Manager, Stewardship & Donor Relations
Top Benefits
About the role
ABOUT US
SickKids Foundation, with over 50 years of philanthropic impact is Canada's largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care, raising over $200 million last year. As a national charity, SickKids Foundation invests in national and international initiatives to benefit children in Canada and around the world. As the fundraising partner to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), we are aligned in supporting Precision Child Health (PCH), the future of tailoring medicine to each child's unique traits so SickKids can diagnose faster, treat smarter, and predict better.
We are driven by our core values of integrity, collaboration, excellence, innovation, and inclusion, with goals of delivering a superior donor experience, investing in our people and culture, driving innovative and sustainable fundraising, and leading market disruption through strategic use of data and technology.
SickKids Foundation is committed to an inclusive culture by embedding equity, diversity and inclusion in our policies, practices, and behaviours. We aim to build awareness and skills in this area, both internally and with our partners. Our commitment extends to creating a safe, positive work environment. For details on our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion commitment, please click here.
We’re committed to attracting and retaining passionate individuals to help create a healthier future. That’s why SickKids Foundation is looking for a new Manager, Stewardship and Donor Relations
Description of the Position:
The Manager, Stewardship and Donor Relations plays a key role in delivering an exceptional donor experience—through personalized engagement, thoughtful recognition, and meaningful expressions of gratitude. By managing sophisticated stewardship programs and impactful donor communications, you will help strengthen relationships and provide fundraisers with the tools they need to drive revenue growth in support of SickKids Foundation’s mission: Healthier Children. A Better World.
Reporting to the Associate Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations, you will collaborate closely with colleagues across the Stewardship and Donor Relations team and provide expert guidance to fundraising and cross-functional teams across the Foundation. Together, you will help create best-in-class donor experiences that inspire trust, deepen loyalty, and spark continued generosity.
In this role, you will also manage a team of Associates and Coordinators, fostering growth, collaboration, and excellence. Your primary focus will be advancing donor-centered stewardship and recognition programs—designing, implementing, and delivering tailored plans and activities that celebrate donors, motivate continued support, and engage new champions for The Hospital for Sick Children.
You will:
- Support relationship managers by delivering strategic stewardship plans and tools that enhance donor engagement;
- Play a leadership role in developing enhanced opportunities for stewardship, championing innovation and new ideas to build donor engagement;
- Provide leadership, direction and coaching to staff including career planning, evaluation of performance, succession planning and mentoring;
- Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, standards and processes within Stewardship and Donor Relations;
- Plan and execute stewardship activities for a subset of donors and gifts, ensuring successful execution of all commitments in written Gift Agreements;
- Facilitate the Foundation’s gift agreements and policies;
- Oversee successful execution of the Foundation’s Impact Reporting and Endowment Reporting planning and activities;
- Ensure the delivery of the Foundation-wide Donor Recognition framework that includes:
- Donor experience matrix, and all associated policies and processes;
- As requested, support the execution of activities related to cultivation programs, the Luminaries recognition society, Donor Wall updates and/or Annual Report development;
- Support the donor proposal process including ideation, coordination and review of donor recognition and stewardship opportunities;
- Commit to ongoing professional development by participating in professional associations, and developing working relationships with professionals at other institutions;
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders including fundraisers, volunteers and Hospital;
- Be an effective team player and adhere to the Foundation values and policies.
Qualifications:
While we know that for any job posting no one candidate will possess the qualifications being sought in equal measure, below is an outline of the qualifications we believe are important for a candidate to bring to the position or for the successful candidate to develop while in the role:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher, preferably in Communications, Fundraising, Project Management or other applicable disciplines;
- A minimum of 4 years of experience in the communications, fundraising or advancement fields;
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with proven experience managing staff; enthusiasm for coaching and developing team members is preferred;
- Strong project management skills;
- Understanding of best practices in stewardship, gift agreements, and donor relations;
- A proven track record in an advancement environment would be preferable;
- Ability to think strategically and work independently in driving new initiatives and enhancing existing opportunities;
- Excellent donor and volunteer relations skills, with a keen sense of diplomacy;
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritize and multi-task;
- Organized, detail-oriented and strong execution;
- Experience with Blackbaud or relational databases an asset; and,
- Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite.
