Major Gifts Officer
Top Benefits
About the role
Position Summary
Location: Toronto, ON – In Person
Reports to: Co-Executive Directors
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary Range: $76,000 – $92,000
The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for leading and executing CANFAR’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, with a focus on major gifts, corporate partnerships, annual giving, special donor events, and donor stewardship. Reporting to the Co-Executive Directors and working closely with the CANFAR Events and Stewardship team and Board of Directors, this individual will drive revenue growth, donor engagement, and long-term sustainability in alignment with CANFAR’s mission and strategic goals.
Key responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy to achieve annual revenue goals.
- Oversee all streams of revenue generation: major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, events, and individual monthly and yearly giving.
- Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing team to design and execute national fundraising campaigns, including digital, peer-to-peer, and awareness-integrated appeals.
- Collaborate with the Co-Executive Directors to engage key stakeholders, board members, and high-level donors.
- Lead and grow a high-performing fundraising team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and donor-centric thinking.
- Expand CANFAR’s donor base by prospecting and securing new donors from various industries, including real estate, development, technology, consulting services, legal, and financial institutions
Major Gifts & Stewardship
- Manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and prospects, with a focus on securing gifts of $75,000+.
- Oversee and personally execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for donors.
- Working closely with the Co-Executive Directors and Director of Marketing, create and develop donor proposals for solicitations, “case for support” to secure major gifts and multi-year donations from corporations or family foundations.
- Lead CANFAR’s Planned & Legacy Giving strategy, cultivating long-term donor relationships through bequests, endowments, and other deferred giving vehicles.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop educational and promotional materials to engage prospects and steward legacy donors.
- Ensure excellent donor engagement and retention through regular communication, reporting, and recognition.
Corporate Partnerships
- Identify and secure corporate sponsors for CANFAR programs and signature events (e.g. Bloor Street Entertains, Vancouver Entertains, awareness campaigns).
- Negotiate partnership agreements, benefits, and deliverables in collaboration with the communications and events teams.
- Manage correspondence and stewardship of the current donor base to ensure growth of yearly donations.
- Oversee the proper and timely communication with corporate partners, including appropriate follow-ups, creating and sharing impact reports, and acknowledgement letters.
Grant Development
- Identify and pursue opportunities for foundation funding, including annual appeals for family foundations and institutions that provide grants to charitable organizations.
- Lead grant writing, submissions, and impact reporting.
Fundraising Events
- Provide strategic oversight for fundraising events and campaigns.
- Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to meet fundraising targets and deliver meaningful donor experiences.
- Work closely with the event management company to ensure all logistics are planned and executed accordingly before each fundraising event.
- Support the CANFAR stewardship team in planning the events campaigns throughout the year, including Bloor Street Entertains, Can You Do Lunch?, AIDSbeat, Vancouver Entertains, and CANFAR’s Legacy Project.
- Work closely with the events co-chairs and committees to support the strategy, logistics, and event fundraising goals
- Work closely with the Finance department in ensuring proper donation reconciliation and information gathering is completed on time, as well as identifying areas of process and efficiency improvement.
Communications & Marketing Integration
- Work with the marketing and communications team to develop compelling fundraising materials and digital appeals.
- Ensure consistency and alignment of donor messaging with CANFAR’s brand and impact storytelling.
- Support the development of content and messaging for marketing assets and fundraising appeals.
- Manage and oversee the proper information gathering and data collection from fundraising events, marketing campaigns, and appeals, with the ability to perform data analysis, create reports, and maintain appropriate communication records with donors.
- Manage CANFAR’s CRM system (Raiser’s Edge), including capturing donor information, and keep up-to-date with the prospect pipeline.
Key performance indicators (KPI)
- Annual Fundraising Revenue
- Major Gifts
- Donor Retention Rate
- New Donor Acquisition
- Grant Submissions
- Corporate Sponsorships
- Event Revenue
- Reporting & Stewardship
Qualifications
- Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in fundraising and development, with demonstrated success in major gifts and fundraising.
- Proven ability to build relationships and close gifts at the $75K–$100K+ level.
- Experience managing and motivating a development team and working with executive leadership and boards.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Knowledge of the Canadian philanthropic landscape.
- Passionate about HIV, health equity, and/or 2SLGBTQ+ issues.
- Fluency in French is an asset.
- Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, MailChimp, Givergy,) and donor data analytics.
Compensation & benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits
- Flexible work environment (hybrid)
- Professional development opportunities
- Meaningful work contributing to ending HIV in Canada
Please send an email with subject line: Major Gifts Officer
to careers@canfar.com with your cover letter, resume and any supporting documentation by 11:59pm on Friday, October 3, 2025.
About Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)
There are over 63,000 people in Canada living with HIV and it is estimated that six people in Canada become newly infected with HIV each day, or nearly one person infected every four hours. It’s time to act.
Dedicated to funding all aspects of HIV research – from increased prevention efforts, enhanced opportunities for testing, improved access to treatment, and reduced stigma; CANFAR is leading the charge through innovative research, national awareness, and promoting this conversation across the country.
Since its inception in 1987, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) has been a trailblazer as the only national charitable foundation that raises awareness to generate funds for research into all aspects of HIV/AIDS.
Over its 30-year history, CANFAR has invested more than $21 million and awarded more than 400 grants to HIV and AIDS research projects across Canada. In addition, CANFAR annually reaches up to two million youth through its national HIV youth awareness programs.
CANFAR is proud of the role it has played funding breakthroughs in HIV prevention, treatment, care, and the search for a cure. Over the past three decades, our donors have supported research that has changed the lives of those who are living with HIV.
