Full-Time | Cambridge, Ontario
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
About Cambridge Food Bank
At Cambridge Food Bank, we are building health and belonging through food, education and advocacy.
Guided by our values of Healthy People, Connected Community, and Environmental Sustainability, we believe food is a powerful tool for strengthening wellbeing, creating connections, and inspiring change. Through food access, education, and advocacy, we are working toward a future where everyone in our community has the opportunity to thrive.
We are more than a food bank. We are a community builder, educator, advocate, and catalyst for positive change.
Each year, we distribute more than 1 million pounds of food while engaging hundreds of volunteers, donors, businesses, and community members in creating a healthier, more connected community.
We are a collaborative team that believes no role is too big or too small. We support one another, celebrate successes together, and are always willing to step in and help when needed. We value leaders who lead by example and are willing to roll up their sleeves to support colleagues and organizational priorities.
Position Summary
The Director of Philanthropy is responsible for leading the organization's fundraising, donor engagement, sponsorship, grants, communications, and stewardship strategies.
Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the senior leadership team, the Director will inspire investment in a vision that extends beyond food access to include health promotion, education, community connection, environmental sustainability, and systems change.
The Director provides leadership to the Manager of Development, Communications Coordinator, and Capital Campaign Project Lead, and works closely with donors, businesses, foundations, and community leaders to strengthen the organization's impact and long-term sustainability.
The successful candidate is both a strategic leader and an active contributor, equally comfortable developing fundraising strategy, cultivating major donors, supporting events, reviewing communications, and stepping in to help the team wherever needed.
The Director will build upon a strong foundation of community support and philanthropy, helping advance the organization's long-term fundraising vision and growth objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as a member of the senior leadership team and contribute to organizational planning, strategy, and decision-making.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive philanthropy strategy aligned with organizational priorities and strategic goals.
- Assist in establishing annual fundraising goals, revenue targets, budgets, and performance measures.
- Monitor fundraising performance and recommend strategies to maximize revenue growth and donor engagement.
- Support the CEO in advancing philanthropic priorities and community awareness.
- Champion a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.
Major Gifts & Donor Engagement
- Manage and grow a portfolio of leadership and major gift donors.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $10,000 and above.
- Develop personalized donor engagement strategies that deepen relationships and inspire long-term investment.
- Identify and qualify new prospects through research, referrals, networking, and relationship-building.
- Prepare compelling proposals, impact reports, donor correspondence, and presentation materials.
Sponsorships & Revenue Growth
- Develop and implement strategies to grow sponsorship and philanthropic revenue.
- Identify, cultivate, and steward corporate supporters and sponsors.
- Create compelling sponsorship opportunities and investment cases.
- Build strong relationships with local businesses, industry leaders, service organizations, and community stakeholders.
- Ensure meaningful recognition and stewardship of corporate supporters.
Grants & Institutional Funding
- Participant in the organization's grant and foundation fundraising strategy.
- Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with foundation and institutional funders.
- Oversee grant proposal development, reporting, and compliance.
- Support the development of funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and community needs.
Communications & Stewardship
- Provide strategic oversight of donor communications, storytelling, impact reporting, and stewardship initiatives.
- Collaborate with the Communications Coordinator to ensure consistent and compelling messaging across all channels.
- Ensure donors, sponsors, and funders understand the impact of their support through meaningful engagement and reporting.
- Support public awareness initiatives that strengthen understanding of food insecurity, health, and community wellbeing.
Team Leadership
- Directly supervise the Manager of Development, Capital Campaign Project Lead and Communications Coordinator.
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, and accountable team culture.
- Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations.
- Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
- Encourage continuous improvement, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
Leadership & Team Culture
- Lead by example and contribute to team-wide success by supporting projects and initiatives beyond individual responsibilities when required.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, accountability, and shared success.
- Support organizational events, campaigns, and community initiatives as needed.
- Demonstrate a willingness to roll up their sleeves and help wherever needed to advance the mission.
Qualifications
- Post-secondary degree or diploma in fundraising, communications, business, nonprofit management, public administration, marketing, or a related field.
- CFRE designation is considered an asset.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of progressive fundraising experience.
- Experience leading projects, volunteers, teams, or direct reports in a fundraising, nonprofit, or community-based environment.
- Demonstrated success securing and stewarding major gifts of $10,000+, with experience cultivating and soliciting leadership gifts at higher levels considered an asset.
- Proven experience developing sponsorship opportunities and securing corporate support.
- Experience with grant and foundation fundraising is an asset.
Skills & Competencies
- Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
- Strong presentation, negotiation, and communication abilities.
- Excellent proposal development, writing, and storytelling skills.
- Strategic thinker with strong business and community development acumen.
- Ability to analyze data and use metrics to guide decision-making.
- Demonstrated ability to inspire philanthropic investment and community engagement.
We Are Looking For Someone Who Is
- Passionate about building healthier, more connected communities.
- Energized by meaningful work and measurable impact.
- Collaborative, adaptable, and relationship-focused.
- Comfortable navigating complexity and change.
- Strategic, innovative, and solutions-oriented.
- Motivated by creating opportunities for people and communities to thrive.
- Willing to roll up their sleeves and contribute wherever needed.
- A leader who balances big-picture thinking with practical execution.
Why Join Cambridge Food Bank?
This is an opportunity to help shape the future of an organization that is redefining what a food bank can be.
You will join a passionate team committed to creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to experience health, belonging, and dignity. Through food, education, and advocacy, we are building a stronger future together.
If you are inspired by community impact, relationship building, and creating meaningful change, we would love to hear from you.
Salary Range: Up to $90,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
The Cambridge Food Bank is committed to employment equity. We encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diverse experiences of our community, including those with lived experience of food insecurity. We particularly welcome applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process upon request
Pay: $85,000.00-$90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Mileage reimbursement
- RRSP match
Work Location: In person
