Top Benefits
About the role
Position Overview
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) at the UHN Foundation is responsible for leading fundraising operations, HR management, talent development, alignment and cross-functional collaboration to support the Foundation’s revenue-generating activities. The CDO fosters engagement, alignment, and communication across teams, ensuring that each department works seamlessly toward common goals. The CDO provides coaching and leadership to direct reports, empowering them to lead their respective fundraising programs while driving operational excellence and organizational effectiveness. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CDO will ensure the Foundation's fundraising efforts are aligned with strategic priorities and deliver sustainable growth in revenue. Working in close collaboration with the Chief Strategic Philanthropy Officer (CSPO) to ensure alignment across strategic and operational fundraising priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising Leadership
- Lead operational alignment across fundraising in collaboration with the CSPO and other enabling functions (e.g., Marketing & Communications, Events, Stewardship, Operations and People & Culture) to ensure seamless execution of revenue-generating activities.
- Foster collaboration and communication among departments, breaking down silos to promote shared goals and cross-team engagement.
- Work with the executive team to ensure that strategic priorities are supported across all fundraising programs.
- Drive organizational agility by monitoring internal dynamics and supporting change initiatives to manage resistance and maintain momentum.
Team Management and Development
- Mentor and coach direct reports, empowering them to lead major gifts, events, estate giving, and community programs with autonomy while fostering cross program collaboration.
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on leadership development, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Lead succession planning efforts and support professional development initiatives across all fundraising programs.
- Partner with the People & Culture team to enhance leadership capabilities and build a robust talent pipeline.
Major Gifts and Donor Stewardship
- Collaborate and support the Major Gifts program operationally to secure significant contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
- Work closely with the CSPO to align operational support for transformational gift strategies and ensure consistency between campaign execution and donor engagement priorities.
- Oversee process improvement to ensure teams are efficient.
- Support strategy development and alignment among the MG campaigns and all other fundraising efforts.
- Ensure alignment with Stewardship and Marketing and Communications.
- Develop relationships with donors and major gift prospects with a view to securing significant gifts, which align with the strategic fundraising objectives of the Foundation.
Community, Corporate, Events and Planned Giving
- Support Community Giving, Estate Giving, and Corporate Giving programs, ensuring they are strategically integrated into the broader fundraising plan.
- Guide the development of planned giving initiatives to increase future revenue potential through bequests and other deferred gifts.
- Oversee the development and roll-out of the Corporate Strategy, including securing sponsorships for Foundation events, cause marketing opportunities, and other forms of corporate support.
- Support Community Giving strategies and the core pillars of community fundraising engagement opportunities.
- Working with the Events team, develop contingency plans for large scale fundraising events that are tied to individual volunteers.
- Help recruit volunteers to lead Foundation events.
Stewardship
- Provide oversight of the stewardship program, ensuring strategy and roll-out are aligned with all revenue strategies.
- Support the stewardship team in delivering high-quality donor experiences that foster long-term engagement and recognition.
- Support a strategic approach to donor stewardship, acknowledgment, and recognition to maintain high levels of donor loyalty and retention.
Financial & Performance Management
- Assist with setting revenue goals with input from direct reports, ensuring accountability and regular progress reviews, and adjusting strategies as needed. Collaborate with the CSPO to ensure campaign performance and transformational gift metrics are monitored and reported consistently to leadership and the Board.
- With input from direct reports, leads the prioritization of revenue investment opportunities to ensure the greatest long-term success from new fundraising initiatives.
- Work with the finance team to ensure accurate revenue forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting for all fundraising activities.
- Regularly report to the CEO, Finance Committee and Board of Directors on the status of revenue-generating activities and key performance indicators.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to develop integrated strategies that enhance fundraising campaigns, donor outreach, and brand visibility.
