Development Director

Inside Philanthropy; Seattle (WA); Remote; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks paid vacation

Travel expense reimbursement

1099 independent contractor

Job summary

1.5°Climate is seeking a strategic, mission-driven Development Director to lead growth and donor engagement. You will design and execute strategies to expand our member network and drive capital toward climate solutions, partnering with leadership to set fundraising targets and track impact metrics.

The role combines high-level strategy with hands-on execution in a lean, fast-moving nonprofit environment. Domestic travel is expected for donor events and funder meetings, with a 3-week paid

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in major donor fundraising (10k+), with relationship management and direct asks.
• Strong strategic and analytical mindset with ability to translate vision into donor pipelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication tailored to high-net-worth donors and institutional partners.
• Experience using donor databases/CRMs (Bloomerang) and managing prospect lists.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute a multi-year growth strategy to expand donor membership and track fundraising goals.
• Lead donor recruitment, events, and post-event engagement to meet fundraising targets.
• Cultivate high-net-worth individuals and represent the organization at donor events and funder convenings.
• Collaborate with program and communications staff to develop compelling case studies and outreach materials.

Skills

Fundraising

Strategic planning

CRM management

Donor relations

Communication

Tools

Bloomerang CRM

Job description

About 1.5°Climate

1.5°Climate is a nationally recognized donor collaborative that connects philanthropists with a broad portfolio of high-impact organizations and projects on the front lines of climate action. Our mission is to mobilize philanthropic resources to rapidly catalyze and scale up solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure a livable world for present and future generations.

Informed by landscape research and hundreds of organizational interviews each year, 1.5°Climate identifies high-leverage, gap-filling opportunities in need of funding. We invite selected organizations to pitch their work directly to our membership through virtual events, encouraging direct investments to support their projects. We frequently partner with institutional funders to inform our research and offer 1:1 matching fund opportunities.

Since its founding in 2022, 1.5°Climate has raised over $40 million for a wide range of organizations mitigating the climate crisis through policy, advocacy, electoral campaigns, community organizing, and more. As our membership of climate-focused donors continues to grow, we are seeking a strategic, mission-oriented Development Director to lead our next chapter of expansion.

About the Position

As our inaugural Development Director, you will design and execute strategies to cultivate and grow 1.5°Climate's member network, directly driving capital toward high-impact climate solutions. Because 1.5°Climate operates as a donor collaborative, your ability to cultivate relationships and build a vibrant community of donors committed to climate action will be central to your success.

Partnering closely with the Executive Director, Founder and program team, you will set clear short- and long-term fundraising targets, map out member engagement strategies, and track impact metrics. While primary administrative tasks like database management are supported by operations staff, 1.5°Climate is a lean, fast-paced organization – meaning the ideal candidate seamlessly combines high-level strategic vision with a proactive, hands-on execution mindset.

This position requires some domestic travel (averaging roughly a few days per month) to represent 1.5°Climate at donor networking events, funder convenings, and individual meetings.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Growth & Planning

• Design and implement a comprehensive multi-year growth strategy to expand 1.5°Climate’s donor membership base (currently 700 members) and track performance against key fundraising goals.
• Evaluate existing membership patterns to identify opportunities for re-engaging less active donors with high giving potential.
• Explore and implement innovative tools and outreach platforms to modernize prospective member acquisition and retention.

Donor Cultivation & Solicitation

• Lead day-to-day member recruitment and fundraising activities, including identifying and inviting prospective members to virtual events and post-event engagement to reach fundraising goals.
• Conduct direct, face-to-face solicitations with high-net-worth individuals interested in specific climate projects or topics.
• Represent 1.5°Climate at major donor gatherings, climate philanthropy events, and other convenings to build strategic relationships.

Operations & Communications

• Partner with program and communications staff to develop compelling case studies and outreach materials that highlight 1.5°Climate’s unique value model.
• Oversee CRM hygiene, prospect and member list management, and pledge-tracking workflows (working alongside administrative staff).
• Provide regular status reporting on membership recruitment, engagement, and fundraising goals.
• Support adjacent 1.5°Climate programs and strategic initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Passion for Climate Action: Deep alignment with 1.5°Climate’s mission and a commitment to advancing high-impact climate solutions.
• Proven Fundraising Track Record: 3+ years of experience in major donor ($10k+) cultivation, relationship management, and direct ask solicitations; preference for those with backgrounds in nonprofit development, political/electoral fundraising campaigns, or major donor advisory networks.
• Strategic & Analytical Mindset: Demonstrated ability to translate organizational vision into target prospect pipelines using evidence-based tactics. Strong attention to detail is a must, as is experience managing donor databases/CRMs (1.5°Climate uses Bloomerang).
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Strong writing and interpersonal skills tailored to high-net-worth donors and institutional partners.
• Agile Work Style: Comfort working independently in a remote, fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

Compensation & Contractor Details

• Contract Rate: $120,000 annual contract rate.
• Contract Structure: This is a full-time, 1099 independent contractor position. As this is a contract position, 1.5°Climate does not offer direct health/retirement benefits.
• This position will be offered 3 weeks paid vacation, plus national holidays.
• Job-related travel expenses will be reimbursed.