YMCA Calgary is a charity that ignites the potential in Calgarians. Since our inception in 1902, we have evolved into a vibrant organization operating in every quadrant of the city.
Guided by our core values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility, YMCA Calgary offers a growing hub of programming & services to address the needs of our community including connection and belonging, physical and mental wellbeing, child-care support, language instruction, affordable tutoring and more. We also ensure that no one is turned away, lowering financial barriers for youth, adults and families through the generous donations of our community. This impact takes place across our 7 health and wellness facilities, 6 childcare centres, 2 outdoor camps and 12+ community programs, empowering people of all ages and life stages to belong, grow, thrive and lead.
YMCA Calgary serves the community at our six health and wellness locations, six child care centres, two outdoor camp locations, and 60 community outreach locations. Join us in building healthy communities!
Director, Comprehensive Campaign (Full Time)
YMCA Calgary
Salary: $84,815.00/yr - $106,019.00/yr
Start Date: Immediately
You can make an impact in the community - locally and across the globe. You will work with a fun culture of people and enjoy many of the benefits and opportunities the YMCA offers:
- Complimentary YMCA Calgary membership including a linked membership for dependent children;
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits. Premiums paid in full by the Association;
- Pension plan with specified contribution matching by the Association;
- Anniversary flex day to celebrate each year of employment;
- Program discounts;
- Ongoing leadership development and opportunities;
- Leadership award opportunities;
- Scholarship opportunities;
- Paid recertification and training.
YMCA Calgary is one of our city’s most impactful charities, serving one in seven Calgarians through experiences that nurture development and spark potential. As YMCA Calgary prepares to celebrate 125 years in the community in 2027, the organization is embarking on one of its most significant endeavours yet: a $42 million comprehensive campaign designed to ignite connection and ensure YMCA Calgary remains a trusted neighbour for generations to come.
Reporting to the VP of Philanthropy the Director of Comprehensive Campaign provides strategic leadership for YMCA Calgary’s multi-year campaign, with accountability for developing and executing the strategy required to raise a minimum of $42 million by 2030. This role advances major, principal, and transformational gifts by building strong relationships with donors, campaign volunteers, board members, senior leaders, and community partners.
This is a hands-on senior leadership role for an experienced fundraising professional who can secure significant gifts, influence senior stakeholders, guide campaign execution, and personally lead the coordination, preparation, follow-up, research, materials development, and administrative activities required to keep the campaign moving forward.
We strive to ensure our employees are a fit based on their strengths, interests, and future goals. The successful candidate will have the following:
- 5 –7 years proven experience in a senior leadership role with responsibility for fundraising and donor experiences throughout the lifecycle
- Extensive knowledge of fundraising trends, methods and principles and experience leading large-scale campaigns
- Track record of personally cultivating and successfully managing relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and senior volunteers
- Experience leading or playing a senior role in large-scale campaign planning and execution, including strategy, timelines, volunteer engagement, donor communications, and progress monitoring.
- Strong influencing skills, openness to new ideas, patience and persistence – able to build consensus in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment
- Strategic, big picture thinker with a superior ability to develop pragmatic solutions and efficient processes
- CFRE designation, equivalent fundraising education, community-based fundraising experience, or knowledge of Calgary’s philanthropic landscape is considered an asset.
- High energy, enthusiasm and a demonstrated ability to work effectively under pressure
- Highly organized and accurate with excellent attention to detail
- Creative, flexible and able to handle complexity and ambiguity
- Evidence of a clear Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector search
- Three professional references
Duties and responsibilities include:
Campaign Strategy and Leadership
- Develop and execute campaign strategy and annual business plans to meet the $42 million multi-year fundraising goal.
- Create campaign timelines, implementation plans, and performance measures to ensure successful execution.
- Assess campaign risks, opportunities, market dynamics, performance results, and donor engagement trends, and lead strategic adjustments to maximize campaign success.
- Coordinate key administrative functions, including schedule management, research, materials development, follow-up tracking, and collaboration with internal departments.
- Engage, organize, and align key stakeholders—including community volunteers, donors, funders, board members, and internal YMCA leadership—to support campaign strategy, decision-making, and execution.
- Monitor campaign progress and adjust strategy based on performance and donor engagement trends.
Major Gifts and Donor Strategy
- Design and execute strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors and prospects.
- Manage a portfolio of major and transformational gift prospects.
- Lead development of donor engagement plans tailored to giving capacity, affinity, and philanthropic interests.
- Partner with senior leadership, board members, and campaign volunteers to prepare for and execute high-value donor solicitations.
- Lead development of customized proposals, gift agreements, and donor presentations.
- Monitor donor movement and solicitation progress to ensure alignment with campaign revenue targets and timelines.
Volunteer and Leadership Engagement
- Train and support campaign fundraising volunteers.
- Partner with board members and campaign volunteers to expand networks and increase philanthropic engagement.
- Equip volunteers with messaging, tools, and confidence to support donor cultivation and solicitation.
- Organize campaign meetings and provide regular updates on campaign progress and priorities.
Communications
- Collaborate with communications and marketing team to develop campaign messaging and materials.
- Ensure consistent and persuasive campaign communications across donor touchpoints.
- Plan and execute public campaign launches, donor events, campaign announcements and recognition initiatives in collaboration with communication and marketing team.
Stewardship and Donor Experience
- Develop strategies to ensure exceptional donor stewardship and long-term relationship management.
- Coordinate recognition, reporting, and impact communications for campaign donors in partnership with Philanthropy, Communications, and program teams.
- Foster a donor-centered culture focused on trust, transparency, and meaningful engagement.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Lead through influence across Philanthropy, Finance, Communications, Operations, Programs, and senior leadership to advance campaign priorities.
- Build internal alignment around campaign priorities and organizational readiness.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required and other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.
The Director, Comprehensive Campaign will work in a traditional office Setting. This position may occasionally be eligible to work from home. They will be required to travel between branches and other external locations for meetings, events and networking.
This position will conduct the majority of duties during a standard work week, however, will be required to be flexible to coordinate and attend after-hours and weekend events as needed. This position is exempt from the YMCA Calgary Lieu Time Agreement.
Our employees embody the YMCA values of honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. In addition, they model and are committed to the following competencies;
- Developing Self and Others: Developing people with a view toward present and future capacity.
- Building Purposeful Relationships: Relating to people authentically with their best in mind.
- Creating a Culture of Community: Gathering people to purpose and vision.
- Making Intentional Impact: Intending to make a difference every day.
- Thinking and Acting Strategically: Applying thoughts, words, and actions in service to the vision.
- Applying Business Acumen: Demonstrating excellence in technical skills and stewarding the YMCA Business Model.
- Innovating: Ability to know your environment, initiate and respond effectively to changing conditions.
YMCA Calgary is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants must have legal authorization to work in Canada by way of Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Residency or a valid Canadian work permit. YMCA Calgary is currently not engaged in international recruitment efforts as we are required to demonstrate that we have exhausted all means of recruitment both locally and nationally.
Potential candidates will only be contacted if selected for an interview.
All applications are to be submitted online but for any position specific concerns or questions, please email
[email protected]
