Strategic Partnerships Lead

Background

The Greenpeace Canada Education Fund (GCEF) focuses on bridging the knowledge gap on environmental, climate, and energy issues in Canada and globally. Through research and education, we empower the public with the information needed to combat disinformation and push for meaningful climate action. Guided by values of democracy, inclusivity, and environmental justice, we work to address historical imbalances and drive systems change.

We are living through a decisive chapter in human history. The climate and nature emergencies are accelerating before our eyes, yet people continue to rise, resist, and reimagine what is possible. This moment demands more from us: more courage, more imagination, and more action. That is why GCEF is embarking on a new visionary journey to deepen strategic partnerships and advance groundbreaking environmental research and education projects in Canada and internationally.

The key responsibility of this role is to maximize income from individual donors by inspiring and engaging them through effective and committed philanthropic relationships.

Our objectives are to:

• Achieve income and expenditure targets.
• Inspire and engage donors.
• Secure effective, committed, and long-lasting relationships with donors.
• Achieve a diverse and secure fundraising base.
• Promote GCEF’s campaign goals and objectives.
• Broaden the appeal of GCEF.

Purpose of role

Under the direction of the GCEF Director, the Strategic Partnerships Lead will lead the planning and implementation of a major giving growth strategy. The Strategic Partnerships Lead is responsible for initiating and deepening relationships with individuals and foundations capable of making significant donations to support the work of GCEF. The role is responsible for maximizing major gifts by providing strategic direction for individual and foundational giving while holding relationships and ensuring excellent donor stewardship. The primary responsibilities are relationship management, prospecting and solicitation, and donor stewardship.

Primary responsibilities

The job holder will have the following key responsibilities:

Relationship building & gift solicitation

• Build robust and dynamic relationships with our donors and prospects.
• Successfully solicit major gifts of $25,000 CAD and more to meet income targets.
• Create proposals and report on all aspects of major donor work for individual donors, trusts, and foundations.
• Identify areas of GCEF’s work most likely to engage donors and prospects according to their particular areas of interest or motivations related to the GCEF’s charitable objectives.
• Make face-to-face, telephone, and written asks for support according to what will maximize the gift for each donor.
• Develop innovative, inspiring, and appropriate activities for major donors and foundations on the projects their donation has enabled.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective and current major donors, including appropriate cultivation strategies.
• Prioritize active donor engagement through one-on-one meetings, networking, and events.

Programme development & management

• Develop a bespoke acknowledgement and stewardship programme to deepen relationships with current donors, including reports, meetings, presentations, and being the first point of contact between designated donors and GCEF.
• Conduct regular research to identify prospects, develop strategies, and implement annual submission plans.
• Work with the GCEF Director to develop strong cases for support and to fulfil reporting requirements.
• Maintain a calendar of application deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Develop annual fundraising targets and metrics in agreement with the GCEF Director.
• Conduct screenings of prospects and potential new donors, ensuring due diligence and compliance with our policies.
• Collaborate with global partners working on environmental research and education in different countries to share learnings, expertise, and resources.

Other

• Manage any volunteers or interns, if applicable.
• Participate in and represent GCEF at global meetings and skill shares related to major giving.
• Participate in regular fundraising and all staff meetings.

Experience

• More than five years’ relevant experience, including experience managing relationships with high level donors or customers.
• Exceptional communication skills across different channels and teams, including strong listening, persuasion, presentation and negotiation skills, and proven ability to support and guide colleagues. Fundraising or sales copywriting skills. Fluent in English; knowledge of the French language would be an asset.
• Exemplary organizational skills, including the ability to set priorities, manage multiple complex projects, track information, work to a timeline, and achieve targeted goals.
• Strong relationship-building skills, ability to build rapport and trust with existing and prospective major gift donors. Track record of successfully soliciting major donations, managing key accounts, or winning pitches. Experience and skill with event planning and management.
• Ability to produce accurate and high quality proposals, communications, and stewardship reports for existing and potential funders, and financial and narrative reports for internal audiences, including board members and directors. To ensure all transactional data is accurately entered and reported on.
• Ability to verify the accuracy of source documents, to maintain confidentiality and determine the need to escalate; to make recommendations and input on improving relevant processes and procedures; to determine when and how to involve colleagues and board members from relevant Greenpeace entities in meetings with prospective and existing donors.
• Ability to foster a culture of excellence and innovation by actively sharing knowledge and striving for continuous improvement.

Skills and qualifications

• A university degree in marketing, communication, economics, or relevant professional experience.
• Knowledge of donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship strategies.
• Knowledge of the overall goals and intent of GCEF: to lead and promote program delivery in support of GCEF activities to support environmental protection principles.
• Demonstrated experience in high level fundraising in the charitable and/or not-for-profit sector.
• Demonstrated experience in grant writing in the non-profit sector.
• CFRE designation would be an asset.

Decision-making skills

• Demonstrates considerable initiative with respect to decision-making, and provides leadership for the planning, development and implementation of major gift fundraising strategies, plans, and procedures.
• Decisions made by the position significantly impact the overall success of GCEF’s fundraising program.
• Judgment and initiative are required in developing and building relationships with major gift donors.
• Discretion is exercised in handling confidential and sensitive information.

Physical effort requirements

• Minimal physical effort: his position requires fine motor skills to operate general office equipment and a computer. The position holder will have to travel within Canada as required. International travel may occasionally also be required.

Supervisory and financial responsibility

• This position does not exercise direct staff supervisory responsibility.
• This position has the authority to approve expenditures up to $2,500 CAD.

​Benefits

We offer a competitive and values-driven benefits package, designed to support staff well-being and work-life balance:

• Four-Day Work Week – Enjoy a 28-hour work week with full-time pay and benefits, giving you more time to recharge and live your values outside of work.
• Generous Paid Leave – From vacation and personal days to additional leave options, we prioritize rest, balance, and care for yourself and your loved ones
• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Robust medical, dental, and vision plans that support your overall health and extend to your family.
• Growth & Learning Opportunities – Access to ongoing professional development, learning, and skill-building to help you grow in your role and beyond.
• Values-Driven Culture – Join a compassionate, equity-centered workplace rooted in collaboration, inclusion, and a shared mission to create a more just and sustainable world.

Terms and conditions

This position works in a standard office environment. The job holder should be able to undertake occasional evening and weekend work, which can be either approved as overtime or managed through flexible time arrangements.

To apply for the post

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement. Please ensure you send your CV and Cover letter in the following format: full_name_CV_org_name_role and full_name_role_CL.

If you have any questions about the role or organization and would like an informal chat ahead of submitting a formal application, please reach out to Ruth Gardner at ruth@upsallinternational.com. Please note: to ensure the security of your application and to ensure that your data complies with GDPR regulations, applications via email will not be accepted.

• The deadline for applications is Monday 11^th May, 9:00 am CET

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Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.