Major Gifts Officer

Support Position

Closing Date: January 23, 2026

Job Term: Full Time

We are seeking an individual who is inspired by our mission and whose beliefs align with our core values of integrity, compassion, inquiry and courage, and reflects our core competencies to join Havergal College as Major Gifts Officer. This is a full-time, permanent position.

Salary range for this position: $70,000 – $80,000 depending on experience.

Why Havergal is the Place to Be

Founded in 1894 and located on a beautiful 22-acre campus in midtown Toronto, Canada, Havergal College is one of Canada’s pre-eminent independent schools for girls from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. At Havergal College, we believe that great schools are made up of great people. With a rich history spanning over 130 years, we are committed to offering a contemporary liberal arts education, which is rooted in the Anglican tradition. Our mission is to prepare young women to make a difference. Through our outstanding academic and cocurricular programs, and a cohesive and collegial team of faculty and administration staff, we nurture a culture of capability that fosters self-confidence, leadership, critical thinking and global-mindedness within our students.

We take pride in attracting and retaining highly-qualified faculty and administration staff to ensure that our school remains at the forefront of educational excellence. Join us in this transformative journey of education, working together to empower young women to make a positive difference in our world.

We are committed to building a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment fosters a culture of mutual respect, creativity and innovation, collaboration and accountability. To this end, we encourage applications from all qualified candidates with a diverse range of experiences and perspectives, including women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) peoples, LGBTQ2S+, and persons with disabilities to join our thriving team.  We seek candidates who are committed to nurturing a community where integrity, compassion, inquiry and courage thrive. 

The Position

Reporting to the Associate Director, Major Gifts, the Major Gifts Officer will play a key role in advancing Havergal’s major gift strategy and building meaningful relationships with donors who have the capacity to make significant contributions to the School.

The Major Gift Officer will manage a personal portfolio of approximately 75–100 prospects and donors, guiding them through the full cycle of engagement from identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to help strengthen a culture of philanthropy, contribute to strategic initiatives, and make a lasting impact on the school community.

Specific Accountabilities

  • Manage a personal portfolio of 75–100 major gift prospects and donors, advancing them through all stages of the engagement cycle.
  • Identify, assess, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors with capacity to give $25,000 and above.
  • Collaborate closely with the Associate Director, Major Gifts to develop and propose strategies for solicitation, including recommending gift purpose and level, identifying those involved in cultivation and ensuring successful solicitation and stewardship.
  • Craft compelling, donor-centered proposals that clearly articulate the case for support, align donor interests with institutional priorities, and demonstrate the potential impact of philanthropic investment.
  • Create clear, accurate and timely gift agreements that reflect donor intent, comply with institutional policy, and facilitate seamless gift administration and stewardship.
  • Maintain detailed and accurate call reports, proposal records and donor information in Veracross to support forecasting and institutional reporting.
  • Support donor recognition and stewardship plans by preparing briefings, assisting on impact reports, recognition activations and event-related materials as required.
  • Collaborate with Associate Director, Major Gifts and external partners on expanding Havergal’s Planned Giving program. .
  • Contribute to a high-performing team culture, collaborating effectively with colleagues across the Advancement department and the broader school community.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

  • Three or more years of fundraising experience, with a primary focus on major gifts or leadership giving.
  • Proven success cultivating and soliciting gifts of $25,000 or more.
  • Experience managing a significant donor portfolio and progressing prospects through the engagement cycle.
  • Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across an organization and with donors.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong organizational and analytical skills.
  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Ability to work independently while contributing collaboratively to team goals.
  • Experience working with volunteers throughout the gift cycle is an asset.
  • Knowledge of fundraising best practices in independent schools or the education sector is an asset.
Demonstrated ability and commitment to the Core Competencies of:
  • Inclusive Excellence
  • Collaboration & Teamwork
  • Integrity & Trust
  • Learning Agility
  • Communication
  • Growth Mindset

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and express their interest to HC Careers no later than January 23, 2026. This job posting is for an existing vacancy. This posting is for an existing vacancy. We use an AI transcription tool for note-taking during the initial telephone pre-screening. Candidate consent will be requested before the call, and refusal will not affect your application. If consent is declined, an HR member will take manual notes.

Havergal College thanks all applicants in advance. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Havergal College is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process, and work environment in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We will be happy to work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process. If you require accommodations, please contact Cathy LeBlanc at 416-483-3519 ext. 6526 or by email at [email protected].