Description

Position Brief
Director, Annual Giving

THE OPPORTUNITY

St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation is seeking a strategic and donor-centred fundraiser to join its leadership team as Director, Annual Giving. Reporting to the Vice President, Chief Development and Communications Officer, the Director will lead the design, execution, and continued growth of a comprehensive annual giving program designed to deepen donor engagement, expand broad-based philanthropic support, and strengthen the donor pipeline of future major and planned giving donors for years to come.

As a strong operational leader, the Director will oversee a full suite of integrated annual giving initiatives, including direct response, digital and email campaigns, grateful patient programs, employee giving, and community appeals, while bringing a data-informed approach to donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade strategies. Equally important is the ability to translate St. Joseph’s impact into stories that resonate with donors and inspire lasting generosity.

Working collaboratively as part of the Foundation’s leadership team, the Director will partner closely with colleagues across major giving, planned giving, and communications to ensure that annual giving is well-integrated into the Foundation’s overall fundraising strategy. The ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships and demonstrate operational discipline, along with a genuine commitment to donor-centred fundraising will be essential to success in this role.

This is a full-time, in-office position based in London, Ontario. The salary range is $101,000 to $126,000 with an industry leading pension plan (HOOPP), and an excellent benefits package.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CARE LONDON

St. Joseph’s Health Care London has been caring for the body, mind, and spirit of people in London, Southwestern Ontario, and beyond for more than 150 years. It is one of the most complex health care organizations in Ontario and a major patient care, teaching, and research centre that serves a wide range of needs across multiple sites, including St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkwood Institute, Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care, and the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health. Care.

A Catholic health care organization owned by the St. Joseph’s Health Care Society of the Roman Catholic Diocese of London, St. Joseph’s is also a proud partner in London’s academic health sciences community. Its areas of clinical focus span acute and ambulatory care, complex and veterans care, long-term care, rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics, and specialized mental health care, making it a uniquely diverse and impactful institution.

Lawson Research Institute

At the heart of St. Joseph’s research mission is Lawson Research Institute. It’s one of Canada’s premier health research institutes and the research arm of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. Affiliated with Western University through shared faculty appointments and collaborative research programs, Lawson is guided by a simple but powerful purpose: discovery-driven and patient-focused.

Lawson’s researchers are recognized nationally and internationally for their work across six priority areas: aging, chronic diseases, imaging, mental health, mobility and activity, and surgical specialties. In October 2024, St. Joseph’s relaunched Lawson as its own distinct research institute, marking a new chapter in its history and signalling a continued commitment to attracting top scientific talent, building new infrastructure, and deepening the integration of research and clinical care. With a new 2025–2030 strategic plan, Lawson is well-positioned to shape the future of health care in London and far beyond.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION

Since 1977, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation has been inspiring community investment in health care at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. The Foundation’s mission is clear and enduring: to transform health care through the power of giving. Every gift makes possible the kind of innovation and discovery that public funding alone cannot support, from advanced medical equipment to groundbreaking research to exceptional patient care experiences.

The Foundation is guided by a deep commitment to its donors. Accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program and a signatory to the Financial Accountability Code of Conduct, it holds itself to a high standard of transparency and stewardship. 

With a vision to transform health care through the power of giving, and a mission to inspire community investment in health care excellence, the Foundation is at an exciting moment. Alongside an engaged board of directors and a community of dedicated volunteers, it continues to build a culture where people feel genuinely connected to the difference their support makes.

FUNDRAISING AT ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION

St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation has a strong and growing culture of philanthropy, built on decades of trust between the Foundation and the London community. Donors at every level are drawn to the Foundation’s track record of putting resources to work in ways that are meaningful, measurable, and mission-aligned.

The 2024-25 fiscal year was an extraordinary one. Donors across the community raised more than $13.6 million in cash gifts, enabling the Foundation to disburse more than $8.7 million to priorities across St. Joseph’s funding essential patient care equipment in rehabilitation, surgery, and imaging; advancing research in diabetes, mental health, and Alzheimer’s disease; and enriching education for nurses, volunteers, and medical learners. The year also marked a significant milestone: a record $36.1 million in pledged revenues, anchored by a transformational 10-year commitment from Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. In partnership with Lawson Research Institute, this investment will establish a first-in-Canada research hub dedicated to addressing the human and health costs of occupational injury and illness. This was the largest single grant ever received and stewarded by the Foundation.

The Foundation’s fundraising program spans a broad range of giving channels, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and special events, all working in concert to deepen donor relationships and grow philanthropic revenue. Annual giving plays a foundational role by building the pipeline of engaged donors whose commitment to St. Joseph’s deepens over time.

