Associate Director Philanthropy, OVC

Department: OVC Advancement

This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

Temporary full-time from 03/02/2025 to 03/05/2028

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment, value creativity and innovation, and are eager to make a meaningful impact on veterinary medicine and health research as a philanthropic matchmaker?

The Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) team and the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph are seeking a passionate and innovative Associate Director of Philanthropy (ADP), OVC to support OVC’s Healthy Futures Strategic Plan and the fundraising efforts associated with the construction of a new Medical and Surgical Learning Centre. This leadership role will develop OVC’s major and principal gift pipeline and will manage a fundraising team.

At the University of Guelph, inclusion is a core value. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups, to help us further diversify our institution.

In AA&D, we advance the University of Guelph’s mission by building lifelong connections with alumni, donors, and friends. As such the ADP, OVC, will embody our core values of respect, empowerment, integrity, appreciation, and forward focus. Our vision is for the University of Guelph to be personally relevant in the lives of our community members. Through these relationships, we amplify the impact of philanthropy to create unique solutions for the challenges facing our world.

The Ontario Veterinary College is a global leader in veterinary medicine and health research. At OVC, we are committed to improving the health of animals, people, and our planet. We educate the next generation of health leaders and provide high-value experiential learning opportunities through an interdisciplinary, comparative approach. Joining our team means creating real-world solutions to real-world problems.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of OVC Advancement and working closely with the OVC Advancement team, the Associate Director of Philanthropy (ADP), is responsible for major gift and principal gift fundraising (contributions of $100,000 or greater) for the Ontario Veterinary College and management of a team of three to five fundraising staff members. The ADP is expected to personally generate a minimum of $1.5 million in new major gifts and pledges annually and, as a philanthropic team, secure $4M annually in revenue.

The ADP will work closely to advance OVC’s top priorities with an external audience ranging from alumni, corporations and friends of the University of Guelph. This occurs through donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. More specifically, the responsibilities of the ADP include:

• Identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major and principal-level donors and prospects through the fundraising cycle.
• Maintaining a robust pipeline of 40-60 major and principal-level donors
• Preparing briefing materials to support Senior Administration (President, VPs, AVPs, Deans, Directors) fundraising activity.
• Collaborating with the Director, Advancement (OVC) and other internal partners to identify university priorities that will resonate with donors e.g. faculty support, and capital projects.
• Creating and presenting materials to advance fundraising asks and negotiating the closure of major and principal level gifts, including the creation of gift agreements and other supporting documentation.
• Managing a team of three to five development staff members which may include recruitment and training.

The ADP will also undertake complex planned giving discussions with donors, friends and alumni in order to promote planned giving as a means to achieve OVC’s fundraising priorities and create a legacy for donors on campus.

The ADP will also participate in the stewardship of alumni, friends and corporations, and work closely with the OVC Stewardship Engagement Manager. This includes taking personal leadership on gift announcements/communications and supporting OVC partners to implement gifts.

Working collaboratively with the Alumni Advancement Manager, the ADP will help identify alumni for major gift cultivation and ensure that major gift alumni are engaged in college events.

In addition to these responsibilities, the ADP will contribute to strategic planning for OVC and other University initiatives along with fellow members of the OVC Advancement team. The ADP, in collaboration with the Director, will help to develop and implement a long-term fundraising strategy for OVC aligned with the overall AA&D multi-year and annual strategic plans, and work with other members of the team to implement the various projects and initiatives reflected in the strategic plan.

We believe that fundraising is a team sport and building strong internal relationships is key to success. The ADP will work collaboratively with both the Alumni Affairs and Development team members as well as the OVC External Relations team members.

Requirements

• A minimum of 6 years of experience in University or other public sector fundraising experience, with a proven track record of success securing principal and major gifts from a variety of stakeholders.
• Completion of an undergraduate degree
• CFRE is preferred but not mandatory
• Experience leading and managing team members, volunteers and working with senior staff.
• Advanced knowledge of business community (in particular, veterinary community), and related issues and challenges
• Ability to engage senior leadership in a variety of sectors at a strategic level
• Superior strategic planning, people management and administrative skills to lead an advancement team ensuring fundraisers and other team members have both individual and group success
• Superior interpersonal communications skills, including effective relationship building and experience working with individuals in senior or high-profile positions
• Leadership and motivation skills, with proven ability to lead groups towards completion of long-term goals in dynamic environments
• Experience with all aspects of the advancement environment, from alumni engagement, high-volume annual giving approaches to personal principal and major giving, to planned and legacy giving
• Ability to think and act quickly and effectively under pressure, exercising tact, diplomacy, discretion and good judgment
• Experience with public relations, communications and alumni relations programs
• Successful experience managing personnel with diverse job requirements, both unionized and professional
• Experience managing the personnel and resource requirements of competing projects and transitions between projects
• Experience implementing complex processes and overlapping cycles of activity

If you have a passion for animal welfare and/or background in animal, medical or healthcare charities, that would be a tremendous asset and will contribute to your success and satisfaction in this role.

NOTE: The University has adopted a policy relative to flexible work arrangements. This appointment is regularly performed on campus but is eligible for a flexible work arrangement under the terms of this policy.

Employee Type: Temporary
Position Number: 10920121
Classification: P&M FT- Band 07
Professional/Managerial Salary Bands

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 01/10/2025
Closing Date: 01/31/2025