Senior Philanthropy Officer

(18-Month Contract)

We are committed to pay transparency and equity. The hiring range for this role is $95,000 - $103,500 /year.

We wake up to a different alarm.

The issues impacting our communities here in the GTA keep us awake at night. But it’s also what gets us up each day, determined to fight local poverty and its interconnected challenges, and to make this region everything it can be for everyone who calls it home. We believe in the power of community, of people coming together, doing what it takes to build and transform neighbourhoods where everyone can thrive. Any Way We Can.

United Way Greater Toronto is currently seeking a Senior Philanthropy Officer to join our team in an 18-month contract role.

How you will make a difference:

Reporting to the Senior Lead, Individual Donor Relations, the Senior Philanthropy Officer will formulate and implement donor development strategies for individual donors and prospects with the ability and inclination to contribute annual major gifts of $10,000+, transformational gifts ($1M+) and planned gifts.

• Manage high net worth donors and prospects within a rigorous discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process

• Plan donor touchpoints that result in enhanced relationships and increased financial commitment to United Way’s community-building work

• Prepare written materials associated with management of donors and prospects (e.g. development of proposals, financial illustrations of gift vehicles, progress/stewardship reports on projects funded and general correspondence)

• Work collaboratively with the Comprehensive Campaign team and Community Impact teams where appropriate to align donor and organizational funding priorities for transformational gifts

• Work collaboratively across the organization, including with corporate fundraising colleagues, helping with goal setting, prospecting, solicitation, tracking and stewardship of individual employees within workplace accounts

• Provide strategic direction, management, and support to senior volunteers

• Provide leadership in educating other staff about major gift fundraising strategies

• Maximize the use of the CRM tool to implement and facilitate fundraising plans against major gift prospects and donors

What you bring to the role:

• 5 - 10 years’ experience in a major gift fundraising and/or comprehensive sales environment
• Demonstrated ability to effectively forge, manage and maintain long-standing constituent relationships
• Alignment with the mission of United Way Greater Toronto
• Experience working with senior volunteers
• Demonstrated track record in major individual gift cycle activity
• Familiarity with planned giving vehicles (bequests, insurance, etc.)
• Highly developed analytical skills with ability to conduct research and use independent judgement to problem solve
• Ability to influence, negotiate and manage contentious issues to resolution
• Ability to coordinate and modify projects, and work with a group of external volunteers
• Proven ability to take initiative and carry projects to completion with minimum supervision
• Excellent teamwork, interpersonal and constituent service skills including the ability to work respectfully and inclusively with a diverse employee population and multiple stakeholders
• Willingness to actively contribute to the organizational equity framework through participation in learning opportunities and implementing anti-oppressive, and anti-racist learnings into action internally and externally
• High degree of comfort with sophisticated donor database use and Microsoft Office tools for tracking activity and financial results
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal)
• University degree or relevant post-secondary education, or equivalent work-related experience

Being part of our team:

• Competitive total compensation package including:
  • Salary
  • Comprehensive benefits
  • Defined benefit employer-matching pension
  • Life insurance
  • Short-term and long-term disability benefits
  • Employee and family assistance program (EFAP)
• Generous paid time-off package including vacation, personal and cultural days, summer hours and hybrid work environment
• Commitment to the well-being and work-life balance for our employees
• Collaborative, high-performing, and team focused on long-term and collective success
• Largest United Way world-wide
• Work with the GTA’s top philanthropic leaders

Please apply no later than January 19, 2026.

As part of our recruitment process, United Way Greater Toronto offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities. If we contact you about an opportunity, please let us know if you require accommodation.

UWGT is committed to the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). While we currently do not use AI for decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects, we may use analytics or automation tools to improve donor engagement, personalize experiences, or optimize internal processes.

As per our recruitment policy, internal candidates are encouraged to let their current manager know that they have applied for another role.

About United Way Greater Toronto:

As the largest non-government funder of community services in the GTA, United Way Greater Toronto reinforces a crucial community safety net to support people living in poverty. United Way’s network of agencies and initiatives in neighbourhoods across Peel, Toronto and York Region works to ensure that everyone has access to the programs and services they need to thrive. Mobilizing community support, United Way’s work is rooted in ground-breaking research, strategic leadership, local advocacy and cross-sectoral partnerships committed to building a more equitable region and lasting solutions to the GTA’s greatest challenges.

Diversity & Inclusion:

United Way is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects our diverse community to ensure we’re best equipped to serve it. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and those who may need accommodation to apply to join our team. Our commitment to excellence in diversity goes beyond promoting equity. By incorporating a variety of experiences and perspectives, we create opportunities for innovative solutions and maximize the impact of our work.

Building community takes a community and together, with you, we will shape a stronger, brighter GTA for everyone who lives here. Any Way We Can.

Learn more about our work at unitedwaygt.org**.**