Director of Development

Help Build a Canada Without Homelessness

At the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) we believe homelessness is solvable. We work alongside communities governments frontline organizations and people with lived expertise to help build housing-focused systems that measurably reduce homelessness across Canada.

CAEH is evolving. We are a modern social impact organization that combines systems change advisory services data policy learning coaching and innovation to create lasting impact at scale.

We are looking for people who are:

• Outcomes-focused

• Collaborative and adaptable

• Energized by meaningful work

• Comfortable navigating complexity and change

• Curious thoughtful and action-oriented

• Motivated by building better systems and stronger communities

If that sounds like you we would love to hear from you.

The Opportunity

As our next Director of Development you will play an important role in helping CAEH strengthen communities scale impact and accelerate progress toward ending homelessness in Canada.

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Public Affairs and Development the Director of Development is responsible for setting the strategic direction structure and performance of CAEHs philanthropic function. This role ensures the philanthropy function is:

• Strategically aligned to CAEHs Mission Theory of Change and Strategy.

• Integrated across all departments.

• Focused on investments that have measurable system and advocacy outcomes.

• Delivers a strong ROI on fundraising.

• Builds a community of donors and supporters in support of CAEHs mission.

• Managing the full development cycle from identification through solicitation and stewardship.

The Director enables directs and optimizes the work of the Philanthropy team. They will directly contribute to fundraising work by developing high-value funding relationships and leading corporate and major gifts activities.

This role is accountable for building a high-functioning scalable philanthropy system that mobilizes resources to achieve measurable reductions in homelessness across Canada.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys meaningful work strong collaboration and solving complex challenges in a fast-moving environment. You will have the opportunity to influence projects improve systems contribute to organizational growth and help shape the future of CAEH as we continue to evolve.

What Youll Do

Strategic Leadership and Alignment

• Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer Senior Director of Public Affairs and Development and the Senior Leadership Team to drive the overall fundraising vision and strategy directing and overseeing short and long-term goals in alignment with organizational priorities and needs.

• Develop execute and iterate a philanthropy strategy aligned to CAEHs strategic priorities Theory of Change and operating model.

• Translate organizational strategy into a successful philanthropic portfolio (major gifts foundations campaigns corporate partnerships and annual giving) leading major giving and corporate programs and supporting team members in their portfolios.

• Collaborate across departments and cross-functional teams to align fundraising with organizational priorities and supports priority initiatives community outcomes and national advocacy efforts.

• Identify and prioritize funding opportunities that align with CAEHs strategic plan maximizing advocacy and system-level objectives.

• Work with the Communications Lead and team to integrate philanthropic objectives into the communications strategy and plan. The Communications Team is responsible and accountable for all outgoing bulk communications.

• Track and report on philanthropic metrics including donor engagement and retention.

Major Gift and Corporate Partnerships

• Lead the identification of potential major donors and corporate partners.

• Develop and implement comprehensive qualification cultivation solicitation and stewardship plans for major gift prospects and corporate partners leading the full development cycle.

• Grow CAEHs corporate partnerships by developing programs and coordinating internal resources in support.

• Prepare customized proposals presentations briefing materials and stewardship reports to support donor engagement.

• Conduct in-person meetings with donors and prospects as the primary point of contact.

Revenue Growth and Sustainability

• Support the growth of a community-centric approach to philanthropy.

• Grow donor and supporter stewardship within the organization to build and sustain revenue.

• Monitor external trends and proactively adapt strategies to evolving philanthropic landscapes.

• Monitor fundraising ROI and scalability and lead the development of strategic recommendations.

• Update guidelines for fundraising activity governance compliance and ethical standards (and training the team on these guidelines) as required.

• Ensure all funder reporting is executed in a timely and professional manner.

External Representation and Relationship Management

• Cultivate and steward strategic relationships with major donors and philanthropic leaders focusing on major gifts and corporate donors/sponsors.

• Manage funding relationships acting as a primary point of contact for funders.

• Position CAEH as a trusted national partner capable of delivering measurable system-level outcomes.

• Represent CAEH in external forums building philanthropic capacity supporting CAEHs advocacy and sector alignment.

• Work with the Communications and Community Impact teams to develop compelling funding stories that connect donor investment to measurable homelessness reductions and system change.

• Work with the Communications Team to integrate fundraising messaging into our national advocacy and community engagement work in collaboration with all departments.

