THE OPPORTUNITY
The Senior Director will be an exceptional fundraising generalist, and will have a strong background in major gifts. With outstanding relationship management skills and considerable knowledge around donor motivations for giving, the Senior Director will lead by example in identifying prospects, developing cultivation and solicitation strategies, and personally contributing to making asks and closing gifts.
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the President and Chief Executive Officer, the new incumbent will play a pivotal leadership role in driving the next chapter of MODC’s evolution and advancing our new ambitious strategy. As a critical architect of our philanthropic culture, strategy, and our lead on major gifts and partnerships, the Senior Director will foster engagement in communities across the country by building and strengthening relationships with donors, key stakeholders and senior volunteers.
March of Dimes Canada’s 2021-2024 strategic plan represents the start of an exciting new journey for our organization and the community we serve. We are establishing a bold vision for the impact we aspire to make, while driving alignment, accountability and innovation in all areas of our work. By providing leadership support that strengthens our long-term financial viability and impact towards our mission and vision, it challenges us to break down the silos, harness the full power of our services and create meaningful connections with partners and stakeholders in the disability space.
As MODC continues to expand its horizon even further, the Senior Director, Philanthropy and Partnerships will have the opportunity for real and meaningful impact, helping to create communities in which people living with disabilities can not only live, but thrive in all they aspire to do.
MODC’s national office will move in March 2023 to the Sheppard and Don Mills area in Toronto, with convenient highway access. Although MODC has a flexible remote work policy and this position may be home-based, it is preferrable that the new Senior Director is located in or within easy access of the GTA, close to the majority of MODC’s key donors and partners.
ABOUT MARCH OF DIMES CANADA
March of Dimes Canada is a leading national charity committed to championing equity, empowering ability, and creating real change that will help the more than six million people living with disabilities across the country unlock the richness of their lives.
We serve, connect, and empower people living with disabilities to participate fully in life — on their own terms. Our work is grounded in the voices of the people we serve, built on a foundation of service, and backed by a 70-year history of success.
We’ve proven time and again our dedication to addressing the ongoing and urgent needs of people living with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers. Born in the last great public health epidemic, we know that seemingly impossible goals can be achieved, and barriers can be broken. In the 1950s, March of Dimes Canada helped in the global effort to find a cure for polio. We’ve since evolved to become a recognized leader in disability service design and delivery, supporting people at home, work, and in their communities with unparalleled reach and impact.
Now, inspired and guided by our community, we’re expanding our horizons even further. Together with our clients, partners, supporters, and allies, we are working to create communities in which people living with disabilities can not only live but thrive in all they aspire to do.
Our Purpose
Champion equity. Empower ability.
Our Vision
An inclusive, barrier-free society for people with disabilities.
Our Mission
To be Canada’s leading service provider, resource and advocate, empowering people with disabilities to live and thrive in communities nationwide.
Who we are – MODC Culture Code
We are driven to support and empower people living with disabilities, and all the stakeholders we engage and serve.
At March of Dimes Canada, we are accountable to our community – placing all our valued stakeholders at the centre of everything we do and every decision we make.
We strive to understand and respond to their needs, we joyfully celebrate their achievements, and we stand with them to create a more just and inclusive world for all.
We live, lead and breathe with the human connection in mind.
We value authenticity and authentic human connection because we believe this has the power to transform the lives of our employees, volunteers and all those we serve.
We know that to be the best we can be, we must recognize and welcome differences, respect individuality and celebrate all abilities.
We believe that being brave is a part of our collective strength. We encourage input and feedback from all voices, and create an environment where everyone can share ideas free of barriers and fear.
We endeavour to create remarkable change.
We challenge conventions and embrace curiosity and creativity, seeking always to deliver the greatest impact for people living with disabilities and the community at large.
We empower individuals and teams, and nurture learning and growth. We believe that when we work together as one connected team, we are a powerful force for good.
Values
Client Focus
People living with disabilities and their families are at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. Their voices and lived experiences inform and guide our work.
Collaboration
We believe that when we work together as one connected team, we are a powerful force
for good. Our team includes the dedicated donors, supporters, partners, and allies who
work with us to make change happen.
Accountability
We are accountable to ourselves, to each other, and to our community – operating with
the highest integrity and following through on the commitments we make.
Innovation
We challenge conventions and embrace curiosity and creativity, always seeking to deliver
the greatest impact for people living with disabilities and the community at large.
2021 – 2024 Strategic Focus Areas
The best start for children, youth and families
Our goal: To ensure that children and youth living with disabilities can achieve their full potential, thriving at every stage of their development.
Independence at home and in the community
Our goal: To ensure people living with disabilities can live safely and independently where and how they live, participating fully in their communities on their own terms.
Active, healthy, connected lives
Our goal: To ensure that people living with disabilities can have the best possible physical and mental health, and enjoy strong, supportive relationships and a sense of community belonging.
Financial security
Our goal: To ensure that people have the financial means to avoid or escape poverty and live well with a disability.
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
The pandemic will have a significant financial impact on our sector, but March of Dimes Canada has weathered the storm, with a focus on staff and client safety and well-being; a conservative approach to expenditures; and an effort to maximize financial opportunity.
With the impact of the pandemic on our traditional business operations, we pivoted our approach to service delivery and increased our client interactions by 20% over the previous year. We demonstrated that virtual service delivery can produce, cost-effective and positive results for consumers. While philanthropy revenues were lower than last year due to the cancellation of key events, we exceeded our fee-for-service revenue projections.
Overall, March of Dimes Canada reports a surplus of $3.4M at year end, with $2.1M from operations and another $1.3M from unrealized gains and investment income from market.
