About Autism Nova Scotia…
Autism Nova Scotia is a provincial leader in advancing inclusion, understanding, and opportunity for Autistic people and their families and caregivers. We deliver person-directed, neuro-affirming supports across the lifespan through our network of Regional Autism Centres in Halifax and nine communities across the province.
Our work is grounded in First Voice leadership, community partnership, and a strong commitment to establishing equity for rural, racialized, and other underserved communities. Through programs that promote social and community inclusion, employment support, and family and caregiver support, we work to reduce barriers, strengthen community capacity, and create pathways for Autistic Nova Scotians to learn, work, live, and belong.
TITLE: Manager, Major Gifts and Philanthropy
DEPARTMENT: Partnerships and Growth
REPORTS TO: Director of Partnerships and Growth
TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full-time
LOCATION: Halifax, NS (Hybrid Work Environment)
Job Summary
The Manager, Major Gifts and Philanthropy is responsible for building and managing a major gifts program that grows sustainable philanthropic support for the organization. This role focuses on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, family foundations, private foundations, and aligned philanthropic partners capable of making significant gifts.
Reporting to the Director of Partnerships and Growth, the Manager will build and manage a portfolio of current and prospective major gift donors, develop tailored donor engagement and solicitation strategies, prepare compelling proposals and stewardship materials, and support leadership and board members in donor cultivation.
While the role may support select corporate, foundation, sponsorship, or partnership opportunities where there is a clear major gift connection, its primary focus is major gift pipeline development, donor relationship management, and long-term philanthropic revenue growth.
Key Responsibilities
Major Gifts Strategy and Pipeline Development
Build and implement a major gifts strategy aligned with organizational goals and priorities.
Build and manage a portfolio of current and prospective major gift donors, including individuals, family foundations, private foundations, and aligned philanthropic partners.
Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
Develop customized donor engagement, cultivation, and solicitation plans.
Support the growth of a strong major gifts pipeline, including new prospects and existing donors with increased giving potential.
Contribute to annual major gift revenue goals, donor engagement goals, and pipeline development targets.
Maintain a clear understanding of donor interests, giving capacity, relationship history, and potential alignment with organizational priorities.
Donor Cultivation, Solicitation and Stewardship
Build and maintain strong, respectful, and meaningful relationships with major donors and prospective supporters.
Prepare compelling proposals, cases for support, presentations, briefing notes, and stewardship reports.
Create individualized stewardship plans that recognize donor impact and support long-term engagement.
Ensure timely donor acknowledgement, recognition, and impact reporting.
Facilitate donor meetings, tours, calls, events, and other engagement opportunities.
Respond professionally and confidentially to donor inquiries and requests.
Ensure donor engagement is inclusive, respectful, neuro-affirming, ethical, and community-centered.
Foundations and Strategic Philanthropic Opportunities
Identify and pursue major gift opportunities with family foundations, private foundations, and philanthropic organizations.
Prepare letters of inquiry, funding proposals, grant applications, and reports connected to major gift and foundation opportunities.
Monitor and communicate relevant philanthropic funding opportunities and deadlines.
Support select corporate philanthropic opportunities where there is strong alignment with the organization’s mission and major gift strategy.
Collaborate with the Director of Partnerships and Growth to ensure major gift opportunities align with broader sponsorship, partnership, training-growth, and organizational revenue strategies.
Board and Leadership Collaboration
Work closely with the Director of Partnerships and Growth, senior leadership, and board members to advance major gift opportunities.
Prepare donor profiles, briefing notes, talking points, and meeting materials for leadership and board-supported donor cultivation.
Support board members and volunteers in appropriate donor engagement activities.
Participate in fundraising strategy discussions and contribute to donor pipeline planning.
Ensure donor approaches are coordinated, professional, and aligned with organizational priorities.
Database, Pipeline Management and Reporting
Maintain accurate and timely donor records within the organization’s donor management system.
Track donor relationships, engagement history, next steps, pipeline progress, and projected major gift revenue.
Use the donor management system to support moves management, follow-up planning, and portfolio tracking.
Prepare regular reports on portfolio activity, donor engagement, proposals submitted, gifts secured, and revenue projections.
Ensure compliance with privacy legislation, ethical fundraising practices, and organizational policies.
Collaboration and Organizational Representation
Work collaboratively with Communications, Finance, Programs, Training and Education, and other internal teams as needed.
Represent the organization at donor meetings, community events, networking opportunities, and stakeholder meetings.
Serve as an ambassador for the organization’s mission, values, programs, and impact.
Promote awareness of philanthropic opportunities and the impact of donor support.
Support a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
Qualifications
Post-secondary education in fundraising, business administration, communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive fundraising, donor relations, major gifts, sponsorship, or partnership development experience.
Demonstrated experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors or high-value partners.
Experience managing donor or prospect portfolios is considered an asset.
Experience preparing funding proposals, donor materials, sponsorship requests, grant applications, or impact reports.
Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, moves management, and ethical fundraising.
Experience working within a nonprofit, charitable, healthcare, education, or community-based organization is considered an asset.
Certified Fund Raising Executive designation is considered an asset.
Certifications and Training
Valid Criminal Record Check.
Valid Class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License and access to reliable transportation.
CFRE designation considered an asset.
Training or experience with fundraising software, donor management systems, or philanthropy best practices considered an asset.
Skills and Competencies
Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication abilities.
Ability to inspire donor engagement and philanthropic investment.
Ability to build trust with donors, families, foundations, community leaders, board members, and internal teams.
Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
High degree of professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
Strong proposal writing, storytelling, and impact reporting skills.
Comfort with donor research, portfolio tracking, and revenue forecasting.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and donor management software.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusive, respectful, neuro-affirming, and community-centered fundraising practices.
Competencies in French and/or other languages are considered an asset.
Working Conditions
Regular travel within Nova Scotia for donor meetings, events, and stakeholder engagement.
Occasional evening and weekend work for fundraising activities, donor meetings, and community events.
Combination of office, community-based, and virtual work environments.
Frequent interaction with donors, community leaders, volunteers, board members, and organizational partners.
Independent work balanced with collaboration across departments and leadership teams.
Flexibility to meet organizational fundraising priorities and donor availability.
What to expect at Autism Nova Scotia...
You’ll celebrate the uniqueness of all individuals.
Diversity is a fundamental part of our core values; we create every opportunity to become more inclusive. We encourage applications from qualified candidates from all diverse communities including, but not limited to, aboriginal persons, racially visible persons, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ and women in non-traditional roles.
You’ll make a difference.
You’ll be surrounded by passionate and committed individuals who work together to improve quality of life through our services
You’ll find a place to grow and develop.
We support professional development through training courses and support to help our professionals working with autistic people gain the knowledge they need to succeed and thrive. With a lot of opportunity for professional development and collaborative projects, you’ll continue to grow and learn throughout your career.
Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted and expected to provide at least three recent, relevant references. The successful candidate maybe required to provide official transcripts to show proof of academic achievements where applicable.
Please Note: We encourage and consider applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or those of other minority groups. Members of designated groups are encouraged to self-identify.
