Director of Advancement at West Island College

Posting Notice

Coming January 2026

Imagine,
living on the doorstep of the Rocky Mountains, working at a top-
ranked independent school in one of the most livable cities in the

world.

• Are you inspired to help young people flourish - to help them be the next

generation of leaders?

• Do you have an unwavering commitment to nurturing and growing donor and

alumni relationships?

• Do you think strategically and act deliberately?

• Are you ready for the next step in your career?

If so, take a few moments and check out:

West Island College (WIC), a leading co-educational and bilingual day school with exceptional
teachers, staff, faculty, alumni, donors and a close-knit community of enthusiastic students. You
might be the right person to keep building our culture of giving, building on the exceptional work
of your predecessor.

OWN your future
At West Island College (link https://www.westislandcollege.ab.ca/), students in Grades 7 to 12
are empowered to pursue their passions through a dynamic combination of academic rigour and
experiential learning. As one of Calgary’s leading independent schools, WIC offers a tight-knit
community that fosters a deep sense of belonging and paves the way for a transformative
educational journey.

Belonging at WIC – The Heart of our Culture

At the heart of our work is ensuring that every member of our WIC family feels valued and that
they belong.

To support this, the Director of Advancement provides the inspired leadership and strategy that
results in the realization of WIC’s relationship-building and giving goals which, in turn, support
the College’s commitment to exceptional student experience.

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The Director works directly with the Head of School & CEO, the Board of Directors/
Advancement Committee and leads the Advancement team (including the Advancement
Officer) to expand and celebrate the role of donors at WIC, to ensure a sense of belonging,
gratitude, and appreciation.



Exceptional experiences for students and donors, alike.

At WIC, we are committed to providing the very best at every turn – for students, families, staff,
faculty, volunteers, alumni, and donors.

WIC is a leading provider of rigorous academic programs, complemented by offerings in fine
arts, business, athletics, leadership, engineering, health sciences, international travel, and
outdoor education.

Just as our student offerings are built upon a tradition of excellence, of high performance, and
strong relationships, so is our Advancement program.

In the last year, we completed fundraising for the new multi-purpose field and have tripled the
size of our annual fund. Now, we are seeking the next extraordinary Advancement leader to join
us, to be a part of the next chapter of innovation, expansion, and exceptional student and donor
experiences at WIC.

We are looking for:

• An enthusiastic, results-driven, and highly motivated fund development leader with more

than 7 years of progressive and impressive achievements, reflecting integrity, loyalty,
impact, and optimism

• Extensive fundraising and alumni relations experience, preferably in an independent

school environment, in developing and sustaining strong relationships, with colleagues,
parents, grandparents, and volunteers, in addition to donors and alumni

• A comprehensive understanding of philanthropic literacy, and how to further develop

culture within an organization

• A proactive, innovative, and entrepreneurial approach to fundraising and alumni

engagement

• Experience as a frontline fundraiser with demonstrated success in personally cultivating,

soliciting and securing significant gifts

• The ability to work alongside a dedicated campaign cabinet and Advancement

Committee to secure transformational gifts in support of the upcoming capital campaign
and special projects

• Undergraduate degree required plus CFRE designation is preferable

If you want to be added to our outreach list in January, or to learn more about this
opportunity, receive the complete profile or discuss your qualifications, please contact Jolayne
Davidson Gardner at 403-601-9029 or via email at [email protected] full and
complete job description will be posted in January at:

https://www.avistaphilanthropy.com/opportunities

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