Chief Development Officer

Founded in 1952, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario, is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to making mental health possible for all.

CMHA Ontario achieves its mission by being a leader in the evolution of Ontario’s mental health and addictions system. We contribute our knowledge, resources and skills to provincial policy development and implementation. We promote mental health in collaboration with others. We further equitable access to mental health services and champion the reduction of mental health disparities. And we serve our branches in building their governance and leadership capacities.

CMHA Ontario is a dedicated partner within the network of Canadian Mental Health Associations at the national, provincial and local level. CMHA Ontario works closely with its local branches in communities across the province to ensure the utilization of best practices in the organization, management and delivery of services to consumers and families of individuals with mental illnesses, dual diagnosis and concurrent disorders. All CMHAs in Ontario work in a variety of partnerships to provide a coordinated, continuum of care using the social determinants of health model.

Position Summary

CMHA Ontario is seeking to grow its revenue through a diversified range of sources and methods by investing in the resources and strategies as well as systems and processes that support proactive community engagement and donor stewardship and leverages the value proposition that CMHA Ontario is “community mental health and addiction services.”

The newly created role of Chief Development Officer at CMHA Ontario will lead the building and implementation of a development approach that integrates proactive community engagement and donor stewardship within and across CMHA Ontario. This role will also, when required and capacity allows, play a consultative role to support CMHA branches across the province. This role presents an excellent opportunity for an experienced leader who will leverage their deep knowledge and abilities in fundraising, stewardship, community engagement, and partnership development to support an organization that is a leader in the evolution of Ontario’s mental health and addictions system. The successful candidate should be a collaborative leader who will build and motivate a high-performing team, and who recognizes the significance of fostering trust-based relationships within the community, organization and federation as well as among donors and partners.

Core Responsibilities

• Senior leadership team member providing strategic insights and direction on revenue and brand opportunities; collaborating to ensure the organization’s policies, processes and systems stay current with developments in philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector.
• Develop, plan and drive implementation of strategies to develop a sustainable and balanced mix of revenue sources and fundraising programs that will enable the organization to attract, retain and motivate supporters and other stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with major gift donors and prospects, corporate partners, foundations and other key (potential) partners.
• Builds, leads, inspires and coaches a Development team capable of implementation of revenue strategies, systems, tools and processes to grow support for CMHA Ontario.

Leadership & Management

• Ensures the organization’s corporate culture, systems, and procedures support growth of revenue and vice versa; and the ongoing integration of revenue strategies in annual organizational priorities.
• Leads the Development team in creating and implementing a comprehensive fundraising plan to achieve annual revenue and programming goals.
• Provides thought leadership and works collaboratively with cross-functional colleagues in implementing strategies for increased revenue growth, opportunities for innovation, and efforts to increase diversification of revenue sources.
• Accountable for the Development team’s budget, goals and risk management related to meeting organization’s revenue objectives.
• Provides direction, support, and feedback to the Development team. Develops team goals and key performance indicators; provides regular performance feedback and reviews to direct reports.
• Identifies training and education needs for staff and volunteers. Pursues formal and informal education and professional development opportunities for self and Development team.
• Applies human resource principles to foster professionalism and a productive, team-oriented work environment.
• Ensure that all fundraising activities and policies comply with ethical principles and regulatory requirements and reflect the values of the organization and the community.
• Represent organization at events and meetings to strengthen relationships and create awareness of our programs and position in the marketplace.
• Helps establish performance measures, monitors results and works with leadership team to evaluate the effectiveness of revenue strategies.

Fundraising & Stewardship

• Donor identification, solicitation, cultivation and stewardship for donations of $10,000+ from a portfolio of individuals, businesses, and foundations, to build a robust major gifts pipeline.
• Communicate and meet with prospective and active funders to present organization's programs and funding opportunities.
• Analyze trends in major gifts fundraising, identifying opportunities and challenges, and develop strategies to ensure that the organization’s plans reflect the direction and demands of the marketplace.
• Participate in the planning and articulation of program development, while representing fundraising priorities.
• Initiate and strengthen relationships with supporters through cultivation and stewardship plans designed to build trust in, and long-term commitment to, the organization.

Marketing & Communications

• Work with Communications colleagues to develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan to inform community about the organization’s mission, vision, values, impact, as well as funding priorities and opportunities.
• Ensures the development and writing of compelling funding proposals and other solicitation materials as well as impact reporting for use across a range of audiences and fundraising methods.
• Employs marketing and public relations principles and tools to support and grow fundraising programs, including direct and digital marketing.

Donor Services

• Ensures compliance with all relevant regulations and laws, maintains accountability standards to donors and ensures compliance with code of ethical principles and standards of professional conduct for fundraising professionals.
• Ensures donor support and engagement is acknowledged and recognized in ways that are meaningful to supporters and appropriate to the mission and values of the organization.
• Oversees development and maintenance of appropriate systems including but not limited to donor and supporter (including volunteer) relationship management, research, prospecting and cultivation, gift processing, and stewardship. Ensures the implementation and continuous improvement of donor and prospect records.

Analytics & Reporting

• Establishes performance measures, monitors results, and works with leadership team and board in evaluating the effectiveness of the organization’s revenue strategies.
• Ensures ongoing performance measurement, activity reporting, and analysis of fundraising programs using accepted and appropriate standards and metrics in order to identify opportunities, resolve problems, and inform future planning.
• Works closely with Finance colleagues to ensure sound fiscal operations including timely, accurate and comprehensive budgets, forecasting and reporting.

Candidate Requirements

• Minimum 7 to 10 years of progressive fundraising experience in the not-for-profit sector, with a track record of establishing meaningful donor relationships, with at least two to three years of team management experience.
• CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) designation is considered an asset.
• Experience developing and implementing engaging fundraising plans and campaigns and having a track record of securing philanthropic donations in the range of $10,000+
• Experience providing strategic direction, leadership, and management of fundraising activities resulting in revenue and donor base growth.
• Extensive management experience and administrative skills to build, organize, direct, and motivate successful teams.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills as well as strong relationship management skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse group of donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to speak to groups of people in a variety of settings and to communicate effectively and professionally.
• Experience using fundraising software (i.e. Raiser's Edge, Salesforce) and advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills.
• Knowledge of mental health, addictions and/or health sector an asset.
• Strategic thinker with ability to identify and maximize strategic philanthropic opportunities.
• Diploma/bachelor's degree in fundraising, public relations, marketing, management, business or a related field.

The Canadian Mental Health Association celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings professional and lived experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you.

Workplace and candidate accommodation is available at all stages of the recruitment and selection process upon request.

This position is a hybrid model and will require 3 days in-office at 180 Dundas St. W. Suite 2301.

The CMHA Ontario offers HOOPP (pension program) as a part of a generous benefit plan.