Executive Director

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THE OPPORTUNITY

With the vision to stimulate a world of generosity and positive social good through fundraising best practice, the AFP Toronto Chapter is in an exciting time of change. Due to the retirement of our founding Executive Director after 25 years of leadership, we are seeking a new Executive Director to guide the team of staff and volunteers towards bringing this vision to life. Leading a team of four professionals, the Executive Director role is critical to accomplishing the ambitious goals that have been set forth with a new five year strategic plan for the Chapter.

Located in the Toronto office on King Street East, the Executive Director will work to grow key program and service offerings, while leveraging the strengths and positive impacts of the Toronto Chapter on the larger organization. Reporting to the President of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will work closely with key stakeholders to support activities of AFP Canada, the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy (Canada) and the AFP Government Relations Committee. With some flexibility to work from home, the new incumbent will participate in Board and Committee meetings which typically take place in the offices of our volunteers.

The Executive Director will plan and oversee the tactical implementation of the strategic plan, which focuses on five pillars:

1) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access

2) Member Experience

3) Incubation and Acceleration

4) Image & Reputation

5) Organizational Health

The Executive Director will work with key stakeholders to enhance the membership of the organization through recruitment, volunteer management and through the development and delivery of programs and services. Collaboration with stakeholders to ensure understanding of the AFP community’s needs is essential, as is addressing emerging trends and new or enhanced areas for educational exploration in the industry.

 

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is the professional association of individuals and organizations that generate philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions. Founded in 1960, AFP advances philanthropy through its 33,000 members in more than 241 chapters throughout the world. AFP has inspired global change and supported efforts that have generated over $1 trillion. AFP’s individual and organizational members raise over $115 billion annually, equivalent to one-third of all charitable giving in North America, and millions more around the world.

Providing community access to many types of educational programs about fundraising, including the annual International Conference on Fundraising (ICON), one of the largest gatherings of fundraising professionals in the world, is an important offering of the AFP. They offer career and leadership development programming for all fundraisers through collaborations with Korn Ferry and the American Association of University Women, and they work to raises public awareness and interest in philanthropy through programs such as National Philanthropy Day® (now a permanently recognized day in Canada by the federal government), Youth in Philanthropy, and AFP’s awards program.

An original founder of and current participating organization in a worldwide certification program through Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International, the AFP actively encourages research on fundraising and philanthropy, including the Nonprofit Research Collaborative Year-End Fundraising Survey; the Fundraising Effectiveness Project, which looks at how charities can be more efficient in their revenue generation; and the annual Compensation and Benefits Study, focusing on fundraising salaries. AFP also partners with many leading organizations to further the profession and philanthropy, and works to support legislation and regulations that encourage philanthropic giving and ethical fundraising across the industry.

 

ABOUT THE AFP TORONTO CHAPTER

The AFP Toronto Chapter is a recognized leader in promoting philanthropy and providing education, training and best practices to those in the fundraising profession.  With more than 1200 members, the Greater Toronto Chapter is the largest of more than 240 in the world. The AFP Toronto Chapter holds 2 major educational events each year, AFP Fundraising Day and the AFP Congress, both of which attract a diverse array of attendees in the non-profit world from across the country and often beyond. 

With the founding Executive Director retiring after 25 years of successful leadership, the AFP Toronto Chapter is in an exciting time of transformation.  In order to move forward with shared vision and clear intention, a strategic plan has been designed to best help the new incumbent and the team of staff and volunteers model their programs to achieve success.  The five pillars of the new strategic plan will enable the team to clearly anchor their goals and intentions to an organizational priority.  The Executive Director will be responsible for designing and leading the implementation of all elements of the plan.

 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE 

The ideal candidate will bring passion, the ability to inspire, and a pioneering spirit to the role, imbuing a culture of innovation and collaboration into the day-to-day responsibility of building a strong operational framework that will take the AFP Toronto Chapter to the next level of industry leadership.

A believer in promoting the importance of education and access to life-long learning opportunities, the ideal candidate will have significant experience in membership-based association management. The Executive Director will be a forward looking and long-term planner, who has demonstrated success in translating strategy into effective action.  A keen collaborator and thoughtful advocate, the new incumbent will work closely with colleagues at AFP Canada and the International Headquarters to create synergies and identify strategic opportunities that leverage unique strengths and enhance impact.