As the Foundation looks ahead, it is focused on strengthening the programs and donor relationships that will sustain its growth, ensuring that St. Joseph’s continues to have access to the resources needed to innovate, care, and discover in ways that make a real difference for patients and families in London and beyond.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY 

• Plan, implement, and optimize a comprehensive, integrated annual giving strategy that includes recurring and monthly giving programs to drive sustainable revenue, donor retention, and growth.
• Manage day-to-day execution of multi-channel fundraising campaigns, including direct mail, digital, email, social, recurring/monthly giving, grateful patient giving, employee giving (payroll and gaming programs), and community appeals.
• Design annual, mid-level and recurring giving programs to intentionally acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, serving as a consistent pipeline to major, planned, and leadership-level giving.
• Implement donor-centred solicitation, stewardship, and recognition practices, ensuring timely, personalized, and consistent donor communications across all annual and recurring giving programs.
• Partner with Communications to execute aligned messaging, storytelling, and branding across direct mail, digital, email, and other annual giving touchpoints that support annual giving goals and donor engagement strategies.
• Use data-driven segmentation, targeted solicitations, and defined stewardship workflows to improve donor retention, loyalty, and lifetime value.
• Work closely with Foundation colleagues to plan, execute, and track integrated giving campaigns.
• Collaborate with Leadership Giving and Planned Giving colleagues to coordinate donor outreach, ensuring seamless stewardship, solicitation, and upgrade opportunities.
• Contribute to the major-gift donor pipeline by identifying prospects, tracking engagement, and implementing strategies to move donors toward higher levels of giving.
• Establish KPIs, monitor and report on performance metrics including donor retention, acquisition, average gift, ROI, and channel effectiveness.
• Use data and donor insights to test, learn, and continuously improve fundraising strategies.
• Manage the annual giving budget and vendor relationships with strong fiscal oversight.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of development professionals, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Model and reinforce ethical fundraising practices and adherence to industry standards.
• Contribute as a collaborative leader to the Foundation’s overall strategy, culture, and success.
• Undertake other duties and manage special projects as assigned, ensuring all tasks are completed efficiently and contribute to the overall success of the Foundation’s goals.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY COMPETENCIES

Skills, Experience & Education

• Progressive experience in fundraising, with demonstrated experience in annual giving, donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade strategies, preferably within a hospital foundation, health care organization, or large, complex nonprofit.
• Proven success leading multi-channel annual giving programs, including direct mail, digital and email fundraising, grateful patient programs, employee giving, leadership annual giving, and community-based appeals.
• Proven experience driving year-over-year growth in donor participation, revenue, retention, and lifetime donor value.
• Experience designing annual giving programs that effectively feed major and planned giving pipelines through segmentation, donor journeys, and engagement strategies.
• Skilled storyteller with experience translating clinical and community outcomes into donor-relevant impact narratives.
• Accomplished leader with strong coaching, mentoring, and performance management skills. 
• Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to recruit, mentor, coach, and inspire high-performing professionals.
• Experience collaborating with Communications, Major Giving, Planned Giving, and other stakeholders to deliver integrated, donor-centred campaigns.
• Experience working within a highly regulated, mission-driven environment (such as health care), with sensitivity to patient privacy, donor intent, and ethical fundraising considerations.
• Demonstrated expertise in donor-centred annual giving, stewardship, recognition, and engagement best practices.
• Ability to translate organizational priorities and impact into compelling, accessible messaging that inspires broad-based giving.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain quality in a fast-paced, results-driven environment.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and engagement with sector best practices in philanthropy, donor relations, and ethical fundraising.
• University degree is preferred, and an equivalent combination of experience and training will also be considered. CFRE professional designation is an asset.

Abilities, Qualities & Attributes

• Highly collaborative with the ability to work effectively across teams, and with hospital partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage donors, volunteers, executives, and internal stakeholders with credibility and professionalism.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate impact clearly and persuasively to diverse donor audiences, ensuring consistent, brand-aligned messaging across all annual giving channels and touchpoints.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, goal setting, and performance reporting.
• Data-informed decision-maker with experience using CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge or equivalent) to manage donor data, analyze performance, and inform strategy.
• Experience leveraging digital tools, analytics, and testing to optimize donor acquisition, retention, and engagement.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and adaptable professional with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical fundraising practices and adherence to Canadian fundraising and privacy standards.
• Comfortable navigating complexity, change, and ambiguity while maintaining focus on donor experience, growth, and long-term impact.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation (SJHCF). For more information about this opportunity, please contact Jill Anderson, Associate Vice President, KCI Search + Talent by email at: SJHCF@kcitalent.com.      

Interested candidates should send their resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by June 16, 2026.  All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence.

To view full position brief, please visit www.kcitalent.com 

Statement on Belonging, Dignity and Justice 

As our organization continues its own journey of learning and deeper understanding, we are committed to the principles of belonging, dignity and social justice. Every member of our community has a place of value and dignity in our organization. We will continue to strive to eliminate inequity and systemic barriers to participation. St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation will endeavor to develop competence, formal policies and structures to culturally embed these important principles into our operational and physical environments. Our commitment is rooted in our organization’s values which include ‘doing right’ and further inspired by the traditions of inclusion and social justice of our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

If you require accommodation, please notify the Search Consultant in advance and they will work with you to meet your needs. SJHCF is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process.

This posting is for a current vacancy. Artificial intelligence will not be used to screen resumes nor assess candidates in this search.