Major Gifts Officer
Top Benefits
About the role
Position Summary
Location: Toronto, ON – In Person
Reports to: Co-Executive Directors
Employment Type: Full-Time
Salary Range: $76,000 – $92,000
The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for leading and executing CANFAR’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, with a focus on major gifts, corporate partnerships, annual giving, special donor events, and donor stewardship. Reporting to the Co-Executive Directors and working closely with the CANFAR Events and Stewardship team and Board of Directors, this individual will drive revenue growth, donor engagement, and long-term sustainability in alignment with CANFAR’s mission and strategic goals.
Key responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy to achieve annual revenue goals.
- Oversee all streams of revenue generation: major gifts, corporate partnerships, grants, events, and individual monthly and yearly giving.
- Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing team to design and execute national fundraising campaigns, including digital, peer-to-peer, and awareness-integrated appeals.
- Collaborate with the Co-Executive Directors to engage key stakeholders, board members, and high-level donors.
- Lead and grow a high-performing fundraising team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and donor-centric thinking.
- Expand CANFAR’s donor base by prospecting and securing new donors from various industries, including real estate, development, technology, consulting services, legal, and financial institutions
Major Gifts & Stewardship
- Manage a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and prospects, with a focus on securing gifts of $75,000+.
- Oversee and personally execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for donors.
- Working closely with the Co-Executive Directors and Director of Marketing, create and develop donor proposals for solicitations, “case for support” to secure major gifts and multi-year donations from corporations or family foundations.
- Lead CANFAR’s Planned & Legacy Giving strategy, cultivating long-term donor relationships through bequests, endowments, and other deferred giving vehicles.
- Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop educational and promotional materials to engage prospects and steward legacy donors.
- Ensure excellent donor engagement and retention through regular communication, reporting, and recognition.
Corporate Partnerships
- Identify and secure corporate sponsors for CANFAR programs and signature events (e.g. Bloor Street Entertains, Vancouver Entertains, awareness campaigns).
- Negotiate partnership agreements, benefits, and deliverables in collaboration with the communications and events teams.
- Manage correspondence and stewardship of the current donor base to ensure growth of yearly donations.
- Oversee the proper and timely communication with corporate partners, including appropriate follow-ups, creating and sharing impact reports, and acknowledgement letters.
Grant Development
- Identify and pursue opportunities for foundation funding, including annual appeals for family foundations and institutions that provide grants to charitable organizations.
- Lead grant writing, submissions, and impact reporting.
Fundraising Events
- Provide strategic oversight for fundraising events and campaigns.
- Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to meet fundraising targets and deliver meaningful donor experiences.
- Work closely with the event management company to ensure all logistics are planned and executed accordingly before each fundraising event.
- Support the CANFAR stewardship team in planning the events campaigns throughout the year, including Bloor Street Entertains, Can You Do Lunch?, AIDSbeat, Vancouver Entertains, and CANFAR’s Legacy Project.
- Work closely with the events co-chairs and committees to support the strategy, logistics, and event fundraising goals
- Work closely with the Finance department in ensuring proper donation reconciliation and information gathering is completed on time, as well as identifying areas of process and efficiency improvement.
Communications & Marketing Integration
- Work with the marketing and communications team to develop compelling fundraising materials and digital appeals.
- Ensure consistency and alignment of donor messaging with CANFAR’s brand and impact storytelling.
- Support the development of content and messaging for marketing assets and fundraising appeals.
- Manage and oversee the proper information gathering and data collection from fundraising events, marketing campaigns, and appeals, with the ability to perform data analysis, create reports, and maintain appropriate communication records with donors.
- Manage CANFAR’s CRM system (Raiser’s Edge), including capturing donor information, and keep up-to-date with the prospect pipeline.
Key performance indicators (KPI)
- Annual Fundraising Revenue
- Major Gifts
- Donor Retention Rate
- New Donor Acquisition
- Grant Submissions
- Corporate Sponsorships
- Event Revenue
- Reporting & Stewardship
Qualifications
- Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in fundraising and development, with demonstrated success in major gifts and fundraising.
- Proven ability to build relationships and close gifts at the $75K–$100K+ level.
- Experience managing and motivating a development team and working with executive leadership and boards.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Knowledge of the Canadian philanthropic landscape.
- Passionate about HIV, health equity, and/or 2SLGBTQ+ issues.
- Fluency in French is an asset.
- Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, MailChimp, Givergy,) and donor data analytics.
Compensation & benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits
- Flexible work environment (hybrid)
- Professional development opportunities
- Meaningful work contributing to ending HIV in Canada
Please send an email with subject line: Major Gifts Officer
to careers@canfar.com with your cover letter, resume and any supporting documentation by 11:59pm on Friday, October 3, 2025.
About Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR)
There are over 63,000 people in Canada living with HIV and it is estimated that six people in Canada become newly infected with HIV each day, or nearly one person infected every four hours. It’s time to act.
Dedicated to funding all aspects of HIV research – from increased prevention efforts, enhanced opportunities for testing, improved access to treatment, and reduced stigma; CANFAR is leading the charge through innovative research, national awareness, and promoting this conversation across the country.
Since its inception in 1987, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) has been a trailblazer as the only national charitable foundation that raises awareness to generate funds for research into all aspects of HIV/AIDS.
Over its 30-year history, CANFAR has invested more than $21 million and awarded more than 400 grants to HIV and AIDS research projects across Canada. In addition, CANFAR annually reaches up to two million youth through its national HIV youth awareness programs.
CANFAR is proud of the role it has played funding breakthroughs in HIV prevention, treatment, care, and the search for a cure. Over the past three decades, our donors have supported research that has changed the lives of those who are living with HIV.