Director of Philanthropy

Position Details

• Employment type: Full time; exempt

• Compensation: $105,000 - $120,000

• Benefits: Includes employer-paid medical/dental/vision insurance, 3% Simple IRA match, 12 sick days per year, 12 holidays, and vacation starting at 3 weeks per year (increasing to 5 weeks over six years). Sabbatical offered after 8 years.

• Location: Seattle (hybrid) - 1-2 days per week in the office. Some nights, weekends, and travel within Washington are required.

Position Summary:

The Director of Philanthropy has primary responsibility for all fundraising activities. The position oversees strategy, planning, management, and directing all fundraising activities for the organization

Responsibilities:

Organizational Capacity Building and Strategy

• Partner closely with the Executive Director, the Senior Director of Finance and Operations, and the Board ensuring fundraising approaches align with organizational values, equity commitments, and community relationships.

• Balance revenue growth with organizational health by building realistic plans that prioritize staff sustainability, donor trust, and long-term relationships.

• Lead the development of an annual fundraising plan and strategy in collaboration with Board and staff, that reflects organizational priorities reflected in the annual budget and workplan.

• Actively promote a culture of philanthropy amongst staff and board, with a vision to strengthen and deepen donor and member engagement.

• Seek to embed community-centric fundraising principles into CNW’s fundraising strategy, policies, systems, and team culture.

Team Management

• Oversee the three pillars (Institutional Giving, Major Giving, Events) of the Philanthropy team and all activities to achieve annual fundraising goals of $4M+

• Serve on Conservation Northwest’s senior leadership team and provide monthly updates to leadership and the board

• Draft and manage the Philanthropy budget

• Oversee management of and facilitate improvements to fundraising systems (such, but not limited to, as Salesforce, GoFundMe Pro, Double the Donation, Active Campaign, Wealth Engine, Freewill, etc.)

• Collaborate with Finance to ensure reconciliation between Salesforce and Quickbooks and coordinate revenue reporting to Finance and to the board.

Individual Giving

• Develop, implement, and/or support donor recruitment and stewardship communications (direct mail, email campaigns, social media, etc.)

• Oversee community level donor strategy and stewardship

• Create strategies to identify and secure new individual supporters, fully leverage existing relationships, and increase annual and planned giving.

• Lead creation of the annual report

• Support major gift stewardship, including donor letters, events and annual appeals

• Lead planned giving strategy, including partnership with FreeWill, and settlement of realized bequests and estate gifts.

• Coordinate with Communications Director on external communication strategy and content

• Maintain a mature portfolio of donors and work closely with the Board to cultivate giving from prospective supporters.

Events

• Oversee strategy, planning, and day-of-event engagement for our annual auction and dinner.

• Collaborate and think strategically with the Philanthropy team to re-envision and implement donor engagement and fundraising events throughout the year.

Institutional Giving

• Collaborate with Philanthropy Partnerships Manager on grant research, writing/editing, reporting, compliance, tracking and strategy with institutional funders (foundations, corporate, and government)

• Support the cultivation of new foundation, agency and other grant funding prospects.

• Cultivate and steward relationships with company partners for non-grant giving (1% for the Planet, sponsorships, etc.)

Desired Qualifications

Conservation Northwest recognizes that successful applicants may have a variety of backgrounds that do not perfectly match the desired qualifications. Candidates that align with a majority of the job description and have an aptitude and interest in acquiring new skills or experience are encouraged to apply.

• 7-10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with at least 3+ years in a leadership or management role

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and inspire a development team&n