Associate Director, Philanthropy and Partnerships – Vanguard Scholars Program - BlackNorth

Associate Director, Philanthropy and Partnerships – Vanguard Scholars Program

About BlackNorth Initiative

BlackNorth Initiative works to close gaps created by systemic anti-Black racism in Canada. By holding corporate Canada accountable through measurable commitments, we aim to drive equitable representation and dismantle systemic barriers impacting Black Canadians.

Position Overview

Vanguard Scholars is a national, multi-year academic and leadership pathway supporting high-potential Black students through postsecondary education. The program includes academic enrichment, mentorship, leadership development, and a summer academy.

The Associate Director, Philanthropy and Partnerships will lead fundraising and partnership strategy to secure multi-year philanthropic and corporate support. This role manages donor and partner relationships, develops funding materials, and ensures strong stewardship and reporting in collaboration with the Program Director and internal teams.

This role suits a relationship-driven fundraiser who can translate program strategy into fundable opportunities, advance prospects through the pipeline, and deliver consistent revenue and stewardship outcomes.

Reporting

• Reports to: Director, Vanguard Scholars Program

• Collaborates with: CEO, Philanthropy, Finance, Communications & Marketing, Program Operations, and external partners

• Focused on Vanguard revenue and stewardship, while aligning with broader fundraising systems and strategy

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Revenue Delivery

• Develop and execute annual fundraising plan with targets across foundations, corporate, and individual giving

• Identify, qualify, and cultivate aligned funders

• Create compelling funding packages tied to program outcomes

• Maintain a strong pipeline and track activity from prospecting to commitment

• Achieve annual and multi-year revenue targets

Relationship Management & Stewardship

• Lead donor cultivation and stewardship with a high-touch partner experience

• Execute structured engagement including updates, impact reporting, and events

• Coordinate funder engagement tied to program milestones and summer academy

• Support external stakeholder engagement and partnership development

• Manage key funder relationships (e.g., cornerstone partners) with leadership

Grant Development & Proposals

• Own end-to-end grant process (calendar, submissions, budgets, reporting)

• Develop proposals, LOIs, decks, and donor-specific narratives

• Coordinate cross-functional inputs to ensure accuracy and alignment

• Build templates to improve efficiency and consistency

• Track deliverables, reporting timelines, and restricted funding requirements

Partnerships & Corporate Engagement

• Develop corporate partnership pathways (sponsorship, mentorship, engagement)

• Deliver programs tied to career exposure, internships, and scholarships

• Manage partner benefits, recognition, and fulfillment

• Track commitments and ensure timely delivery

• Support negotiation and ensure agreements align with internal processes

Reporting & Accountability

• Translate program outcomes into funder-ready reporting

• Ensure timely delivery of reports and stewardship materials

• Support leadership briefings and Board-level updates

• Align reporting with program KPIs, budgets, and evaluation frameworks

Systems & Operations

• Support scalable fundraising systems and workflows

• Maintain accurate CRM records and pipeline tracking

• Ensure compliance with funding requirements and reporting obligations

• Coordinate internal processes for proposals, approvals, and communications

• Support events and maintain professionalism in partner interactions

Success in 6–12 Months

• Fundraising plan and 12-month activity calendar established

• Pipeline built to 3x annual revenue target

• Consistent prospect movement and reporting cadence

• New multi-year commitments secured; renewals confirmed

• On-time delivery of all reporting and stewardship

• Improved internal workflows and submission quality

• CRM fully up to date and reliable

Qualifications

• 5+ years fundraising experience (foundations, corporate, major gifts)

• Proven success securing five- and six-figure, multi-year funding

• Strong proposal writing and donor communications skills

• Excellent relationship management across senior stakeholders

• Strong project management and ability to manage multiple priorities

• High attention to detail and comfort with budgets and reporting

• Ability to translate strategy into clear funding narratives

• Alignment with BlackNorth Initiative’s mission

Assets

• Experience in Canadian philanthropic/corporate sectors

• Bilingualism (English/French)

• Experience with national programs

• Familiarity with education access programs

Location & Compensation

• Hybrid (minimum 60% in office, Downtown Toronto)

• Salary: CAD 100,000–135,000 + bilingual bonus (if applicable)

To Apply

Send resume to with the role title in the subject line.

Equity Statement

BlackNorth Initiative welcomes applications from individuals across diverse and intersectional identities. Accommodations are available throughout the hiring process.