The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy is an educational and public policy think tank based in Canada.
Job description and purpose:
We are hiring an Associate Philanthropy Director to help champion reason, democracy, and civilization—to renew a civil, common-sense approach to public discourse and public policy through facts and informed history.
The Associate Philanthropy Director is responsible for spearheading the Aristotle Foundation’s relationships with philanthropists, grant foundations, and grassroots supporters to financially enable the Aristotle Foundation to carry out our mission.
The Associate Philanthropy Director’s primary responsibilities include:
- Creating and executing the master fundraising plan in concert with the President, including ongoing and specific funds to be raised for events and sponsorships, major gifts, direct mail, website and social media online giving, and legacy gifts.
- Working with the President, Marketing Director, Research Director, and other staff and outside vendors to develop and implement annual strategies, goals, and tactics for fundraising.
- Overseeing all requirements and deadlines in support of fundraising goals including, but not limited to, meeting foundation grant and reporting deadlines, major gift reporting and deadlines, vendor deadlines and schedules—such as direct mail, telemarketing, online solicitation—and various other reporting requirements.
- Writing applications, correspondence, and follow-up reports with grant foundations and supporters.
- Identifying, developing, and cultivating existing and prospective donors who do, may, or should have an interest in supporting the mission of the Aristotle Foundation.
Other duties include but are not limited to:
- Working with our Data Assistant and Executive Assistant to maintain a record of donor interactions, and ensure the receipt of funds from grants and the issuance of tax and business receipts as necessary.
- Maintaining our commitment to supporters by keeping them informed and by maintaining their confidence and support through planned and regular correspondence and contact (with help from other staff).
- Supporting the President and Marketing Director in the crafting of proposals that will be either requests for general funding and/or campaign- or case-specific. Proposals will need to include a cost breakdown with specific, measurable outcomes and time frames.
- Ensuring all fundraising materials are consistent, integrated, high quality, up to date, and on brand; ensuring the content of all virtual and physical thank-you letters are updated regularly with compelling, timely, and relevant information on Aristotle Foundation activities and achievements.
- Creating reports to analyze data and determine the effectiveness of varied fundraising initiatives.
- Travelling often (at least once every month).
- Ensuring, in coordination with the accounting dept., President, and other staff, that all activities are conducted in accordance with applicable CRA rules and regulations and other legal requirements.
Education, experience, and essential skills:
- At least five years’ combined experience in philanthropy, fundraising, business development, and/or sales; experience working with grant foundations and/or major philanthropists is an asset.
- Exceptional people skills and high emotional intelligence.
- Skilled and persuasive writer, who can be both concise and thorough; strong preference will be given to those with successful grant-writing experience.
- A university degree or equivalent.
- Proficient in Word and Excel.
Our ideal candidate is:
- Committed to the Aristotle Foundation’s vision and mission.
- More interested in philanthropists finding the right fit for their gifts than the gift itself.
- Warm and personable—genuinely interested in people.
- Energized by meeting new faces and cultivating lasting relationships.
- Goal-oriented and naturally competitive.
- Extremely conscientious: a very detail-oriented, organized, self-starter.
- A team player—highly cooperative and communicative.
- Described by others as having character.
- Well-informed by history, economics, and political philosophy.
- Interested in the major debates in the public square—and is very comfortable discussing the main political/cultural issues of the day.
- Obsessed with staying current on major public policy issues.
- Passionate about ordered liberty—grasps why freedom and responsibility both matter.
- Believes that every individual has dignity and worth—and should be free to flourish.
Requirements:
- Remote, but needs to live in proximity to a major airport in Canada.
- Full time, starting date TBD.
- You must be legally allowed to work in Canada.
Compensation:
The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus health benefits and matching RRSP contributions, and a potential bonus.
Reporting:
The Associate Director of Philanthropy reports directly to the President.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send us:
- Your CV.
- A two-page cover letter (maximum) with one page of links and references.
- We want to know what you’re passionate about. In your cover letter (two pages maximum) you should tell us:
- What authors have influenced how you think.
- Who you admire and why.
- What issues you think the public needs to be educated about over the next three years.
Your one page of links should list and include:
- Examples of writing, such as a letter to a major donor, a mass appeal, and a grant application.
- Three work and/or character references.
Please send your application in PDF form to: svetlanao[@]aristotlefoundation.org *
*Remove the [ ] brackets before e-mailing.
Deadline for applications: midnight August 9th, 2026
Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received.
Due to the volume of replies received, we regret that we can only contact those selected for an interview.
About The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy:
For more about the Aristotle Foundation, please visit our website at www.aristotlefoundation.org.
The Aristotle Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to treating people as individuals.