We’re looking for a passionate individual who is interested in moving the dial and making a difference. We are an environment that looks to attract hardworking and committed people; people who want to challenge themselves and grow with a globally recognized brand that continues to change the world. If this describes you, consider joining our team. We look forward to reviewing your application.
Total Compensation Package:
Hiring Salary Range: $81,251 – $101,566.00; with the ability to progress to a maximum of $116,803. To ensure fair and equitable pay at SickKids Foundation, placement on the salary range will be based on your years of experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the Manager, Stewardship & Donor Relations.
To help you lead in the fight for kids’ health and to support your health, wellness, and career growth, in addition to competitive compensation, we offer a comprehensive benefit package (includes a flex benefit plan), tuition reimbursement, flexible work arrangements, pension plan and birth parent/parental top up – to name a few!
Hours: 35-hour work week, flexible work options available
Date Posted: September 22, 2025
Available: Internal and External
Deadline: October 06, 2025
Please apply on-line by visiting our website: www.sickkidsfoundation.com
SickKids Foundation is committed to its people and the talents, capabilities, and perspectives they bring to our mission. We live that commitment by being open and accessible to all, by valuing and respecting every individual, and by equally supporting every employee. As an organization proud to have joined the BlackNorth Initiative’s CEO pledge, we uphold our commitment by inviting and encouraging individuals from diverse lived experiences from Black, Indigenous, communities of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ community and all candidates who may contribute to the further diversification of the Foundation’s community.
Candidates who require accommodation during the recruitment process should contact the Human Resources Department at: HR@sickkidsfoundation.com
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system.
SickKids is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to paediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families.
SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™
Manager, Stewardship & Donor Relations
Top Benefits
About the role
ABOUT US
SickKids Foundation, with over 50 years of philanthropic impact is Canada's largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care, raising over $200 million last year. As a national charity, SickKids Foundation invests in national and international initiatives to benefit children in Canada and around the world. As the fundraising partner to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), we are aligned in supporting Precision Child Health (PCH), the future of tailoring medicine to each child's unique traits so SickKids can diagnose faster, treat smarter, and predict better.
We are driven by our core values of integrity, collaboration, excellence, innovation, and inclusion, with goals of delivering a superior donor experience, investing in our people and culture, driving innovative and sustainable fundraising, and leading market disruption through strategic use of data and technology.
SickKids Foundation is committed to an inclusive culture by embedding equity, diversity and inclusion in our policies, practices, and behaviours. We aim to build awareness and skills in this area, both internally and with our partners. Our commitment extends to creating a safe, positive work environment. For details on our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion commitment, please click here.
We’re committed to attracting and retaining passionate individuals to help create a healthier future. That’s why SickKids Foundation is looking for a new Manager, Stewardship and Donor Relations
Description of the Position:
The Manager, Stewardship and Donor Relations plays a key role in delivering an exceptional donor experience—through personalized engagement, thoughtful recognition, and meaningful expressions of gratitude. By managing sophisticated stewardship programs and impactful donor communications, you will help strengthen relationships and provide fundraisers with the tools they need to drive revenue growth in support of SickKids Foundation’s mission: Healthier Children. A Better World.
Reporting to the Associate Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations, you will collaborate closely with colleagues across the Stewardship and Donor Relations team and provide expert guidance to fundraising and cross-functional teams across the Foundation. Together, you will help create best-in-class donor experiences that inspire trust, deepen loyalty, and spark continued generosity.
In this role, you will also manage a team of Associates and Coordinators, fostering growth, collaboration, and excellence. Your primary focus will be advancing donor-centered stewardship and recognition programs—designing, implementing, and delivering tailored plans and activities that celebrate donors, motivate continued support, and engage new champions for The Hospital for Sick Children.
