Director of Development

About the League of Women Voters of Washington

The League of Women Voters of Washington (LWVWA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy. Since 1920, the League has educated voters, encouraged informed civic participation, and advocated for public policies that strengthen representative government. We are a trusted source of nonpartisan election information, civic education, and advocacy, serving communities across Washington through a statewide organization with 20 local Leagues, over 3000 members, and volunteers. The League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates. Instead, we work to ensure that every Washington resident has access to accurate information, meaningful opportunities to participate in our democracy, and a government that is accountable to the people it serves.

As the League continues to expand its statewide impact, we are investing in our capacity to build the resources necessary to sustain and grow our work. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of one of Washington's most respected civic organizations.

This is a new position—and part-time to start. Today, the League's fundraising efforts rely primarily on annual appeals and a dedicated base of loyal supporters. The Director of Development will have the opportunity to build the organization's first truly comprehensive, year-round development program—creating systems, relationships, and strategies that position the League for sustained growth and greater statewide impact.

Position Summary

The Director of Development is the League's chief fundraising strategist and relationship builder, responsible for creating a sustainable, diversified development program that supports the League's mission and long-term strategic goals.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will build and lead a comprehensive fundraising program for both our 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations that expands individual giving, strengthens institutional support, and develops long-term philanthropic partnerships. This is both a strategic and hands-on role.

This is an ideal opportunity for an entrepreneurial fundraiser who enjoys building programs, strengthening systems, and developing authentic relationships with donors who are passionate about democracy, civic engagement, and public service.

Success in this role will be measured by growth in annual revenue, diversification of funding sources, increased donor retention and engagement, and the creation of a sustainable fundraising program that supports the League's long-term mission.

The ideal candidate should be inspired by the League's mission to empower voters, strengthen democracy, and ensure every voice has the opportunity to be heard. This candidate will help us grow the resources needed to move to full-time and build our overall capacity to deliver on our mission. We recognize that this is a bold and broad job description for a part-time position. We expect that the person we hire will work with the Executive Director to map out a plan to balance the priorities against the limited number of hours initially available. This will be a collaborative process.

Essential Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Leadership

• Develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive annual fundraising plan aligned with the League's strategic priorities and budget, and long-term financial goals.
• Identify and develop opportunities to diversify revenue and reduce reliance on any single funding source.
• Establish measurable revenue goals across the spectrum of funding sources.
• Monitor fundraising performance, analyze trends, and evaluate progress. Adjust strategies to maximize revenue growth.
• Partner closely with the Executive Director on leadership-level donor relationships and major gift opportunities with the long-term goal of building a comprehensive major gifts program.

Donor Engagement & Cultivation

• Personally make direct asks for financial support. Deepen relationships with donors to cultivate long-term, continuing support.
• Develop and deliver a compelling case for support of the League of Women Voters.
• Prepare and coach Board members and volunteers to participate effectively in donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Expand opportunities for planned giving and legacy gifts.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional funders.
• Cultivate a culture of thoughtful stewardship by ensuring timely donor acknowledgments, impactful communications, and consistent relationship management.

Development Systems, Data & Operations

• Serve as the organization's primary administrator and strategic user of our CRM platform, EveryAction, to maintain donor records, manage communications, and develop reporting.
• Ensure timely gift processing, acknowledgments, tax receipts, and donor stewardship activities.

Qualifications

We recognize that no candidate is likely to meet every qualification listed. If you're excited about this opportunity and believe your experience, skills, and commitment to our mission would make you successful in this role, we encourage you to apply. We value diverse experiences and perspectives and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Required

• Four or more years of fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Proven experience in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors at all levels.
• Experience in managing a donor database and using fundraising data to guide strategy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including compelling donor-facing writing.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a collaborative environment.
• Commitment to the League's nonpartisan mission and respect for working across diverse viewpoints.

Preferred

• Experience fundraising for civic engagement, public policy, advocacy, education, democracy, or mission-driven nonprofit organizations.
• Experience working within both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) fundraising environments.
• Experience partnering closely with nonprofit boards on fundraising strategy.
• Proficiency with EveryAction or a comparable nonprofit CRM.
• Proficiency with Microsoft suite of tools and Zoom virtual platform.
• Familiarity with using technology to implement and streamline the development process.

Working at the League

The League of Women Voters of Washington is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees, volunteers, and community members are treated with dignity and respect. We believe that a thriving democracy depends upon broad participation and diverse perspectives, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences who share our commitment to strengthening civic engagement and democratic participation.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a non-exempt, salaried, part-time (25 hour per week) position with a salary range of $39,000 – $46,000. Benefits include a monthly medical/dental stipend; 10 paid holidays; 2 floating holidays; 6 days of paid sick and safe time; and 6 days of paid time off, increasing with tenure, and membership in the League of Women Voters. Some flexibility with work schedule, with some evenings and weekend work.

Position can be remote with the opportunity to access a physical office in the Seattle area.