Director, Principal Giving

Overview

JOIN OUR TEAM AS DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL GIVING

Are you a strategic, relationship-driven fundraiser energized by unlocking transformational gifts and elevating a team’s ability to inspire visionary philanthropy?

Consider joining UNICEF Canada – and be part of a high-impact, mission-driven team working across Canada and globally to create a better world for children.

UNICEF Canada isseekingto recruit a talented andhigh-performing individual in the role of Director, Principal Giving
.

Director, Principal Giving

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-time (New Role, Vacant)

Reports to: Vice President, Development

Direct Reports: None

Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000 annually with benefits and 4 weeks paid vacation

Work Location: Toronto

Work Environment: UNICEF Canada currently operates under a Fixed-Hybrid model that requires team members to attend the office at least 2 days/week (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Why UNICEF & UNICEF Canada?

As UNICEF Canada launches a bold new Strategic Plan in 2026
, a key priority remains raising funds to support children around the globe. Be part of this exciting phase of impact!

Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President, Development, the Director, Principal Giving will be a major catalyst for ambitious fundraising growth, driving results aligned with the organization’s Strategic Plan while championing a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, and innovation.

The Director will manage a focused principal gift portfolio of roughly 50 seven- and eight-figured donors across revenue channels, with a special focus on qualifying new prospects and strengthening all fundraisers’ ability to develop transformational gift strategies.

Working closely with prospect managers and in consultation with the Vice President, Development, the Director will co-create qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that move prospects toward meaningful engagement and investment. A true team player, the Director will also secure and steward new principal gifts and elevate the principal giving efforts of the entire Major Gift team.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage a focused Principal Giving portfolio of ~50 seven- and eight-figure individuals/families and related giving vehicles, leading qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship and with a particular emphasis on engaging unqualified prospects new to UNICEF Canada.
• Build and maintain a robust donor pipeline by submitting 15–20 principal gift proposals annually and securing at least $5M in new commitments, while retaining and growing existing principal donors.
• Develop a deep understanding of UNICEF’s program priorities and use this knowledge to craft compelling, innovative proposals that inspire transformational partnerships.
• Build and expand the Principal Giving program across the Development team using relationship mapping, referrals, strategic networking, and event follow-up to drive new opportunities.
• Leverage the networks and relationships of UNICEF Canada’s Senior Management Team and global UNICEF leadership to advance donor engagement.
• Partner with the Planned Giving team to design and implement blended-gift and asset-based giving strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families.
• Participate in pipeline reviews and prospect strategy meetings to advance Individual Philanthropy’s progress on principal-level prospects.
• Build the skills and confidence of individual fundraisers – formally and informally – by offering coaching, sharing best practices, elevating philanthropic insights, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
• Contribute to cross-cutting Principal Giving strategy sessions with Philanthropy colleagues to strengthen alignment and long-term revenue growth.
• Enhance the effectiveness of prospect managers by advising on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; champion donor-centric process improvements and help remove barriers to a culture of philanthropy across UNICEF Canada.
• Implement plans supporting UNICEF’s billionaire strategy, collaborating across the Individual Philanthropy continuum and with Institutional Philanthropy; partner with UNICEF’s global Private Fundraising…