Associate Director of Development

National Association of Independent Schools; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Association of Independent Schools is hiring an Associate Director of Development in Seattle. This role is pivotal in leading capital campaign operations and securing major gifts while collaborating with the Development team.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of experience in fundraising or development. A passion for engaging donors and a commitment to the school’s mission are essential. This position offers a fulfilling opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in development, fundraising, or advancement, preferably with capital campaign experience.
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the major gifts program including cultivation and stewardship of donors.
• Manage capital campaign operations and align with institutional priorities.
• Oversee fundraising initiatives and collaborate with marketing for solicitation messaging.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship Management

Project Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Open Position: Associate Director of Development

Direct Reports: N/A

Reporting To: Assistant Head of School for Advancement

FLSA Status: Exempt

When Needed: As soon as possible

FT/PT: Full-time (1.0 FTE)

On-site: Yes

Pay rate: $90,000-$110,000

Who Thrives at Bush

Are you a fundraising professional who thrives on big goals and meaningful impact? The Bush School is currently executing an exciting capital campaign, and we are looking for an Associate Director of Development to help lead the charge. This is a rare opportunity to play a central role in a transformational effort and one that will shape the future of the school and community for generations to come. If you bring strategic thinking, a builder's mindset, and a genuine passion for connecting volunteers and donors to meaningful work, we want to hear from you.

Who We Are

Founded in 1924 and located in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood, The Bush School is an independent school serving students from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. Bush offers a rich, intellectually engaging program grounded in experiential learning, designed to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities. Our curriculum challenges students to think deeply and creatively, preparing them to thrive in future endeavors while remaining rooted in the school’s longstanding core values.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community in which every individual can say, “I belong.” We seek educators and staff who are passionate about their work, highly skilled in their practice, and who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to our community. We believe deeply in the role education and diverse learning environments play in advancing equity, inclusion, and a shared sense of responsibility for one another.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Development advances the mission of The Bush School by planning, organizing, and implementing strategies that deepen personal engagement and inspire philanthropic support from current and former Bush families, alumni, and friends. This role places a strong emphasis on securing and stewarding major gifts, including leadership of capital campaign operations.

Reporting to the Assistant Head of School for Advancement (AHOSA), the Associate Director works collaboratively with the Development and Communications teams to drive a relationship-centered fundraising strategy. This position plays a key leadership role in strengthening a culture of philanthropy and gratitude across the Bush community.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Major Gifts

• Lead the strategy, structure, and execution of the major gifts program, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-capacity donors
• Manage operations of the capital campaign, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and campaign milestones
• Identify, qualify, and develop a pipeline of leadership gift prospects; collaborate with the Assistant Head of School for Advancement on solicitation strategies and timelines
• Manage a portfolio of annual and major gift prospects, building meaningful relationships through in-person engagement and personalized communication

Campaign & Program Management

• Oversee planning and execution of fundraising initiatives and events that support major giving and campaign goals
• Collaborate with team members to produce timely and accurate endowment and development reports
• Partner with Alumni Relations to design and implement a cohesive alumni giving strategy, including senior class engagement and education

Communications & Donor Engagement

• Partner with the Director of Marketing and Communications to develop compelling, mission-aligned solicitation messaging across digital, print, and direct-mail platforms
• Ensure consistent, strategic communication with all constituencies to enhance engagement and giving participation

Data, Reporting & Operations

• Maintain a high level of data integrity and ensure timely and accurate reporting on fundraising results, trends, and projections
• Collaborate with the Assistant Head of School for Advancement to monitor progress toward goals and inform strategic decision‑making

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Lead and continuously refine the school’s stewardship program to ensure donors are meaningfully recognized and engaged
• Oversee production of Gratitude (the annual report of giving)
• Ensure timely, professional follow‑up with donors and stakeholders
• Serve as an active and visible ambassador for The Bush School, fostering a culture of philanthropy, inclusion, and appreciation

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Advancement Office and school priorities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 3 years of experience in development, fundraising, or advancement, preferably including capital campaign experience
• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and relationship management
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, ethics, and best practices
• Experience with donor databases and fundraising systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred), including data segmentation and reporting
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading capital campaigns
• Experience in an independent school, nonprofit, or educational setting

Additional Requirements

• Have a current Adult and Children CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification (or receive one soon after hire date)
• Meet the school’s standards when completing two separate background screenings
• Stamina: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, manage long days, and support body with core muscles.
• Fine Motor Skills: Using hands to grasp, move, or assemble small objects (e.g., papers, writing).
• Sensory: Clear hearing to distinguish sounds and vision to see differences in color, shade, brightness.
• Ability to sit and keyboard for up to 8 hours per day & lift up to 30 pounds (file boxes).

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants interested in applying for this opportunity should visit our website at www.bush.edu and navigate to the employment section of the website (found under the “About Bush” tab) for additional information/instructions.

If you are interested in working at The Bush School, but this position doesn’t fit your talents, please visit our website for additional openings: www.bush.edu.

While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

The Bush School is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admission or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment based on the basis of age or marital status.

*This position requires applicants to be, at the time of application, legally authorized to work in the United States. The Bush School does not offer visa sponsorship for this position and will not consider applicants who require visa sponsorship.