Director of Philanthropy

ORGANIZATION:
Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society

DEADLINE:
Until Filled

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:
VIFF is the largest festival in Vancouver, and one of North America’s most prestigious cinema institutions, a fast-rising star amongst the world’s top film festivals. Every year is an immense celebration of film and film culture; an expertly curated program, hundreds of filmmakers interacting with sold-out audiences, award-winning films, parties, and galas. At the same time, VIFF defies tradition by exploring cinema’s furthest boundaries through an ever-evolving blend of cinematic live performances, interactive masterclasses with top-tier artists, and a massive exhibition of cutting-edge creative technology.

Our home, the VIFF Centre, is Canada’s finest arthouse cinema dedicated to featuring new film by international, Canadian, and Indigenous filmmakers. The Centre plays a vital role in the city’s cultural landscape, serving as a platform for dozens of other film festivals and community-centric non-profits.

VIFF is an indispensable showcase of Vancouver’s film and television industry, connecting inspiring international leaders with Canada’s unparalleled emerging talent. In 2026, VIFF will begin an exciting expansion of artist and industry programming into the year-round, in a new Film Institute framework, to greatly increase its impact on the artistic practice and careers of filmmakers from across the country.

WEBSITE:
http://viff.org

JOB DESCRIPTION:
VIFF is seeking a talented and passionate fundraiser, with a specialty in prospecting and stewarding major donors, to join its small, dynamic team as Director of Philanthropy. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Philanthropy is responsible for all philanthropic fundraising activities and donor relations in support of VIFF’s strategic goals.

Working closely with the Development team, including the Director of Corporate Partnerships and the Government Relations Manager, the Director of Philanthropy will help grow VIFF’s relatively nascent but thriving philanthropic program into a substantial financial mechanism for the organization. Since founding the department in 2022, VIFF has built a strong foundation of philanthropic giving. This role will lead the next phase of growth by increasing both the number of donors and the scale of contributions, while strengthening fundraising processes and professionalism across the organization.

As an internal leader and external advocate, the Director of Philanthropy will embrace VIFF’s values and articulate its mission and vision. This role requires an expert relationship builder who can welcome new supporters while stewarding existing donors and community members with care.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead VIFF in the pursuit and securing of small and large donations, foundation support, legacy gifts, capital project funding (as required), and reserve funds

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, secure, and steward all major gifts, foundation funding, and planned giving prospects and donors

• Lead the development team to secure individual gifts, monthly gifts, and other small donations

• Reinforce a culture of philanthropy across VIFF through expertly crafted campaigns, cases for support, marketing copy, and correspondence aligned with organizational values and voice

• Track, monitor, and evaluate the performance of all fundraising programs and identify opportunities for revenue growth

• Establish and maintain relationships with a wide range of foundations, aligning funding priorities with VIFF programs to encourage long-term support

• Develop a three- to five-year fundraising plan aligned with VIFF’s overall strategic plan

• Develop and manage an annual fundraising plan and budget, ensuring revenue and expense goals are met

• Establish annual donor targeting, segmentation, and contact plans

• Continue to develop VIFF’s fundraising structure to meet evolving financial goals

• Provide leadership and mentorship to the Membership and Development Manager, volunteers, and interns, including hiring and team growth as needed

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and welcoming working culture for staff and volunteers

• Participate in professional organizations and community events to stay current on fundraising trends

• Work with VIFF’s Board of Directors to support donor engagement and cultivate new relationships

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree or equivalent training or experience, with additional fundraising-related professional training; CFRE accreditation is an asset

• Minimum five years of experience planning and executing revenue-generating fund development programs at a senior manager or director level

• Demonstrated expertise in major giving, foundation giving, and strategic fundraising planning

• Strong strategic, organizational, management, and administrative skills

• Proven ability to lead, coach, mentor, and motivate a team

• Deep knowledge of annual giving, mid-level giving, monthly giving, major gifts, legacy giving, and foundation fundraising

• Experience fundraising in an arts environment is a strong asset

• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to think creatively in a fast-paced environment

• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with strong diplomacy, discretion, and excellent written and verbal communication abilities

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required

HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit a current CV along with a cover letter to careers@viff.org. Include “Director of Philanthropy” in the subject line of the email. VIFF thanks all applicants for their interest and advises that only those selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

REMUNERATION:
$90,000–$108,000 annually