Director of Development

Canada
$95,000-115,000 per year
Permanent
Full-time

10 days ago

As the world’s leading animal photojournalism agency, We Animals (WA) advocates for animals through photojournalism. Our global investigations and stories expose our complex relationships with animals, create ethical and cultural shifts in society, and empower human capacity for compassion and change. To support our mission, we investigate industries, mentor photographers, operate a to share our visual content, and engage with media and NGO partners to shift attitudes, industries, and policy.We are seeking a Director of Development to lead and grow our fundraising program. This is a senior leadership role responsible for setting fundraising strategy, driving revenue, and building the systems and relationships required to sustain and scale our work.This role is both strategic and hands-on. The Director will set direction and lead execution, while building the structure, processes, and executing day-to-day fundraising activities.JOB DETAILSType of employment: Full-time permanent position at 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with a flexible hourly schedule. There is flexibility for the right candidate to work 32 hours per week if it better suits their availability.Department: FundraisingReports to: Executive DirectorLocation: Remote, in Canada. Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Canada. We are not able to apply for employer-specific work permits.Salary: $95,000 to $115,000 CAD, 40-hour work weekStart date: Mon, Jun 15 (or earlier)Application deadline: Sun, Apr 26Note on working hours: We are open to discussing a pro-rated 32-hour work week, should this be preferable to the top candidate.As an ideal candidate for this role, you:

Have experience leading fundraising programs that include individual giving, major gifts, grants, and institutional funding
Can operate at both a strategic and executional level, setting direction while also delivering on key campaigns and initiatives
Have a keen interest in the evolving nature of fundraising tactics and tools, including the use of AI, and adapt accordingly
Know how to reach and connect with external partners, grantors, and supporters
Are a strong people manager who can support, guide, and grow team members in a remote environment
Take ownership of outcomes, including revenue targets, campaign performance, and long-term fundraising growth
Are comfortable working in a small, evolving organization where systems are still being built, and priorities can shift

Mission Alignment: This role requires more than technical skill; it requires deep philosophical alignment. We Animals is dedicated to ending the use of animals by humans—whether for food, fashion, entertainment, experimentation, or tradition. Please read our carefully before applying to ensure this is the right fit for your professional and personal ethics.PURPOSEWe Animals is in a period of growth and transition. We are moving from a founder-led fundraising model toward a more structured, systems-driven approach to revenue generation. We Animals is a federally incorporated Canadian nonprofit with an annual budget of ~1.8M CAD and 14 staff members (~12.5 FTE).The Director of Development owns fundraising strategy, revenue performance, and the systems and processes required to support long-term, sustainable growth.You will work closely with the Executive Director on organizational priorities, grant strategy, and high-level donor relationships, and, in partnership with the Director of Marketing & Communications, align fundraising and storytelling. You will also collaborate with the Founder & President on messaging, outreach, and key donor engagement. The Director of Development has final decision-making authority on fundraising campaigns and revenue strategy, and works closely with and directly manages the Donor Engagement Specialist.This role is well-suited to someone who enjoys building structure, keeping up with current tools and trends, improving systems, and taking ownership of fundraising in a growing organization.RESPONSIBILITIESStrategic Leadership & Fundraising Planning (30%)

Develop and lead the annual fundraising strategy, which has a current annual revenue target of $1.7M CAD, with clear KPIs across individual giving, major gifts, grants, and institutional funding
Own revenue forecasting, pipeline development, and performance tracking
Partner with the Executive Director to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy
Lead campaign planning across the year (e.g. year-end, monthly-giving campaigns, lead generation campaigns, annual matching campaigns, and special appeals)
Report monthly to the leadership team and quarterly to the Board on revenue performance and pipeline health

Campaign Leadership & Execution (25%)

Lead fundraising campaigns from planning through execution, including messaging, segmentation, timelines, and performance tracking, with final responsibility for campaign direction and results
Write and review key fundraising materials (appeals, donor communications, campaign briefs), keeping in line with the We Animals voice, tone, and branding.
Work closely with the Marketing & Communications team to integrate fundraising communications into shared planning and content workflows
Continuously assess and improve campaign performance based on results

Grants & Institutional Funding (15%)

Set direction for foundation funding
Work closely with the Executive Director on proposal development and submission processes
Maintain a clear grant pipeline and calendar
Ensure reporting requirements are met, and relationships are maintained

Donor Strategy & Major Gifts (10%)

Set overall donor strategy, including segmentation, stewardship, and growth of the donor pipeline with support from the Donor Engagement Specialist
Support and guide the Donor Engagement Specialist in execution
Identify and support key major donor opportunities in partnership with the Founder & President

Team & Systems Management (15%)

Manage and support the Fundraising team (currently Donor Engagement Specialist)
Ensure CRM integrity and effective use of fundraising systems
Improve internal processes related to donor tracking, reporting, and stewardship

Note: These percentage breakdowns are general and may vary by time of year and the organization’s specific needs.

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