You will:
- Support relationship managers by delivering strategic stewardship plans and tools that enhance donor engagement;
- Play a leadership role in developing enhanced opportunities for stewardship, championing innovation and new ideas to build donor engagement;
- Provide leadership, direction and coaching to staff including career planning, evaluation of performance, succession planning and mentoring;
- Contribute to the development and implementation of policies, standards and processes within Stewardship and Donor Relations;
- Plan and execute stewardship activities for a subset of donors and gifts, ensuring successful execution of all commitments in written Gift Agreements;
- Facilitate the Foundation’s gift agreements and policies;
- Oversee successful execution of the Foundation’s Impact Reporting and Endowment Reporting planning and activities;
- Ensure the delivery of the Foundation-wide Donor Recognition framework that includes:
- Donor experience matrix, and all associated policies and processes;
- As requested, support the execution of activities related to cultivation programs, the Luminaries recognition society, Donor Wall updates and/or Annual Report development;
- Support the donor proposal process including ideation, coordination and review of donor recognition and stewardship opportunities;
- Commit to ongoing professional development by participating in professional associations, and developing working relationships with professionals at other institutions;
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders including fundraisers, volunteers and Hospital;
- Be an effective team player and adhere to the Foundation values and policies.
Qualifications:
While we know that for any job posting no one candidate will possess the qualifications being sought in equal measure, below is an outline of the qualifications we believe are important for a candidate to bring to the position or for the successful candidate to develop while in the role:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher, preferably in Communications, Fundraising, Project Management or other applicable disciplines;
- A minimum of 4 years of experience in the communications, fundraising or advancement fields;
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with proven experience managing staff; enthusiasm for coaching and developing team members is preferred;
- Strong project management skills;
- Understanding of best practices in stewardship, gift agreements, and donor relations;
- A proven track record in an advancement environment would be preferable;
- Ability to think strategically and work independently in driving new initiatives and enhancing existing opportunities;
- Excellent donor and volunteer relations skills, with a keen sense of diplomacy;
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritize and multi-task;
- Organized, detail-oriented and strong execution;
- Experience with Blackbaud or relational databases an asset; and,
- Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite.
We’re looking for a passionate individual who is interested in moving the dial and making a difference. We are an environment that looks to attract hardworking and committed people; people who want to challenge themselves and grow with a globally recognized brand that continues to change the world. If this describes you, consider joining our team. We look forward to reviewing your application.
Total Compensation Package:
Hiring Salary Range: $81,251 – $101,566.00; with the ability to progress to a maximum of $116,803. To ensure fair and equitable pay at SickKids Foundation, placement on the salary range will be based on your years of experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the Manager, Stewardship & Donor Relations.
To help you lead in the fight for kids’ health and to support your health, wellness, and career growth, in addition to competitive compensation, we offer a comprehensive benefit package (includes a flex benefit plan), tuition reimbursement, flexible work arrangements, pension plan and birth parent/parental top up – to name a few!
Hours: 35-hour work week, flexible work options available
Date Posted: September 22, 2025
Available: Internal and External
Deadline: October 06, 2025
Please apply on-line by visiting our website: www.sickkidsfoundation.com
SickKids Foundation is committed to its people and the talents, capabilities, and perspectives they bring to our mission. We live that commitment by being open and accessible to all, by valuing and respecting every individual, and by equally supporting every employee. As an organization proud to have joined the BlackNorth Initiative’s CEO pledge, we uphold our commitment by inviting and encouraging individuals from diverse lived experiences from Black, Indigenous, communities of colour, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ community and all candidates who may contribute to the further diversification of the Foundation’s community.
Candidates who require accommodation during the recruitment process should contact the Human Resources Department at: HR@sickkidsfoundation.com
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system.
SickKids is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to paediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families.
SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™