DIVISION SUMMARY

The Community Giving and Engagement division is one of the revenue-producing divisions of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. The division is responsible for raising over $20m in revenue annually and consists of seven departments: Annual Giving, Leadership Giving, Fundraising Events & Corporate Partnerships, Asian Strategy, Legacy Giving, Marketing & Brand Engagement, and Strategic Partnerships & Campaign Communications. The division is also responsible for supporting a flow-through pipeline of donors suitable for engagement by the Philanthropy division.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Fundraising Events & Corporate Partnerships department is responsible for developing, leading and producing high-calibre fundraising events, and managing and developing a portfolio of independent community events, cause-related marketing opportunities and corporate partnerships. Collectively, these initiatives contribute to the Foundation by generating fundraising revenue, growing our donor pipeline and increasing brand awareness, all while cultivating and strengthening relationships with our community.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Manager, Signature Events is responsible for the strategic leadership, planning, execution, and long-term growth of the Foundation's portfolio of signature fundraising events, including but not limited to the VGH+ Gala and establishing the inaugural Signature Peer-to-Peer Event. This role oversees all aspects of the Foundation’s Signature Events, including, but not limited to, the overall fundraising strategy, team leadership, donor and participant engagement journeys, committee and volunteer management, community engagement, and revenue and donor targets.

The Manager leads the development and implementation of new event concepts and growth strategies, ensuring signature events remain innovative, financially sustainable, and aligned with organizational priorities. Through exceptional event experiences and strong stakeholder relationships, this role advances the Foundation's mission while contributing to broader Community Giving & Engagement revenue and donor acquisition goals.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Position Impact

• Leads the strategic direction, planning, execution, and long-term growth of the Foundation's portfolio of Signature Events, including but not limited to the VGH+ Gala, Signature Peer-to-Peer Event, and any future Foundation-led fundraising events.
• Develops and implements multi-year event strategies that help to grow revenue, sponsor investment, donor acquisition, participant engagement, and community awareness.
• Leads the development, launch, and scaling of new Signature Event concepts that align with Foundation priorities and support long-term revenue goals.
• Accountable for achieving or exceeding annual targets for fundraising, attendance, participation, and engagement across the Signature Events portfolio.
• Designs exceptional donor, sponsor, participant, volunteer, and guest experiences that inspire philanthropy, deepen engagement with the Foundation, and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Maximizes net revenue across multiple fundraising streams including sponsorships, ticket and table sales, peer-to-peer fundraising, auctions, raffles, donations, matching gifts, corporate teams, event activations, and in-kind partnerships.
• Leads volunteer fundraising committees and leadership groups, leveraging community influence, networks, and expertise to expand event reach and fundraising outcomes.
• Builds pathways that connect event participants, attendees, sponsors, and volunteers to the Foundation's broader donor pipeline, supporting growth in annual, leadership, philanthropy, and legacy giving programs.

Business Solutions

• Develops and manages comprehensive annual workplans, project plans, budgets, revenue forecasts, and risk mitigation strategies for all Signature Events within the portfolio.
• Oversees event portfolio performance, ensuring resources, timelines, budgets, staffing, and fundraising priorities are effectively aligned to achieve departmental goals.
• Evaluates emerging event trends, fundraising technologies, and market opportunities to identify innovative approaches that enhance event performance, donor engagement, and operational efficiency.
• Leads the implementation and optimization of event platforms, registration systems, auction software, peer-to-peer fundraising platforms, and digital engagement tools that support scalable growth.

Establishes and monitors key performance indicators, providing analysis, recommendations, and post-event evaluations to support continuous improvement and long-term growth.

• Leads risk identification, contingency planning, and decision-making to protect the Foundation's reputation, financial investments, donors, sponsors, participants, and volunteers.
• Oversees cross-functional planning, governance processes, and workback schedules to ensure coordinated delivery of event priorities and alignment with organizational campaigns and strategic initiatives.
• Supports departmental and divisional priorities as required, contributing to organizational fundraising growth, donor acquisition, stewardship, and community engagement objectives.

