Development Director

Sustainable Connections; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Sustainable Connections in Washington state seeks a Development Director to lead fundraising across grants, individual giving, campaigns, and events. This role collaborates across programs to identify funding opportunities, craft compelling proposals, cultivate donor relationships, and steward secured funds.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail oriented, capable of independent work as well as teamwork, and skilled at representing the organization with impact.

Qualifications

• 5 years of nonprofit fundraising experience including individual giving, major gifts, grants, and donor stewardship.
• Strong grant writing and management experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic thinker capable of translating vision into action.
• Experience supervising staff.
• Deep commitment to sustainability, equity, and the values of mission-driven organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop fundraising strategies to sustain and grow revenue.
• Identify funding opportunities across program areas.
• Cultivate donor and funder relationships and ensure stewardship of secured funds.
• Represent the organization in a compelling way and build relationships across stakeholders.

Skills

Fundraising

Grant writing

Donor stewardship

Communication skills

Staff supervision

Strategic thinking

Tools

QuickBooks

Salesforce

Givebutter

Excel

Asana

Foundation Directory Online

Job description

This position works to develop a range of fundraising strategies to sustain and grow Sustainable Connections’ revenue, including grants, contracts, individual giving, fundraising campaigns, and events. The Development Director works across all program areas to identify funding opportunities, develop compelling proposals, cultivate donor and funder relationships, and ensure strong stewardship of secured funds. The Development Director is highly organized and detail oriented, works well with others as well as independently, represents the organization in a compelling way, and excels at relationship building. Routine work includes technology and programs such as QuickBooks, Salesforce, Givebutter, Excel, Asana, and Foundation Directory Online.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 5 years of experience with a track record of success in nonprofit fundraising, including individual giving, major gifts, grants, and donor stewardship
• Strong grant writing and management experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into action and results.
• Experience supervising staff
• Deep commitment to sustainability, equity, and the values of mission-driven organizations

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, QuickBooks, Salesforce (or similar CRM), Givebutter, Asana, Adobe, and navigating cloud-based grant and fundraising platforms such as Foundation Directory Online
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with foundations, individual donors, business partners and government leaders in Washington state
• Knowledge of one or more of Sustainable Connections program areas: waste mitigation, affordable housing, food systems, clean energy, green building, local business.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and program needs

Full position wage range: $68,360- $102,540/ annually

Expected starting range: $68,360- $85,450 / annually

Desired start: October 16, 2026