toronto

CAMH Foundation is seeking a strategic, innovative, and influential leader as its inaugural Director, Stewardship. Building on the success of its No One Left Behind campaign and looking ahead to an ambitious new chapter of growth, CAMH Foundation is at a pivotal moment in its history, presenting a unique opportunity to shape and elevate its approach to donor stewardship, engagement, and recognition.

The Director, Stewardship will bring fresh thinking, strategic vision, and rigour to this critical function, providing leadership to strengthen donor relationships, deepen engagement, and demonstrate the meaningful impact of philanthropy in advancing CAMH’s mission to transform mental health care. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director will build and lead a comprehensive stewardship strategy that strengthens donor relationships, advances engagement and retention, and supports long-term growth.

With a particular focus on mid-level, corporate, major, transformational, and planned giving donors, including members of the Visionary Society ($1M+), the Director will elevate and strengthen how the Foundation recognizes, communicates with, and engages its supporters. Working collaboratively with fundraising and cross-functional teams (Segment Leads, Operations, Event Activation, Marketing, and Impact Communications), the Director will champion an integrated and data-driven approach to stewardship and recognition, building shared understanding and accountability, and aligning donor engagement strategies, impact communications, and reporting to deliver meaningful, personalized donor experiences.

Leveraging donor insights, analytics, and emerging technologies, the Director will optimize donor journeys, identify opportunities for more personalized engagement, and enhance how donors are recognized and connected to the impact of their philanthropy. The Director will have the opportunity to shape and build a high-performing stewardship function, including recruiting and coaching new staff, strengthening team capabilities, and fostering a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented culture.

The new incumbent will also play an important role in shaping the stewardship and recognition strategy for the Foundation’s next major fundraising campaign, helping to build on existing donor relationships while creating new opportunities for engagement.

CAMH Foundation currently operates a hybrid work model with a minimum of two days per week in the office at 100 Stokes Street in Toronto.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and decision‑making.
• Lead the strategic design and development of donor engagement programs aligned with priority donor segments and organizational goals.
• Oversee the implementation and execution of donor engagement programs, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and delivery of meaningful donor experiences.
• Provide strategic direction for the evaluation, prioritization, and scaling of emerging donor programs and engagement opportunities.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to identify donor needs and opportunities to enhance the donor experience of priority donor communities through donor programs.
• Enable cross‑functional teams to execute engagement strategies that effectively steward and cultivate donors.
• Optimize donor journeys, ensuring the delivery of integrated, multi‑channel engagement strategies for priority donor groups.
• Leverage data, research, and donor insights to establish benchmarks, inform program strategy, and guide continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal partners to identify and address gaps in the donor journey, improving experience and removing barriers.
• Lead strategic initiatives to expand and diversify the donor base, including engagement with emerging audiences.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a standardized recognition strategy and matrix.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in donor stewardship, major gifts, and/or fundraising campaigns.
• Experience in a hospital or university fundraising environment is an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in donor‑centered stewardship and relationship management practices.
• Vision and the ability to think strategically with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong strategic thinking and operational planning capabilities.
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams, with strong people management skills.
• Advanced analytical skills, including metrics development, evaluation and reporting.
• Proven project management and execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Exceptional communication and writing skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge, Qlik Sense, Power BI, Microsoft Office, or equivalent tools.

The hiring salary range for this position is $140,000 to $170,000 with comprehensive health benefits and enrollment in the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP).