Director of Development

Jobtailor; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Seattle seeks a Senior Director of Development to lead a comprehensive fund development strategy across annual giving, major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and events. You will drive revenue growth, own the budget, and partner with program staff to translate community needs into compelling funding opportunities.

Lead and coach a diverse development team of seven, manage donor portfolios including six-figure gifts, and collaborate with the Executive Director and Board on

Qualifications

• Senior-level fundraising leadership with a track record of sustainable plans.
• Proven ability to cultivate and close major gifts, including six figures.
• Experience building and leading high-performing fundraising teams.
• Commitment to inclusive leadership and diverse voices.
• Strong partnering with executive leadership and board members.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fund development strategy across portfolios.
• Drive revenue growth and manage the Development department budget.
• Lead and develop a diverse fundraising team of 7.
• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors and six-figure gifts.
• Oversee CRM, gift processing, data reporting, and donor communications.

Skills

Senior-Level Fundraising Leadership

Major Gift Cultivation

Team Building and Coaching

Financial Acumen

Donor CRM Systems

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM Systems

Fundraising Software

Job description

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fund development strategy spanning annual giving, major and planned gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and events
• Drive sustained revenue growth across all fundraising portfolios
• Own the Development department's budget and optimize resource allocation
• Partner with program staff to translate community needs into compelling funding opportunities
• Serve on the senior leadership team and contribute to organizational planning and cross-functional decisions
• Build, coach, and lead a diverse development team of 7
• Help hire, onboard, and supervise a major donor gift officer and a mid-level gift officer
• Oversee Development operations, including CRM systems, gift processing, and data reporting
• Manage contract resources such as the grant writer
• Personally lead strategy and writing on complex, high-priority proposals
• Create alignment across fundraising functions and organizational partners
• Manage performance directly, provide feedback, and address issues promptly and respectfully
• Personally manage a portfolio of major donors, prospects, and institutional partners
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board to cultivate, solicit, and steward significant gifts, including six-figure and transformational investments
• Serve as staff lead for the Board's revenue development committee
• Guide fundraising focus and build a culture of philanthropy with the Board
• Oversee donor communications, including appeals, campaign narratives, and impact stories
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Foundation within the Market ecosystem and Seattle philanthropic community

Requirements

• Extensive senior-level fundraising leadership experience, with a track record of building diverse, sustainable fundraising plans and meeting ambitious, multi-year goals
• Track record of personally cultivating and closing major gifts, ideally in the six figures, and managing a robust donor portfolio
• Experience building and leading high-performing fundraising teams
• Commitment to inclusive leadership and creating a culture where people from different backgrounds can do their best work
• Skilled at partnering with and coaching executive leadership, Board members, and staff
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and resource planning
• Data-driven approach to fundraising strategy using donor insights and performance metrics
• Fluency in donor CRM systems and fundraising technology
• Excellent communication skills, with proven success crafting compelling appeals, campaign narratives, and donor communications
• Comfort leading through change and ambiguity while maintaining fundraising momentum
• Experience with capital or endowment campaigns, planned giving, or other major growth initiatives (valuable, not required)
• Established relationships within the Seattle philanthropic community and familiarity with the Pacific Northwest civic and nonprofit sector (valuable, not required)
• Background in human services, food access, healthcare, or related community impact work (valuable, not required)
• Cover letter and resume required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive senior-level fundraising leadership with a proven track record in developing sustainable fundraising strategies, managing donor portfolios, and leading high-performing teams. Exhibits strong financial acumen and a data-driven approach to optimize resource allocation and drive revenue growth.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Senior-Level Fundraising Leadership
• Major Gift Cultivation
• Team Building and Coaching
• Financial Acumen
• Donor CRM Systems

Hard Skills

• Fund Development Strategy
• Budgeting
• Data Reporting
• Proposal Writing
• Fundraising Technology
• Performance Metrics
• Resource Planning
• Major Gifts Management
• Grant Writing
• Campaign Development

Soft Skills

• Inclusive Leadership
• Communication Skills
• Coaching
• Change Management
• Collaboration

Industry Keywords

• Philanthropy
• Nonprofit Sector
• Community Impact
• Seattle Philanthropic Community
• Human Services

Tools & Technologies

• CRM Systems
• Fundraising Software