Integration with Earned Revenue

• Collaborate across departments to align funding strategies with organizational priorities and service delivery.

• Support sustainable and diversified revenue approaches across philanthropic earned and government funding streams.

• Work closely with Finance and leadership teams to support strategic budgeting and funding alignment.

Team Leadership

• Empower the team to lead fundraising activities directly and provide feedback coaching and direction as required.

• Managing the employee experience of the Philanthropy team (this includes hiring onboarding 1:1s regular feedback career development performance management compensation reviews employee relations creating a psychologically safe environment and offboarding).

• Establish clear roles expectations and performance metrics tied to outcomes our values and our mission.

• Coach team members to develop skills in donor engagement fundraising major gifts relationship management influence and any other technical skills and competencies that support their work.

• Lead the development of a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

Youll Also:

• Collaborate across teams to move strategic priorities forward

• Use data evidence and feedback to guide decision-making

• Contribute to continuous improvement across projects systems and service delivery

• Support work that balances mission impact and organizational sustainability

• Help foster a collaborative inclusive and accountable team culture

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means:

• Contributing to measurable progress toward ending homelessness

• Building strong relationships with communities partners and colleagues

• Helping create clarity and momentum in complex environments

• Delivering high-quality work that supports organizational priorities

• Contributing positively to team culture learning and continuous improvement

• Supporting sustainable growth and long-term impact

Required Skills/ Knowledge

• Passion for ending homelessness a belief its possible and a sense of urgency to get there.

• Passion and deep understanding of the CAEH mission and values.

• Recognized leader with a minimum of 5 years experience in a management or supervisory position.

• Experience working in systems change social impact or public sector environments.

• Proven success in major gifts corporate partnerships and building a diversified philanthropic portfolio.

• Proven success in building a philanthropy function in a social impact organization particularly one that works on system-level change and with a social enterprise function.

• Experience with setting measuring and delivering on measures of success for a philanthropy function (e.g. ROI on cost donor engagement and retention).

• An ability to connect funding to system outcomes.

• Experience translating organizational impact into compelling donor narratives.

• Experience with relationship management building partnerships and acting as a key representative of an organization.

• Ability to operate in ambiguity and lead through change.

What You Bring

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every qualification listed below. If you are excited about the role and believe you could contribute meaningfully we encourage you to apply.

Were Looking For Someone Who Has:

• Minimum ten (10) years experience in fundraising and philanthropy.

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Strong organizational and project management capabilities

• The ability to work independently in a remote environment

• Sound judgment initiative and problem-solving skills

• Comfort working in evolving fast-paced environments

• A collaborative mindset and commitment to continuous learning

• University degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent post-secondary education and/or experience.

• CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) Certificate

Assets & Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in homelessness housing or community systems work

• Experience in nonprofit public sector consulting or social enterprise environments

• Experience facilitating coaching advising or delivering services

• Experience applying equity anti-oppression decolonizing or systems change approaches

• Bilingualism (English/French)

• Lived expertise related to homelessness or housing precarity

Working at CAEH

We are building a culture grounded in trust learning collaboration accountability and impact.

CAEH is a remote-first organization with team members across Canada. We value flexibility autonomy continuous improvement and supporting people to do their best work.

What We Offer

• Competitive total compensation

• Comprehensive health benefits

• Retirement savings support

• Five weeks vacation plus paid winter closure

• Flexible remote work arrangements

• Professional development support

• Opportunities for growth and learning

• Meaningful work with national impact

• A collaborative and mission-driven team culture

Equity Inclusion & Accessibility

CAEH is committed to building an inclusive equitable and accessible workplace.

We strongly encourage applications from people with lived expertise of homelessness and from individuals who identify as Indigenous Black racialized disabled 2SLGBTQIA or members of historically marginalized communities.

We recognize that experience leadership and potential can take many forms. If your background does not align perfectly with every qualification we still encourage you to apply.

Accommodation is available throughout the recruitment process upon request to

Additional Information

Travel Expectations: Travel approximately 34 times per year for team meetings conferences donor meetings and fundraising activities

Background Checks Required: Police Vulnerable Sector Check and Criminal Record Check required.

How to Apply

Please submit:

• Your resume

• A short cover letter or written introduction sharing your interest in the role

The application includes equity & diversity self-identification questions. These questions help us understand who is applying to our organization. Responses are voluntary confidential and will not influence hiring decisions. The information is used only for aggregate reporting and equity program planning.

Required Experience:

Director