Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

Islamic Relief Canada • Remote - On, ON

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Employee Type: Permanent Become a changemaker with Islamic Relief Canada! Join our team and work towards our mission to mobilize Canadians to transform more lives around the world in the most trusted manner. About the Department: The Fund Development department aims to develop and implement strategies to increase the funding income of Islamic Relief through a range of fundraising initiatives and through acquisition and retention of donors, volunteers and community supporters. Job Purpose: The Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships (P&P) will lead the development and implementation of Islamic Relief Canada’s philanthropy, partnerships, and major gifts strategy. This role is responsible for building and strengthening long-term relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, and key community partners while overseeing the systems, structure, and team required to support sustainable donor engagement and revenue growth. This position will work directly with the Director of Fundraising and closely with senior leadership and internal stakeholders to ensure donor relationships are strategically managed, stewardship standards are maintained, and fundraising objectives are achieved through strong operational planning, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Scope: Lead and manage Islamic Relief Canada’s Philanthropy & Partnerships portfolio, including major donors, foundations, corporations, and strategic partners. Develop and implement strategies for donor acquisition, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention. Build and manage a high-performing philanthropy and partnerships team with clear goals, systems, and accountability measures. Oversee donor engagement systems, CRM workflows, reporting structures, and operational processes. Lead fundraising pitches, donor engagement opportunities, sponsorships, and partnership development initiatives. Work collaboratively with Marketing, Programs, Finance, Operations, and Technology teams to support major gift fundraising priorities. Contribute to Fund Development major gift strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and departmental planning. Ensure stewardship and donor experience standards are consistently maintained across the organization. Continuously cultivate best practices in major gift retention, expansion, and acquisition.

Requirements

• Minimum 8–12 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, philanthropy, partnership management, or nonprofit leadership.
• Demonstrated experience managing major donor portfolios and securing high-value gifts.
• Proven experience leading and managing teams, including coaching, performance management, and staff development.
• Proven experience of budgeting, forecasting, and using KPIs to monitor and manage performance.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining long-term stakeholder relationships.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives.
• Experience preparing donor proposals, reports, stewardship plans, and fundraising presentations.
• Experience using CRM systems, donor databases, and project management tools.
• Proven experience working independently and effectively managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of philanthropy, fundraising strategies, donor stewardship, and partnership development.
• Proven ability to cultivate relationships and secure financial or strategic support.
• Excellent leadership, people management, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking
• Credibility and confidence to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands.
• Ability to develop compelling cases for support and funding proposals.
• Strong understanding of donor engagement systems, CRM tools, data analysis, and collaboration platforms.
• Knowledge of international development and humanitarian programming.
• Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration across teams and departments.
• Sound judgement, professionalism, and a relationship-focused approach to donor management.
• Degree educated or equivalent professional experience.
• Current local driving license.

Nice To Haves

• Flexible approach to work in order to accommodate events, functions, and work activities.
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally, sometimes at short notice.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a sustainable philanthropy and partnerships strategy aligned with organizational priorities and fundraising targets.
• Develop annual workplans, engagement calendars, stewardship frameworks, and operational processes for the P&P function.
• Identify and cultivate prospective major donors, corporate partners, trusts, foundations, and high-value supporters.
• Research fundraising and major gift trends, donor interests, and new revenue opportunities to strengthen fundraising growth.
• Monitor, forecast, and report on fundraising performance against departmental plans, budgets, and KPIs.
• Develop systems and structures with the technology team that support long-term donor relationship management and operational efficiency.
• Manage and sustain the portfolio of major gift prospects and strategic relationships.
• Develop and oversee personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for high-value donors and partners.
• Ensure appropriate donor recognition, acknowledgement, and stewardship activities are implemented with the goal of donor retention and long-term engagement.
• Coordinate proposals, donor reports, presentations, and funding applications to effectively communicate Islamic Relief Canada’s impact and funding opportunities.
• Attend and represent Islamic Relief Canada at community events, donor meetings, conferences, and networking opportunities.
• Work closely with senior leadership, including the Director of Fundraising, CEO and Executive team on major gifts and partner relationships.
• Support donor visits, field trips, and strategic engagement opportunities to strengthen donor relationships and emotional connection to Islamic Relief’s work.
• Promote and integrate Islamic Relief Canada’s Waqf and strategic giving opportunities into donor engagement and stewardship activities.
• Oversee CRM systems, donor workflows, and data management processes.
• Ensure accurate documentation of donor interactions, reports, and stewardship activities.
• Maintain effective information flow across departments through project management and collaboration systems.
• Develop and improve operational systems that support donor engagement, reporting, and fundraising effectiveness.
• Ensure fundraising information, donor records, and stewardship activities are managed consistently and professionally.
• Track performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement processes that strengthen operational efficiency and donor experience.
• Lead, manage, mentor, and support the Philanthropy & Partnerships team to achieve departmental goals and fundraising targets.
• Establish workflow processes, regular portfolio reviews, check-ins, and accountability measures for the team.
• Ensure team members receive regular feedback, coaching, and professional development support.
• Work collaboratively with Fund Development leadership and other internal departments to align organizational priorities and fundraising initiatives.
• Facilitate coordination with Marketing, Programs, Finance, Technology, and Operations teams for donor reporting, proposals, campaign materials, and strategic projects.
• Support a collaborative, relationship-focused culture that prioritizes long-term donor engagement and stewardship.

Benefits

• Hybrid Work Policy: IRC has a hybrid model where in-office requirements are based on distance from our Burlington headquarters or a regional office (Surrey, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa). Depending on where you live, this can range from two days a week to one day a month.
• Commitment to Accessibility: Islamic Relief Canada is committed to providing inclusive employment opportunities. Accommodation requests are invited at all stages of IRC recruitment, hiring, and employment processes. We make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations in a timely manner. If you have any accommodation requests or questions regarding the hiring process, contact us at [email protected] or 1-855-377-4673.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed