Director of Development
Western States Center - Portland, OR
posted 5 months ago
About the position
Western States Center (WSC) is seeking a Director of Development to join our Executive Leadership Team. This pivotal role is responsible for mobilizing resources for both Western States Center (501 c3) and Western States Strategies (501 c4). With an annual operating budget of $5,480,000 in 2024, the Director of Development will create and implement a strategic vision for a comprehensive resource mobilization program. This includes engaging with institutional, corporate, and individual donors to ensure the financial sustainability of our mission-driven work. The Director of Development will lead WSC's fundraising efforts, executing the annual development plan to meet both short- and long-term revenue goals. This involves cultivating and stewarding a robust donor base of institutional funders, ensuring timely submission of grant proposals, renewals, and reports for our current foundation supporters, which average 1-2 deadlines each week. In collaboration with the Executive Director and Development Manager, the Director will also work to expand the individual donor base and solicit support for both WSC and WSS. In addition to resource development, the Director will have management and supervisory responsibilities, coaching and leading the Development Manager while providing guidance and accountability for annual goals and work plans. Supporting the professional development of team members is crucial, as is evaluating their strengths and identifying opportunities for growth. As part of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director will cultivate an organization-wide culture of shared commitment to resource mobilization. This includes liaising with the WSC Board of Directors and ad hoc committees to activate fundraising initiatives and opportunities, as well as representing WSC at community gatherings, funder convenings, conferences, and other relevant opportunities. The ideal candidate will have a passion for WSC's mission and impact, a strong racial and gender justice analysis, and expertise in the pro-democracy and anti-bigotry fields.
Responsibilities
- Lead Western States Center's fundraising efforts, executing the annual development plan to meet revenue goals.
- Cultivate and steward a robust donor base of institutional funders, ensuring timely submission of grant proposals, renewals, and reports.
- Expand the individual donor base and solicit support for Western States Center and Western States Strategies.
- Coach, lead, and supervise the Development Manager, providing guidance and accountability for annual goals and work plans.
- Support the professional development of team members, evaluating strengths and opportunities for growth.
- Cultivate an organization-wide culture of shared commitment to resource mobilization.
- Liaise with the WSC Board of Directors and ad hoc committees to activate fundraising initiatives and opportunities.
- Serve on Western State Center's Leadership Team, providing input and strategy to organization-wide initiatives.
- Represent Western States Center at community gatherings, funder convenings, conferences, and other opportunities.
Requirements
- 7+ years of direct fundraising experience, including securing major gifts from individuals, foundation relations, and business support cultivation.
- 5+ years of experience managing foundation grants identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling donor communications.
- Strong racial and gender justice analysis and expertise in the pro-democracy and anti-bigotry fields.
- Attention to detail, ability to think creatively, and work with flexibility and good humor.
- Deep commitment to measurable results and being proactive and organizationally minded.
Nice-to-haves
- Lived or learned experience in community organizing, policy or civic engagement.
- Located in the core region served, including Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
- Experience managing a robust portfolio of large, multi-year grants and funder relationships within the national progressive and pro-democracy philanthropic sector.
Benefits
- Health and dental insurance
- Paid sick leave
- 20 days of paid vacation
- 15 paid holidays
- Office closures from December 23-January 1
- Work from home stipend and digital security subscription
- Annual professional development support
- 3% employer contribution to retirement effective date of hire and up to a 2% match for a total 5%
- Four-day work week with Fridays off