In keeping with our commitment to stewarding granted and donated funds responsibly and efficiently, 90% of our total operating expenses went toward program and service delivery, 8% to administration and 2% to fundraising activities. We are proud to be a member of Imagine Canada’s Standards Program, which accredits non-profits that demonstrate excellence in financial accountability and transparency.
Our financial reserves remain healthy at $20 million, supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of our work.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| March of Dimes Canada Website | Financial Statements 2020 – 2021 |
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Strategic Planning and Management
- Leads the development and execution of MODC’s multi-year strategic philanthropy plan and the programs goals for growing overall sustainable income.
- Develops and executes annual operating plans which includes specific key performance measures to ensure tracking on goals.
- Develops and manages a budget that ensures resources are in place to execute plans and achieve required outcomes.
- Collaborates with mission enabling teams to identify and maximize cross-functional/cross-market opportunities in alignment with MODC’s mission and goals.
- Strategizes and works closely with the National Director, Marketing and Communications to develop compelling, high quality fundraising materials that communicate the MODC’s brand and value proposition to prospects, and clearly articulate to donors the impact of their generosity towards the MODC and subsidiaries.
- Works collaboratively and respectfully with business partners and colleagues in various functions and actively participates in the Senior Management Team.
Philanthropy Leadership
- Works as a critical architect of our philanthropic culture, our ‘chief enthusiast’, embedding philanthropy into our thinking and practice.
- Engages internal stakeholders to create giving opportunities that are meaningful and show real internal mission alignment and leadership in the organization.
- Develops, manages, and is accountable for the team’s annual operational goals, performance, and budget.
- Consistently demonstrates the behavioural norms and values in the MODC’s culture code and holds members of the gifts team accountable for the same set of behaviours.
- Supports the President & CEO with the development of MODC initiatives as assigned as well as the preparation and review of research & briefing notes for call activity and volunteer engagement.
- Mentors Regional Managers across the country to further community giving or grant based success and mutual philanthropy goals.
- Liaise with appropriate internal mission / programs leads to compellingly articulate the case for support to prospective donors and ensure appropriate representation of key leads, as subject matter experts who enable mission, in in meetings and events.
Revenue Generation
- Develops, manages and is accountable for the team’s annual operational revenue goals, performance, and budget.
- Sets goals, monitors work, and evaluates program results to support ongoing progress reporting within the organization. Programs include but not limited to major and leadership giving, planned giving, corporate partnership, mass marketing, events and community giving.
- Maintains a personal portfolio of prospects and partners to achieve personal fundraising goals.
- Establishes and coordinates the volunteer leadership structure, process and opportunities to help support and realize philanthropy goals.
- Strategically engages and supports volunteers, board members and internal leadership to cultivate prospects, solicit and close gifts.
- Negotiates gift terms and bring solicitations to closure with or independent of volunteer leadership, as appropriate.
- Develops effective strategies for donor recognition, stewardship, and engagement to ensure effective donor relations are implemented for all philanthropy commitments.
- Develops and oversees execution of an annual stewardship and communication plan identifying key communication vehicles and events for existing and potential donors/partners.
- Ensures budgets meet guidelines and timelines; and provides ongoing reporting of progress against targets.
Staff Leadership and Management
- Creates and supports a high performing, team-based culture aligned with MODC’s core values to motivate and inspire staff working collaboratively toward MODC’s vision and strategic focus areas.
- Directly supervises functional Directors and Managers, working closely with them to build their skills and confidence so that they can mentor, encourage, and motivate all staff.
- Ensures each team member has clear accountabilities and goals that align with and support MODC.
- Recruits and onboards new team members as approved. Trains, motivates and coaches all team members to success.
- Establishes performance plans and objectives and reviews on an ongoing basis; provides coaching and feedback as per the performance management process.
- Where appropriate, realigns the Philanthropy team as needed to facilitate and reinforce the effectiveness of strategic plans. This may include realigning key processes, team structure, management practices, communications, and the deployment of staff and volunteers.
- Models and promotes MODC’s Culture Code and the values of One Team, Accountability and Adapting and Growing Together.
- Ensures adherence to all applicable MODC policies, procedures, and protocol.
Operations, Technology Solutions & Moves Management
- Oversees the day-to-day operations of the Philanthropy program including gift processing, receipting, stewardship, and impact reporting.
- Works collaboratively with the IT team to ensure application service offerings and technology solution solutions are fit for purpose and effective for the program / team.
- Designs integrated moves management programs and prospect clearance processes to seamless coordinate activity in a highly complex environment.
- Monitors changing priorities, trends, legislative requirements and/or other internal and external issues that may impact the MODC’s strategy and performance.
- Ensures current fundraising policies and procedures for MODC operations are documented and that Imagine Canada accreditation status is secured.
- Ensures adherence to all applicable MODC policies, procedures, and protocol.
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Progressive fundraising leadership experience with proven results in delivering successful donor development strategies, ideally within a national health or social care, hospital, or other complex setting.
- Demonstrated track-record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual, corporate, and foundation prospects and donors of major gifts, partnerships and planned gifts at the 6-figure level or higher.
- Demonstrated success in building and retaining a high-performing team including recruiting, coaching, managing, and inspiring staff.
- Experience providing leadership, supporting, and mobilizing senior volunteers/executives.
- Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
- Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building abilities.
- Excellent communication skills including superior verbal, written, and presentation skills; language abilities in French will be considered an asset.
- Ability to design and implement complex gift structures.
- Proven ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences effectively and passionately both orally and in writing.
- High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels.
- Knowledge of financial, legal and regulatory requirements of a non-profit organization.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and donor database management systems.
- Valid driver’s license.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of March of Dimes Canada. For more information about this opportunity, please contact Mona Ip, Senior Search Consultant by email at MODC@kcitalent.com
All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by August 29, 2022.
To view the full Position Brief, please visit: www.kcitalent.com