- In partnership with the CSPO and key functions—including Marketing & Communications, Events, and Stewardship—ensure strategic and operational alignment across all fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
- Work closely with the to ensure operational alignment with revenue-generating activities, including the use of technology and data analytics for fundraising optimization.
- Collaborate with the People & Culture team on talent management initiatives that support organizational growth.
Leadership Development & Talent Management
- Partner with the People & Culture team to develop leadership capabilities to ensure a robust talent pipeline across the organization.
- Champion the Foundation’s values of integrity, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning.
- Mentor and coach direct reports to enhance their skills and drive professional growth.
- As a member of the Executive Team, champion People and Culture initiatives across the organization.
Position Requirements
- A passion for UHN Foundation’s mission and values, with a deep understanding of the health care, education, or non-profit fundraising landscape.
- At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, development, or advancement, ideally within complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
- At least 10 years of experience directly managing major gift programs, including personal success securing 6- and 7-figure gifts from individuals, corporations, and/or foundations.
- Experience leading or supporting large-scale fundraising campaigns, with demonstrated success in goal-setting, team mobilization, and campaign execution.
- Proven ability to build strong relationships with donors, senior volunteers, board members, physicians, executives, and other key stakeholders.
- Strong leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop high-performing teams, foster cross-team collaboration, and drive accountability and results.
- Skilled in financial management related to fundraising operations, including setting targets, forecasting, and evaluating performance.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal formats.
- A collaborative mindset, with strong emotional intelligence and the ability to influence across a functional department.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and a values-driven workplace, with a track record of building inclusive teams and respectful cultures.
- Strong organizational and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
- A university degree is required; advanced degrees or fundraising certifications (e.g., CFRE) are considered an asset.
Alongside competitive salaries, we offer an extensive benefits package, flexible work arrangements, growth and development opportunities, defined benefits pension plan, birth parent/parental leave top-up, extended long weekends around statutory holidays and more.
University Health Network thanks all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. UHN has a diverse workforce and is an equal-opportunity employer.
Top Benefits
About the role
Position Overview
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) at the UHN Foundation is responsible for leading fundraising operations, HR management, talent development, alignment and cross-functional collaboration to support the Foundation’s revenue-generating activities. The CDO fosters engagement, alignment, and communication across teams, ensuring that each department works seamlessly toward common goals. The CDO provides coaching and leadership to direct reports, empowering them to lead their respective fundraising programs while driving operational excellence and organizational effectiveness. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CDO will ensure the Foundation's fundraising efforts are aligned with strategic priorities and deliver sustainable growth in revenue. Working in close collaboration with the Chief Strategic Philanthropy Officer (CSPO) to ensure alignment across strategic and operational fundraising priorities.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Fundraising Leadership
- Lead operational alignment across fundraising in collaboration with the CSPO and other enabling functions (e.g., Marketing & Communications, Events, Stewardship, Operations and People & Culture) to ensure seamless execution of revenue-generating activities.
- Foster collaboration and communication among departments, breaking down silos to promote shared goals and cross-team engagement.
- Work with the executive team to ensure that strategic priorities are supported across all fundraising programs.
- Drive organizational agility by monitoring internal dynamics and supporting change initiatives to manage resistance and maintain momentum.
Team Management and Development
- Mentor and coach direct reports, empowering them to lead major gifts, events, estate giving, and community programs with autonomy while fostering cross program collaboration.
- Foster a high-performance culture focused on leadership development, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Lead succession planning efforts and support professional development initiatives across all fundraising programs.
- Partner with the People & Culture team to enhance leadership capabilities and build a robust talent pipeline.
Major Gifts and Donor Stewardship
- Collaborate and support the Major Gifts program operationally to secure significant contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
- Work closely with the CSPO to align operational support for transformational gift strategies and ensure consistency between campaign execution and donor engagement priorities.
- Oversee process improvement to ensure teams are efficient.
- Support strategy development and alignment among the MG campaigns and all other fundraising efforts.
- Ensure alignment with Stewardship and Marketing and Communications.
