Competition Number:
Category: Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week)
Salary: $117,978.62 - $159,492.36
Closing Date: The competition will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
Mac Ewan University is seeking a Director of Philanthropy for a full-time continuing opportunity with the Advancement Department. This newly created role reports to the Associate Vice-President, Advancement and provides strategic and operational leadership across development, annual giving, donor relations, stewardship, prospect research, fundraising operations, and related alumni engagement functions to strengthen fundraising effectiveness, donor engagement, stewardship practices, and long-term philanthropic growth.
The Director leads the university's comprehensive fundraising strategy, campaign planning and execution, donor engagement framework, and philanthropy operations while fostering an integrated donor experience across all stages of the donor lifecycle.
Working collaboratively with the AVP, Director of Development, and university leadership, the Director establishes clear accountabilities, stewardship standards, performance measures, and operating practices that support coordinated execution across Mac Ewan’s philanthropic programs.
The Director represents the university with donors, volunteers, community leaders, corporations, foundations, and institutional partners, while advising senior leaders on philanthropic strategy and cultivating a culture of philanthropy across the institution.
Key responsibilities include:
Providing unified leadership across philanthropy-related functions, including development, annual giving, donor relations, stewardship, prospect research and data support;




Developing a long-range fundraising strategy aligned with university priorities, mission and strategic goals in partnership with the Associate Vice-President and university leadership;
Establishing transparent accountability frameworks including goals, priorities, benchmarks, and timelines to support coordinated execution across the donor lifecycle;
Aligning portfolio ownership and donor experience ownership to support donor progression from engagement through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and continued relationship development;
Leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns and institution-wide fundraising initiatives that advance university priorities;
Fostering a culture of philanthropy by engaging senior leaders, academic and administrative leaders, University Relations colleagues, volunteers and key stakeholders;
Building strategic relationships with community leaders, donors, volunteers, organizations and external partners to expand philanthropic opportunities;
Collaborating with Advancement, Alumni Relations, university leadership, Board members, the President’s Office and internal partners to coordinate fundraising priorities and alumni-to-donor pathways;
Overseeing innovation and change management strategies and plans that support institutional initiatives and proactively address areas of resistance, concern, and best practice;




Establishing fundraising performance indicators, including donor retention, pipeline health, stewardship completion, proposal activity and campaign progress;
Providing strategic leadership and advice to campaign cabinets, advisory commitees, fundraising volunteers, Deans and senior leaders;
Identifying and mitigating operational, financial, compliance and reputational risks related to philanthropy and fundraising activities;
Serving as a member of the Advancement leadership team and contributing to an efficient departmental structure aligned with advancement best practices and continuous improvement;
Leading, supervising, coaching and developing Philanthropy team staff while promoting a high-performing, collaborative and accountable team culture;
Managing staffing resources, workloads, schedules, time approvals, performance management, labour relations, succession planning and professional development;
Planning, forecasting and managing departmental budgets and resources in consultation with the AVP while ensuring compliance with legislation, policies and procedures;
Leading broad-based fundraising programs, donor engagement strategies, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, recognition and donor progression activities;
Representing the university with donors, corporations, foundations, community leaders, volunteers and external partners at meetings, events, tours and engagement activities;
Overseeing donor experience, stewardship standards, data discipline, prospect tracking, donor reporting, fundraising systems and day-to-day philanthropy operations;
and
Ensuring effective administration, tracking,

📌 Director, Philanthropy - Advancement, University Relations (Edmonton)
🏢 MacEwan University
📍 Edmonton