A skilled and experienced project manager, the Executive Director will demonstrate excellent time and priority management throughout their work.  Proficient in financial management and revenue generation, the ideal candidate will focus on ensuring the current and long-term fiscal health of the organization.  The ability to analyze results and take actions based on business intelligence is essential. The Executive Director will bring both structure and creativity to help streamline operations and enhance workflow efficiencies, engaging the staff and volunteers in the process.

The Executive Director will be an effective communicator who resonates with varied and diverse stakeholders from the most senior volunteers to vendors and suppliers. Demonstration of outstanding cultural competency when addressing the varying needs of the Chapter’s stakeholders is essential. The Executive Director will come with an extensive professional network that allows the new incumbent to keep current, connected and well-supported in the work.

Leading through influence and inspiration, the Executive Director will have deep experience working with committees and Boards. The ideal candidate will be highly emotionally intelligent and will be a consensus builder who engages in meaningful and authentic relationships with the Board and other volunteers.  Timely and organized, the new incumbent will demonstrate the ability to both motivate and support a high-functioning body of volunteers. The Executive Director will have a calm and consistent approach, and a developed ability to manage high-pressure experiences with grace. The ideal candidate will be a reassuring presence in the face of unexpected challenges for volunteers and staff alike.

Bringing clarity and understanding of shared goals to the team, the ideal candidate will effectively empower each staff member to challenge themselves and improve upon their individual skillsets. Friendly and approachable, the Executive Director will be an experienced staff leader and manager who understands when to guide staff to independent action and when to join the team on the ground. Experienced in hiring and managing staff, the Executive Director will be a supportive mentor who promotes learning and professional growth. The ideal candidate will bring positivity and encouragement to the team, while promoting a culture of collaboration, open communication, knowledge sharing, and collective celebration. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the President of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will be responsible for the overall leadership, management, and operation of the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter. The new incumbent will also support and help to guide the work of AFP Canada, which includes the AFP Government Relations Committee and the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy.  Key areas of responsibility include: 

AFP Greater Toronto Chapter (75%)

Governance

  • Participate and actively contribute to strategic discussions with the Board, representing the strengths and best practices employed by the Toronto Chapter.
  • Support the Board of Directors and ensure all identified business processes run effectively.
  • Oversee and enhance the administrative effectiveness of all Board committees, with special attention to the HR and Finance committees.
  • Report to the Board and oversee discussions relating to risk assessment and mitigation for the Chapter.

Annual Planning

  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to lead the translation of the five-year strategic plan into an actionable operational and financial plan.
  • Work with key stakeholders to oversee and support the implementation of the strategic plan.
  • Develop, monitor and evaluate key performance metrics to support the outcomes of the strategic plan; communicate and consistently report on these metrics to key audiences, including staff and the Board of Directors.

Financial Management and Revenue Generation

  • Oversee all elements of the financial management of the AFP Toronto Chapter, ensuring the long-term financial health of the organization.
  • Develop and manage Chapter budgets and targets, maintaining strict enforcement.
  • Develop performance metrics for all revenue streams and develop clear and consistent analytics to report on the progress and outcomes of finances against set KPI’s.
  • Oversee risk assessment and risk mitigation as it relates to the financial administration of the Chapter.
  • Leverage the Chapter’s ability to increase revenues through registrations, sponsorships, donations and other revenue generating streams.

Communications and Facilitation

  • Create operational infrastructure to effectively manage the flow of information between the Board of Directors, volunteer committees and staff.
  • Create a digital fluency across the AFP Toronto Chapter, working with staff, volunteers and other stakeholders to build a culture of digital impact across the organization.
  • Oversee reputational risk assessment and mitigation options for the Chapter.
  • Ensure that key stakeholder groups have accessible and timely methods to give and receive feedback.
  • Work with key stakeholder groups to collaborate and leverage brand strength across the AFP Toronto Chapter community.
  • Work with key stakeholders to create a culture of collaboration and effective integrated workflow across the Chapter.
  • Oversee and guide staff responsible for relationship management with appropriate vendors and suppliers providing goods and services to the organization.

Staff Leadership and Development

  • Manage and direct four staff members to perform their role and coach and guide them to develop their professional skillsets; oversee hiring and on-boarding for future staff members.
  • Oversee the creation, monitoring and evaluation of performance plans for all staff, including quantitative and qualitative goal measurements.
  • Promote and enhance the culture of ongoing knowledge acquisition and inherent professional development across the team to help build the internal culture of life-long education.
  • Direct activities and lead the team to deliver on their respective pieces of the operational plan; report back to the team on collective and individual impacts that have moved the strategic plan forward.
  • Lead the team through all change management that occurs during the leadership transition and going forward as the Chapter enhances and grows in services.

