Join our team!

About Windmill Microlending:

Windmill Microlending enables immigrants and refugees to build careers in Canada while reducing poverty and labour shortages. We do this by offering affordable loans along with career assessment coaching, financial literacy training, and mentorship for newcomers who lack access to mainstream credit.

Since 2005, Windmill has provided over 13,500 loans to clients in healthcare, IT, financial services, law, engineering, and many other fields to triple their incomes as a result of our affordable loans and support. Windmill is a registered Canadian charity supported by donations and community bonds from the private sector and grants from the public sector.

Position overview:

Windmill Microlending is seeking a collaborative and dynamic self-starter to serve as our Associate Director, Campaign Fundraising, as we prepare to publicly launch an exciting $50M national campaign that inspires and engages philanthropists, foundations, and corporations to support our mission to serve thousands of skilled immigrants each year.

Reporting to the Campaign Director and working in close partnership with the fundraising team, the Associate Director, Campaign Fundraising will contribute to the development and execution of the strategic objectives of the major giving program. They will be critical in driving Windmill’s fundraising efforts, strengthening donor relationships through thoughtful strategic communications, and ensuring the organization’s long-term sustainability.

The Associate Director is responsible for expanding and creating a new portfolio of donors, developing and implementing strategies to strengthen relationships with existing donors, and driving the acquisition of major gifts in the $25,000 to $1,000,000+ range, as well as securing community bond investments above $250,000. They will also ensure donor stewardship and communication strategies are in place for their portfolio of donors, making sure funders are consistently engaged through compelling proposals, impact updates, and personalized stewardship.

In this role, the Associate Director will make meaningful contributions to the attainment of Windmill’s mission and exemplify the values of passion, empowerment, simplicity, and results in all aspects of their work.

Responsibilities:

• Secure new annual and multi-year revenue through donations, sponsorships, and impact investments (e.g., community bonds), focusing on achieving progressively increasing targets.
• Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 80 donors and prospects—including corporations, associations, and foundations.
• Negotiate, secure, and sustain corporate partnerships that include donations, sponsorships, workplace giving, matching funds, and other strategic contributions, while cultivating strong relationships to ensure agreements are fully executed and engagement is maintained throughout the partnership lifecycle.
• Develop and deliver compelling sponsorship packages—including pitch decks and proposals—for key events such as Windmill’s national campaign launch and 20th anniversary celebration
• Support the CEO on high-level fundraising efforts by preparing briefing materials, conducting prospect research, and attending meetings as required.
• Work cross-functionally with Client Success and Marketing teams to steward donors through recognition activities and engagement opportunities.
• Support campaign storytelling and content creation by gathering donor testimonials, visual assets, and impact narratives, and collaborating with the marketing team to produce tailored materials such as proposals, impact reports, campaign updates, donor spotlights, and case statements.ms and materials.
• Manage a donor communications/stewardship/fundraising specialist, if required.

Qualifications and knowledge:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent Education/Experience.
• Knowledge of Salesforce software preferred.
• Intermediate to advanced MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook).
• Ability to communicate comfortably in French is an asset.
• Familiarity with impact investing is an asset.

Competencies and characteristics:

• A fundraising professional with 6-plus years of experience and a track record of securing major gift donations with individuals, foundations, and/or corporations.
• Experience building and managing a qualified donor pipeline.
• Experience identifying key opportunities for existing donors to increase their donor contributions.
• Experience taking warm leads and turning them into committed donors. Excellent writing skills with experience in writing and editing proposals and other documents related to fundraising and stewardship.
• A skilled communicator with an ability to engage and motivate donors, partners, volunteers, staff, board members, and investors.
• An aptitude for managing, motivating, and inspiring team members (I’d like to find someone who likes to support team management – whether as a manager or not – so can we leave it in like this?)
• A roll-up-your-sleeves team player, eager to embrace and execute new ideas in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Proven ability to achieve results and meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills and keen attention to detail.
• Strong affinity for, and a commitment to Windmill’s values – Passion, Empowerment, Simplicity, and Results.
• Highly motivated to address labour market integration challenges faced by internationally trained/educated immigrants.

Working conditions:

• Hybrid working environment at the Toronto or Calgary office (a minimum of two days per week at the office and additional time spent meeting donors), remote if located in Vancouver.
• Full-time permanent position.
• Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours due to committee and other meetings and events.

Starting salary range:

• $100,000- $120,000 based on experience. Room for negotiation for more seasoned major gift fundraisers.
• Windmill offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, health/wellness, GRSP, and vacation benefits.

How to apply:

If you meet the criteria above and are interested in applying for the position, please send your resume to our search partner Sandra Paquette, at sandra@searchsmart.ca (reference: Associate Director, Campaign Fundraising). We are actively recruiting for this position, so to ensure you are given due consideration for this opportunity, interested candidates should send their resume, including a cover letter and salary expectations, as soon as possible. The successful candidate will be required to provide a Police Clearance Certificate. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those considered for an interview will be contacted directly.

Windmill Microlending is an equal employment opportunity employer. Adhering to Canada’s Human Rights Code, Windmill grants equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, colour, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, ethnic origin, age or place of origin. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.