Chief Academic Director

Sunnybrook Foundation (SBF) is building capacity to inspire lasting support for Sunnybrook Hospital and seeks an experienced strategic, collaborative, and operationally savvy senior fundraising leader as the Executive Director, Philanthropy. With oversight of Major and Planned with an annual revenue target of approximately $50-60 Million, the Executive Director will lead a large team of fundraising professionals in the development and execution of the short- and long-term fundraising strategies for a world-class Hospital.
Reporting to the Vice President, Advancement, and working closely with Foundation CEO, the Executive Director will play an important role on the Foundation’s Senior Management Team. As a member of SMT, this individual will be a contributing architect of the Foundation’s expansion over the next decade and lead its teams to set strategic direction and develop annual business plans to realize the Foundation’s bold ambitions. The Executive Director will be a critical point of contact for donors, community leaders, staff, volunteers, and strategic partners. With a hospital team that embraces philanthropy and the role the Foundation can play; the Executive Director will be a key partner for hospital senior management and executives as it relates to fundraising and donor engagement. Leading a team of 18 major & planned giving professionals, this is an opportunity to build upon a strong foundation while bringing innovation, best practices, consistency, and sustainability to all areas of the program.
This is an exciting time to join Sunnybrook Foundation as we invest in new resources, strategies, and structures that will enhance Foundation-Hospital collaboration and drive revenue growth to advance the mission and vision of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. The Executive Director will join a Foundation that has unparalleled momentum at a world-renowned health care centre where life-saving innovation happens every day.
Sunnybrook Foundation works within a hybrid model; a combination of in-office and remote work is expected.
ABOUT SUNNYBROOK FOUNDATION
Philanthropy plays a critical role in every discovery, innovation and moment where Sunnybrook provides high-quality care when it matters most .
Sunnybrook Foundation inspires lasting support for Sunnybrook. Together with our donor community, Sunnybrook Foundation raises critical funds for Sunnybrook’s world-class academic health sciences centre to achieve our shared vision to invent the future of health care. Sunnybrook Foundation is committed to leading with our values and developing a model of shared leadership that will support our plans for ambitious growth.
Located within the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre at 2075 Bayview Avenue in Toronto, the Foundation consists of more than 80 professionals and support staff who work in close partnership with our Hospital colleagues. With ambitious goals ahead, the Foundation is committed to continuing to grow our results and impact as we help Sunnybrook to raise sights, uncover new possibilities, develop talent, and deliver exceptional care.
Last year, thanks to the commitment of our dedicated volunteers, donors, and staff, we raised more than $81 million to support Sunnybrook’s priorities and we are also fortunate to have an endowment fund of more than $90 million that helps to support Sunnybrook’s mission.
Sunnybrook is a world-renowned academic health sciences centre with a reputation for providing the highest quality care and for teaching and research excellence. The Hospital’s 13,000 staff, students, physicians, and volunteers provide extraordinary care at critical times in the lives of the more than 1.Our vision at Sunnybrook is to  invent the future of health care with a focus on trauma, cardiac, stroke, high-risk pregnancy and newborns, and cancer . Among these have been the impact of the global pandemic and how this has been a catalyst for change in areas such as accelerating the implementation of our digital care strategies. Our strategic thinking has been cognizant of the significant social justice issues that have been brought to the forefront and we have amplified the important work of addressing equity, diversity, and inclusivity through our Strategic Plan.
As Sunnybrook celebrates its 75th anniversary of caring for our first patient, the hospital continues to live its dual mandate of serving our local community and as a regional centre that provides complex and specialized care when it matters most for Ontarians. The Executive Director, Philanthropy will formulate and lead the execution of the long-term strategies for major and planned giving programs with significant strategic and financial impact, ensuring alignment with Sunnybrook Foundation growth plan and the hospital’s priorities. Strategic Leadership and Planning
Model Sunnybrook Foundation values in all aspects of their work.
Engage in setting vision, strategic direction, and annual business planning for the Foundation.
Accountable for overall performance for designated programs including maintaining positive public relations and protecting the Foundation and Hospital’s reputation.
As a member of the Major Giving Leadership Team, work closely with the Executive Directors of Campaigns & Transformational Giving; Lead the Development and implementation of major and planned giving strategies and ensure strategies are concretely linked to Sunnybrook’s vision, values, and strategic plan.
In partnership with leaders across the Foundation, develop systems and measures that appropriately assess performance and progress to ensure achievement of SBF’s targets and be accountable for the results.
assess readiness to engage in change efforts and facilitate the design and execution of the change effort including mitigating risks.
Act as a project sponsor for key initiatives.
Adhere to and ensure compliance with Foundation processes, policies, systems, and practices.
Measure, monitor, and manage the overall performance of the program and direct reports against set performance targets.
Provide fundraising advice and strategy to senior Hospital administration and health care professionals.
Monitors major gift pipeline across all staff, ensuring pipelines are maintained in each program area.
Engage and support senior volunteers, leveraging relationships for the Foundation.
Contribute to the SBF’s objective to maximize private sector support for the Hospital.
Develop cases for support and proposals for key fundraising initiatives and priority projects as appropriate.
Collaborate with the Executive Director, Campaigns and Transformational Giving to support and encourage colleagues’ success within the Transformational giving framework.
Collaborate with the Executive Director of Campaigns and Transformational Giving to support the development of Campaign fundraising priorities
Partner with the Executive Director of Donor Communications, Impact and Accountability to develop compelling foundation-wide cases for support and other donor-related materials
Progressive leadership in senior fundraising roles with proven experience developing and successfully executing a major gift fundraising program of significant complexity, preferably in a health care or academic environment.
Significant experience with pipeline development and management best practices, data, and reporting, and a keen understanding of metrics and key performance indicators.
Experience liaising and building relationships with senior managers and strategic partners (internal and external).
Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in promoting a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; Demonstrated success in developing relationships, engaging, and working with senior volunteers, physicians, and hospital administration (or equivalent) to advance the mission of the organization.
Ability to work independently with discretion relating to donor negotiations, policy administration and interpretation, and administrative responsibilities.
KCI Search + Talent has been retained to conduct this search on behalf of Sunnybrook Foundation. For more information about this Foundation leadership opportunity, please contact Ellie Rusonik, Vice President, KCI Search + Talent by email at SunnybrookED@kcitalent.Sunnybrook Foundation is strongly committed to inclusion and diversity within its community and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: visible minorities, all religions and ethnicities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.
Sunnybrook Foundation is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this in your cover letter.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement of the position.