Senior Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships
at Make-A-Wish Canada

Job Description

At Make-A-Wish® Canada, we're redefining how the world perceives wishes through our transformative new brand platform: Wishes Are Medicine. Grounded in research, this platform recognizes what we've long known to be true — that wishes have measurable healing power. When prescribed alongside medical treatment, wishes reduce stress, elevate endorphins, limit emergency room visits, and deliver lasting health benefits.

With more than 3,500 children still waiting and a new child diagnosed with a critical illness in Canada every two hours, our mission has never been more urgent — and there are many more prescriptions to fill.

To meet this challenge, we've launched our new three-year strategic plan — Wishes Are Medicine: One Team, One Mission — focused intentionally on financial sustainability, mission impact, and operational excellence.

When a child is facing a critical illness, a wish isn't just a moment of joy — it's a medically supported turning point. Studies show that children who receive a wish are 2.5 times less likely to have unplanned hospital visits and 1.9 times less likely to need the ER, with 100% of physicians agreeing that a wish can be a pivotal moment in treatment.

At Make-A-Wish Canada, you can play a lead role in bringing these powerful prescriptions to life. Where Wishes Are Medicine, transformation becomes a pathway to healing at scale — and this role is your opportunity to architect that future.

The next phase of our journey calls for a visionary fundraising leader ready to chart the course, strengthen our partnerships, and guide us higher as we scale the impact of Wishes Are Medicine across Canada. As Senior Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships, you will lead Make-A-Wish Canada's enterprise-wide advancement strategy — inspiring generosity, forging transformative relationships, and driving sustainable growth to bring more wishes to life. This leader will serve as a catalyst for collaboration — aligning people, purpose, and partnerships to bring our strategic vision to life and elevate outcomes across every corner of the organization.

At Make-A-Wish Canada, you'll join a team united by a shared mission and an unwavering sense of possibility. Every role — whether advancing philanthropy, partnerships, brand, or operations — helps fuel the same trajectory: transforming how hope and healing come to life for children and families nationwide.

If you're ready to help build a future where every eligible child receives the wish that helps them heal, we invite you to read on.

Role Overview

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, we're seeking a Senior Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships — an inspirational fundraising leader who will propel our mission forward by inspiring generosity, building transformative partnerships, and shaping the strategy of major gifts at our Foundation. This is more than a leadership role—it's a chance to deliver healing, hope, and transformation to children across Canada through the healing power of a wish.

As a key member of the executive leadership team, you will lead a dynamic portfolio that includes philanthropy, corporate partnerships, foundations & grants, and fundraising operations.  This role oversees three direct reports (Vice President, Philanthropy, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships and the Director, Fundraising Operations).

With vision and purpose, you will drive strategic growth, cultivate deep relationships with major gift donors, and champion a culture of collaboration and innovation that ensures we have the resources to grant every possible wish for children and families across the country.

If you are a purpose-driven leader with the courage to think big and the passion to turn generosity into lasting impact, this is your opportunity to leave an indelible mark — on our organization, our partners, and the lives of the wish kids we serve.

This is a full-time, permanent, hybrid role. This role can be performed from anywhere within Canada, and remotely if not located near a Make-A-Wish Canada office.

What You Will Do

As our SVP, Philanthropy & Partnerships, you'll lead with strategy, heart, and vision — building the relationships and systems that make transformational impact possible.

• Lead a Unified Major Gifts Fundraising Strategy: Design and execute a bold, integrated major gifts strategy across philanthropy, corporate partnerships, foundations & grants, and fundraising operations to drive sustainable growth and mission impact. Operating on a 2–5 year time horizon, the SVP, Philanthropy and Partnerships sets both in-year execution plans and multi-year strategies to develop new organizational capabilities and drive long-term, sustainable revenue. 
• Inspire Transformational Giving: Build and deepen relationships with major donors, corporations, and philanthropic institutions, positioning the Foundation as a trusted partner and catalyst for hope. Serve as a front-line fundraiser, securing major and transformational gifts that expand our reach and impact.
• Empower Volunteer Leadership: Develop and guide a national network of senior fundraising volunteers and board members — inspiring them to champion our mission, open new doors, and amplify generosity.
• Drive Innovation and Operational Excellence: Launch a fundraising operations team including g data analytics, research and donor stewardship tools to enhance insight, efficiency, and donor experience across all major giving channels.
• Lead Change and Transformation: Design and implement initiatives that evolve our major gift fundraising model, strengthen organizational capabilities, and position the Foundation for long-term success.
• Champion One Team Leadership: Foster a “One Mission, One Team” culture that breaks down silos and unites teams in shared purpose. Encourage collaboration across geographies, celebrate collective wins, and model empathy, inclusion, and accountability.
• Be a Visible Advocate: Represent the Foundation as a trusted ambassador — engaging with donors, community leaders, and media to elevate our mission and strengthen our presence in major markets.
• Guide and Develop Talent: Lead a high-performing team, including two Vice Presidents, supported with a team of fundraising professionals across the country, nurturing growth, innovation, and a deep sense of connection to our mission.
• Ensure Strong Stewardship: Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and performance metrics to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals.

What You Bring

You're a dynamic, relationship-centered leader who pairs strategic vision with a deep passion for impact. You know how to inspire generosity, mobilize teams, and build the partnerships that make big dreams achievable.

• Proven Fundraising Leadership: 15+ years of progressive experience in philanthropy, corporate partnerships, or nonprofit leadership, with demonstrated success in designing and executing multi-year fundraising strategies at scale. Deep knowledge of philanthropy trends, donor behavior, and fundraising operations. 
• Strategic and Operational Excellence: A forward-thinking strategist with strong analytical acumen and the ability to lead both long-term vision and in-year execution with precision.
• Transformational Relationship Builder: Exceptional ability to cultivate trust and inspire action among major donors, corporate partners, foundations, and volunteers.
• Innovative Thinker: Experience developing modern fundraising systems, leveraging data insights, and driving innovation in donor engagement and operational efficiency.
• Inspirational People Leader: A collaborative and empowering leadership style that builds high-performing teams, empowers leaders, fosters inclusion, and champions professional growth and impact.
• Values-Driven: Deep alignment with our mission and unwavering commitment to creating life-changing experiences for children and families facing critical illnesses.
• Strong Credentials: Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, or related field preferred. CFRE designation and bilingualism (French and English) are considered strong assets.

How to apply 

If everything you've read so far sounds like you, we encourage you to apply now!  The deadline to apply is November 16^th, 2025, at 11:59pm ET. 

To apply, please navigate to:  https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-CA/makeawishca/CANDIDATEPORTAL/jobs/1181

Make-A-Wish Canada provides equal opportunity in employment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Reasonable accommodations due to disability are available on request at any stage of the hiring process.   

Our Commitment to IDEA 

Make-A-Wish Canada (MAWC) is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA). We believe that it is essential to our mission that we build a diverse, balanced, and vibrant workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and seek to serve. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. Therefore, we ask that even if you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, to still apply. 

Recruitment process 

Our recruitment process is swift in pace.  Once applications are reviewed, we will contact our shortlisted candidates.  Our typical process includes a phone screen, one or two interviews, and reference checking, followed by an offer and a criminal background check for the successful candidate. 

We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in working with us!