- Develop relationships with donors and major gift prospects with a view to securing significant gifts, which align with the strategic fundraising objectives of the Foundation.
Community, Corporate, Events and Planned Giving
- Support Community Giving, Estate Giving, and Corporate Giving programs, ensuring they are strategically integrated into the broader fundraising plan.
- Guide the development of planned giving initiatives to increase future revenue potential through bequests and other deferred gifts.
- Oversee the development and roll-out of the Corporate Strategy, including securing sponsorships for Foundation events, cause marketing opportunities, and other forms of corporate support.
- Support Community Giving strategies and the core pillars of community fundraising engagement opportunities.
- Working with the Events team, develop contingency plans for large scale fundraising events that are tied to individual volunteers.
- Help recruit volunteers to lead Foundation events.
Stewardship
- Provide oversight of the stewardship program, ensuring strategy and roll-out are aligned with all revenue strategies.
- Support the stewardship team in delivering high-quality donor experiences that foster long-term engagement and recognition.
- Support a strategic approach to donor stewardship, acknowledgment, and recognition to maintain high levels of donor loyalty and retention.
Financial & Performance Management
- Assist with setting revenue goals with input from direct reports, ensuring accountability and regular progress reviews, and adjusting strategies as needed. Collaborate with the CSPO to ensure campaign performance and transformational gift metrics are monitored and reported consistently to leadership and the Board.
- With input from direct reports, leads the prioritization of revenue investment opportunities to ensure the greatest long-term success from new fundraising initiatives.
- Work with the finance team to ensure accurate revenue forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting for all fundraising activities.
- Regularly report to the CEO, Finance Committee and Board of Directors on the status of revenue-generating activities and key performance indicators.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to develop integrated strategies that enhance fundraising campaigns, donor outreach, and brand visibility.
- In partnership with the CSPO and key functions—including Marketing & Communications, Events, and Stewardship—ensure strategic and operational alignment across all fundraising campaigns and donor engagement initiatives.
- Work closely with the to ensure operational alignment with revenue-generating activities, including the use of technology and data analytics for fundraising optimization.
- Collaborate with the People & Culture team on talent management initiatives that support organizational growth.
Leadership Development & Talent Management
- Partner with the People & Culture team to develop leadership capabilities to ensure a robust talent pipeline across the organization.
- Champion the Foundation’s values of integrity, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning.
- Mentor and coach direct reports to enhance their skills and drive professional growth.
- As a member of the Executive Team, champion People and Culture initiatives across the organization.
Position Requirements
- A passion for UHN Foundation’s mission and values, with a deep understanding of the health care, education, or non-profit fundraising landscape.
- At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in fundraising, development, or advancement, ideally within complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
- At least 10 years of experience directly managing major gift programs, including personal success securing 6- and 7-figure gifts from individuals, corporations, and/or foundations.
- Experience leading or supporting large-scale fundraising campaigns, with demonstrated success in goal-setting, team mobilization, and campaign execution.
- Proven ability to build strong relationships with donors, senior volunteers, board members, physicians, executives, and other key stakeholders.
- Strong leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to coach and develop high-performing teams, foster cross-team collaboration, and drive accountability and results.
- Skilled in financial management related to fundraising operations, including setting targets, forecasting, and evaluating performance.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal formats.
- A collaborative mindset, with strong emotional intelligence and the ability to influence across a functional department.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and a values-driven workplace, with a track record of building inclusive teams and respectful cultures.
- Strong organizational and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
- A university degree is required; advanced degrees or fundraising certifications (e.g., CFRE) are considered an asset.
Alongside competitive salaries, we offer an extensive benefits package, flexible work arrangements, growth and development opportunities, defined benefits pension plan, birth parent/parental leave top-up, extended long weekends around statutory holidays and more.
University Health Network thanks all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. UHN has a diverse workforce and is an equal-opportunity employer.