THE OPPORTUNITY

TFS Foundation is seeking a creative, strategic and experienced fundraiser to join their team as the new Senior Director, Philanthropy. The Senior Director will join at an exciting time mid-way through their Thriving Futures campaign.

Reporting to the Foundation President, the Senior Director will bring proven experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts and will manage the fundraising strategy and volunteer committees. Strong relationship building skills are essential for the Senior Director, who will be adept at building trusting and authentic relationships with a variety of audiences.

As a collaborative and supportive partner, the Senior Director will work with school leadership and staff, parents, alumni, volunteers and Board Members to advance the fundraising goals of TFS using a highly personalized approach. With a passion and interest to personally solicit major gifts, the Senior Director will continue to build the pipeline and maintain a high level of interaction with donors and prospective donors. Campaign experience will be an asset with donor recognition and stewardship activities for the campaign increasing at this phase.

Leading a small team, the Senior Director will be an experienced coach and mentor and will bring an understanding of direct marketing to support their direct reports as they develop and grow in their roles.

Although fluency in French would be considered an asset, it is not a requirement for this position. At TFS Foundation, staff are working full-time in the office, with some flexibility to work from home on a project basis from time to time.

ABOUT TFS – CANADA’S INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

TFS was born out of a bold vision: the belief that French and English bilingual education in Canada would give students a true understanding of the linguistic and cultural depth of their own country, as well as open up their path to the world.

As the pioneer of French immersion in Canada, TFS provides a bilingual education that is unparalleled. We want our students to exude academic ambition, benefit from an all-round development as individuals and citizens, and view the world from an international perspective. Bilingual and coed since 1962, TFS teaches the curricula of France and Ontario through the framework established by the IB programs, offering an experience that is rich in challenge, diversity and opportunity.

TFS has grown to become Canada’s International School, as we know it today, and one of the largest independent schools in the country, that continues to offer an exceptional education to over 1,500 students at its Toronto and Mississauga campuses and in this way helps to shape young learners into engaged bilingual citizens who are empowered to make an impact on the world.

Mission

The TFS community develops multilingual critical thinkers who celebrate difference, transcend borders and strive for the betterment of humankind and the planet.

Vision

Our students are empowered to make a positive impact on the world.

Values

Integrity, Discernment, Respect, Engagement

Motto

Individuals who reflect, citizens who act.

HOMINES CONSIDERANTES, CIVES AGENTES

ABOUT TFS FOUNDATION

The TFS Foundation team leads the outreach to engage TFS families, alumni and friends to provide the financial resources needed to advance the school’s mission. Their raison d’être is to strengthen school pride and connections with the school through giving, volunteer activities and event participation.

This outreach includes leading the school’s fundraising program encompassing annual giving, major and special gifts, donor recognition, stewardship, and special events.

The team works collaboratively with our partners – our parents, through the TFS Foundation Board of Directors, the Investment and Finance Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee, as well as our alumni, through the Alumni Association Executive – to engage our community, helping to nurture a culture of philanthropy and volunteering, which is critical to the school’s well-being.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

School History

The TFS Experience

Our International Perspective

Community Report 2023 - Entre Nous

Strategic Plan 2023-2028

News, Events & Publications

TFS Foundation News

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Foundation Leadership and Management

• With the President and the Director of Foundation Operations, establish the vision, strategic direction and annual business planning for the TFS Foundation.
• Develop an integrated fundraising strategy that include major gifts, leadership and annual giving, stewardship, recognition, as well as cultivation and stewardship events and activities relevant to these areas.
• Set and achieve annual and long-term goals, identifying resource requirements including staffing, developing and meeting budgets and setting expectations, and managing the performance of direct reports.
• Attend TFS Foundation Board meetings, and prepare and give presentations as required, sometimes in collaboration with the President or individual Directors.
• Support committees of the TFS Foundation Board, mini-campaign committees and other volunteers.
• Represent the TFS Foundation on internal TFS committees.
• Ensure the Head of School and other members of academic leadership are briefed, coached and supported in their work on behalf of the TFS Foundation.

Major Gifts and Campaign

• In collaboration with the President, continue to develop and execute the comprehensive campaign with a focus on individual major gifts.
• Develop strategies to support the full gift cycle from prospect identification and research, through cultivation, solicitation, recognition and stewardship.
• Support the prospect management and major gift activity of the Foundation President and members of the Board of Directors.
• Manage a pool of major gift prospects with a revenue target in the $1M range, actively cultivating and soliciting gifts.
• Develop programs that support a premier donor experience.
• Collaborate with school leadership to define, identify and communicate funding priorities.
• Oversee the management and analysis of the prospect and donor pipeline to ensure strategic prospect management and the development of performance projections, assigning prospects to direct reports and volunteers.
• Act as a key fundraising partner to volunteers and committees; track volunteer involvement in fundraising; ensure committees and volunteers receive a proper and fulsome orientation, and are coached and supported, providing all the tools necessary to perform their duties.
• Develop and communicate sophisticated individual donor gifting strategies, including planned giving options and gifts of assets other than cash, for high-net-worth donors.
• Work with the Foundation Operations team to develop all collateral and systems to support major gifts and campaign activities, and report on individual and team performance.

Annual Giving

• Develop programs to identify, solicit and steward lead annual donors.
• Develop and support peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, as required, in alignment with annual strategies.
• Conduct ongoing analysis to inform the development of strategies, and individual and team performance.
• Ensure systems are in place to support creative solicitation tactics.

 Stewardship and Recognition

• Lead the development of stewardship and recognition programs and activities in support of all fundraising programs, including individual donor stewardship strategies, the development of naming and plaquing recognition programs, stewardship matrices and stewardship events.
• Ensure that gift agreements capture the intent, commitments and obligations of the donor, as well as those of the School and the TFS Foundation.

Prospect Research and Operations

• Act as a champion, leading by example, to ensure that all prospect records are kept current, complete and accurate.
• Ensure that appropriate supports and systems are in place for all fundraising programs, including donor analytics.
• Conduct ongoing research on priority individual donor prospects, donor segments and wealth identification.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Progressive fundraising experience, including a successful track record securing major gifts. Campaign experience is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to develop fundraising strategies and implement plans with clear goals and objectives.
• Proven results cultivating and soliciting major gifts and supporting others in this work, including experience supporting senior volunteers.
• Experience supporting, mentoring and coaching direct reports.
• Knowledge and understanding of sophisticated individual donor gifting strategies, including planned giving options and gifts of assets other than cash.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build and develop relationships with a variety of constituents.
• Ability to prioritize, identifying the key tasks that must be completed and knowing which activities move the strategic plan forward.
• Experienced relationship builder able to manage expectations in a positive and forward-looking way.
• Ability to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and alter strategic fundraising plans.
• Demonstrated skills in time management, organization and attention to detail.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present to small and large groups in a variety of contexts.
• Strong project management skills with experience in work-back scheduling.
• Proficiency in French and/or Mandarin is an asset.
• University degree or relevant post-secondary education.
• CFRE designation and/or involvement in a professional association is an asset.
• Experience in Raiser’s Edge/NXT or equivalent donor database, and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Google Workspace.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Toronto French School (TFS) for more information about this opportunity, please contact Jill Anderson, Senior Consultant, KCI Search + Talent by email at TFS@kcitalent.com.

All inquiries and applications will be held in strict confidence. Interested candidates should send resume and letter of interest to the email address listed above by June 24, 2024.

To view the full Position Brief, please visit:  www.kcitalent.com

TFS welcomes applications from Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and all others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

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

The salary range for this position is $135,000 - $150,000 and includes a competitive benefits package.