Job Posting – Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts (VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation)

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health’s primary philanthropic partner and the leading charity investing in health care innovation in British Columbia, raising essential funds for specialized adult health care services and research for people across the province. In partnership with donors, the Foundation supports Vancouver Coastal Health’s key institutions, including VGH & UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and Community Health Services.

The Foundation is one of BC’s largest fundraising organizations, whose dedicated staff team of more than 110 people raised $149+ million last year from 13,600 committed supporters.  Approximately 70% of the Foundation’s annual revenue is raised by the Philanthropy & Campaign Division, including the Foundation’s exceptional team of major gifts fundraisers focused on gifts of over $100,000.

Recognizing the significance of the team’s work – which amounts to approximately $60 million raised every year – the Foundation has created the new role of Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts to lead this dynamic group.

The Lead will provide strategic leadership and management of the four Philanthropy Advisors[1], each of whom have goals of up to $10 million, as well as managing their own pipeline of major gift prospects.  This is a senior role in the Foundation with significant leadership, fundraising, and cross-Foundation collaboration expectations.  As well, the Lead will play a key role in fundraising for VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s campaign, its most ambitious fundraising campaign in history and the largest ever health care campaign in BC.

This is a unique opportunity to further enable major gift best practices and help achieve the Foundation’s strategic priorities by:

• Playing a pivotal leadership role in a historic and transformative campaign;
• Shaping and advancing major gifts strategy at a critical moment of growth;
• Partnering with senior leaders, physicians, and volunteers to secure significant gifts;
• Combining big-picture strategic thinking with hands-on leadership of a high-performing team;
• Working at the intersection of campaign fundraising, clinical priorities, and organizational strategy;
• Joining an established, deeply committed, and high-performing fundraising team.

The title Philanthropy Lead, Major Gifts reflects both the role’s seniority and strategic nature. As part of an evolving leadership structure at the Foundation, “Lead” has been introduced to recognize positions with significant responsibility, influence, and decision-making authority. Internally, the role is equivalent in level to a Director.

To learn more and read the entire position brief, please be in touch or go to https://thediscoverygroup.ca/portfolio/vgh-ubc-hospital-foundation/

• Extensive major gifts and fundraising experiences with proven track record of working with high net worth individuals and complex gifts.
• Advanced knowledge of fundraising strategy with a preference for health care philanthropy experience or similar complex organizations.
• Proven ability to provide specialized, relevant advice and support to donors and fundraisers, demonstrating a deep understanding of the healthcare setting, including the complexities and dynamics within the Canadian healthcare system
• Proven ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with multiple, competing deadlines, and time and resource constraints.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing high-performing teams and as evidenced by the performance of the team.
• Proven ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy, discretion, and professionalism in managing sensitive information.
• Demonstrated project management and facilitation with a sound knowledge of formal project management methodologies and practices.
• CRM systems and moves management knowledge to inform decisions and optimize major gifts’ team performance (experience working with Salesforce will be helpful).
• Excellent business writing and editing skills; experience developing and writing fundraising cases for support and proposals preferred.
• Consistently models the Foundation’s core values of being Bold, acting with Integrity, and embracing Community in all aspects of leadership and collaboration.
• A university degree or comparable professional training and experience.

This search is being led by VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s search partner, Christoph Clodius at The Discovery Group, at christoph@thediscoverygroup.ca.  If you’re interested or curious, or know someone who is, please be in touch.

Application Timing and Selection Process

All submissions should be received by August 7, 2026. Please apply to Christoph with a cover letter/expression of interest and resume/CV, in a combined single document.

Candidates will be evaluated on an ongoing basis, so we are encouraging early and/or immediate applications and enquiries.

Compensation & Benefits:

The successful Lead can expect a starting salary between $135,600 – 169,500 depending on experience.  Salary is reviewed annually for success factors such as skills, experience, and internal equity.  Additionally, each year, the Foundation considers its overall performance and awards a bonus Organizational Performance Incentive. Once hired, employees have the opportunity for their salary to increase over time up to the maximum of the pay band, currently $203,400.

The Foundation’s top-notch total rewards package includes enrollment in the Municipal Pension Plan, dental and extended health benefits (with premiums paid by the Foundation), life insurance, subsidized access to the VGH fitness facilities, parking, transit, and cycling centre and a Health Spending Account.

Vacation includes 4 weeks each year and eligibility for the 9-day fortnight program in the summer months. The remote work policy allows individuals to work up to 10 days per year remotely, and a hybrid work model is available (up to 50% of their time at home).

To learn more and read the entire position brief, please be in touch or go to https://thediscoverygroup.ca/portfolio/vgh-ubc-hospital-foundation/