Volunteer Management

  • Oversee all volunteer committees to ensure they are well resourced and able to productively deliver on their responsibilities.
  • Ensure the volunteer journey from first point of contact to relationship stewardship is intentional and positive, mindful of volunteer experience and productive and impactful outcomes for the Chapter.
  • Facilitate a strong and authentic working relationship between volunteer committees and paid Chapter staff, promoting a culture of support, inclusive communications, and impactful collaboration.

Event Management

  • Oversee the successful execution of all Chapter conferences and programming.
  • Oversee the selection of contracted event producers to ensure the effective and timely execution of key Chapter conferences and programming.
  • Manage the relationship and relevant contracts with all event vendors (suppliers, contracted event producers, etc.) to ensure effective and timely delivery of goods and services.
  • Build, grow, and steward relationships with companies who support the Chapter through sponsorships, exhibiting and vendors; identify new business development opportunities with current or new corporate partners.
  • Oversee and participate with all Event Committees and support and strategically guide all event activities.

Member Engagement

  • Develop and implement a plan to enhance current membership engagement.
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to attract, recruit and retain Chapter membership; ensure that all Chapter members are well supported and communicated with about news, Chapter events, available benefits and resources, etc.
  • Oversee the implementation of a new membership management database (Association DNA).

AFP Canada (25%)

Governance

  • Lead the collaboration with all key stakeholders to ensure all integrated procedures run effectively and achieve intended outcomes for AFP Canada, AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and the AFP Government Relations Committee.
  • Support the annual Canadian Leadership Retreat through overseeing registration management, sponsorship and on-site event management.
  • Oversee and provide leadership to and support for the effective administration of the Chair of Government Relations for AFP Canada.
  • Serve as a representative on key committees across the three bodies; attend all key Board and committee meetings.
  • Act as a primary contact for requests for advice and member related service for the AFP Government Relations committee members, AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and AFP Canada.
  • Oversee the management of the provincial grant program.
  • Support the financial administration and revenue management of AFP Canada.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

  • A seasoned strategic leader with experience in a non-profit association or related field, and with a track record of sound operational and management skills.
  • Experience working with, supporting, and motivating a volunteer board of directors, with diverse backgrounds, personalities and levels of skill and knowledge.
  • A demonstrated record of success in operationalizing and implementing a strategic plan, including KPI development and management.
  • Experience in successfully managing the current and long-term financial health of an organization, including overseeing annual budgeting, accounting and reporting standards.
  • Excellent communication skills, with a natural ability to influence, build consensus, and inspire others to productive action. High degree of cultural competence and a demonstrated commitment to the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and access in the charitable sector.
  • An experienced team leader and staff manager with a demonstrated ability to attract, retain, mentor, motivate, and lead a team of staff with various levels of experience and expertise.
  • Proven experience collaborating effectively with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders.
  • Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and high quality of work.
  • Excellent time management and project management skills, with experience in event management.
  • High level of confidence in using data to analyze and report on programs and outcomes.
  • Ability to resource and manage the work with outside suppliers and contractors (IT, finance, events, etc.)
  • Experience in managing and growing successful membership campaigns, with experience in enhancing the member value proposition and moving towards the ideal member experience.
  • A high level of digital literacy with experience in leveraging online communication platforms, information systems and other technology both internally and externally.
  • Solid understanding of office technology and association management systems and databases.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in an area of study applicable to the role, or an equivalent combination of education and expertise in the field.
  • Availability and ability to travel within Canada up to 10% of the time.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

APPLICATION PROCESS & DEADLINE

The Association of Fundraising Professionals has retained KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.) to lead this search on their behalf. Inquiries and nominations should be directed to Tara George, Partner / Lead, Search + Talent or Ayesha Mayan, Senior Search Consultant via email at AFPToronto@kcitalent.com.

Candidates are asked to please submit both a resume and a letter of interest to the above email address by September 3, 2019.  

To view the full Executive Brief, please visit: www.kcitalent.com 

 

All inquiries and applications will be held in strictest confidence. 

The hiring committee will work to ensure a diverse range of people receive this notice and are encouraged to apply in accordance with our statement of diversity and inclusion.  We work to ensure that all interested parties have genuine, open and unhindered access to volunteer and career opportunities, free from any barriers, systemic or otherwise.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is committed to developing and maintaining a diverse organization that reflects, is responsive to, and embraces the diversity of the communities we serve throughout the world; respecting and valuing all people