Relationship Management

• Serves as the senior relationship lead and primary point of contact for the Foundation's Signature Events portfolio, ensuring an exceptional stakeholder experience.
• Cultivates and manages strategic relationships with sponsors, donors, volunteer leaders, committee members, corporate partners, participants, agencies, suppliers, healthcare partners, and community stakeholders to advance fundraising goals.
• Leads the recruitment, management, engagement, and stewardship of volunteer committees and event leadership groups, ensuring alignment with event and Foundation objectives.
• Works closely with Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy teams to identify sponsorship opportunities, steward corporate relationships, and maximize organizational partnerships.
• Collaborates with Community Giving, Philanthropy, Marketing & Brand Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, and Donor Engagement & Stewardship teams to maximize revenue generation, donor conversion, awareness, retention and stewardship.
• Secures, negotiates, and manages vendor, venue, production, technology, and service provider relationships, ensuring high-quality execution and value for investment.
• Develops and implements sponsorship recognition, donor stewardship, participant engagement, and volunteer appreciation strategies that strengthen loyalty and long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Creates year-round engagement opportunities that broaden community reach, deepen affinity with the Foundation, and increase retention across event audiences.

People Leadership

• Directly supervises, coaches, mentors, and develops Signature Events team, providing clear priorities, performance expectations, accountability, and professional development opportunities.
• Assigns, monitors, and evaluates work plans to ensure events are delivered on time, on budget, and aligned with fundraising and engagement goals
• Provides coaching and guidance on fundraising strategies, sponsorship development, relationship management, project management, budgeting, and event execution.
• Recruits, trains, coordinates, and manages event committees and leadership volunteers to support fundraising activities and enhance the event experience.
• Fosters a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and exceptional stakeholder service.
• Serves as the department's subject matter expert on signature event fundraising, event growth strategy, sponsorship activation, volunteer engagement, and industry best practices.

Occupational & Organizational Knowledge

• Strong understanding of fundraising streams and how signature gala and peer-to-peer events drive donor pipeline development.
• Expert knowledge of events as high-impact engagement and fundraising mechanisms.
• Strong proficiency in fundraising event planning, logistics, sponsorship strategies, and project/relationship management.
• Comprehensive understanding of Foundation campaigns, policies, and philanthropic best practices.
• Working knowledge of CRA regulations, charitable receipting, and sponsorship/in kind guidelines relevant to gala fundraising. Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations and organizational policies.
• Maintains awareness of local fundraising and fundraising event trends, industry best practices, and emerging innovations that can enhance gala performance.

Role Competencies

• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing high-performing fundraising events
• Proven ability to cultivate, secure and grow revenue from sponsors and in-kind partners.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with fundraising volunteers, donors, sponsors and vendors.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Creative, proactive, and comfortable navigating complex environments with shifting priorities.
• Strong judgment, diplomacy, and discretion in resolving issues and managing stakeholder expectations.
• Experience utilizing CRMs such as Salesforce is an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with fundraising software and peer-to-peer platforms is an asset.
• Ability to speak additional languages is considered an asset.

Foundation Core Values

• Bold – embrace courage, creativity and forward-thinking and drive positive change and innovation
• Integrity – commitment to honesty, trust, maximum impact and stewardship, and operate with purpose and transparency
• Community – committed to people and communities, fostering relationships, collaboration and partnerships

What We Offer

The successful candidate can expect a starting salary between $83,800 and $104,800, depending on factors such as skills, experience, and internal equity. Once hired, salary is reviewed annually, and successful employees have the opportunity for their salary to increase over time. Additional variable pay (merit/bonus), defined benefit pension plan, extended health and dental benefits for you and your partner/children, flexible working arrangements, four weeks’ paid vacation, investment in professional development and subsidized access to transit, fitness, cycling and parking facilities all contribute to a top-notch total rewards package.

Work Format: Hybrid, with a minimum of 50% of working time in the office. Specific in-office schedules are determined by department needs and discussed with the manager.

This recruitment is being led by Gerard Search on behalf of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

Application deadline: We are accepting rolling applications until the position is filled.

Check the status of the search process here