Director of Development

About Friends of Waterfront Park

Friends of Waterfront Park (Friends), a nonprofit organization, was established in 2012. City officials and civic leaders recognized that, like all great parks in cities across the country, Waterfront Park needed a nonprofit leader to ensure its lasting success. From our early days of facilitating public engagement around the design of Waterfront Park to our historic fundraising Campaign for Waterfront Park and our development of public programs and public safety strategies centered in compassion, Friends has been a key partner to the City of Seattle and communities across the city in an unprecedented effort to build an extraordinary urban public space.

In 2025, the Waterfront Park Grand Opening Celebration brought more than 50,000 people to celebrate a new era for Seattle’s central waterfront. With the $170M Campaign complete and Waterfront Park open to the community, Friends is focused on welcoming everyone to this iconic Seattle gem all year through fundraising, programming, public safety investments, park experience, and long-term stewardship.

Our Mission affirms why we’re here: to bring people and local communities together to ensure Waterfront Park thrives as a vibrant gathering space that fosters connections, and honor Seattle’s natural beauty and stories.

Our Vision imagines where we’re headed. Seattle is transformed by Waterfront Park, a public space sparking joy, connection, and belonging with every visit.

Our Values of Community, Equity, Care, Collaboration, and Adaptability ground how we work, from programming and partnerships to public safety and storytelling.

Friends of Waterfront Park recognizes and acknowledges historic and existing systemic racism embedded in our city. Friends commits to being an anti-racist organization by prioritizing racial equity within the organization and in the public spaces we operate.

Land Acknowledgement

Waterfront Park is situated on the land of the Coast Salish Peoples, who have resided here since time immemorial and continue to thrive. With respect and humility, we acknowledge the history of the waterfront, the dispossession of land from the Coast Salish people and, most importantly, the strength and resilience of Native people and their culture through this history and to the present.

Position Summary

Friends of Waterfront Park is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to lead and grow its philanthropy revenue program. Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Development will oversee and grow a $3.66M annual fundraising portfolio and lead a philanthropy team spanning major gifts, leadership giving, events, sponsorships, grants, annual giving, and database functions. Serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director contributes to organizational strategy, alignment, and culture while advancing Friends’ philanthropic vision. This is a role for an experienced fundraiser who brings both the relationship skills to personally manage major donor portfolios and to develop and execute ongoing donor cultivation and stewardship strategies. They also bring the management breadth to provide strategic oversight of a full function development team. They are energized by the challenge of building systems, developing people, and stewarding major donor relationships simultaneously.

This is a full-time, exempt, hybrid role based in Seattle, WA.

The Opportunity

Friends of Waterfront Park is a growing organization with a total operating budget of $9.3M, now entering an exciting new chapter following the completion of its historic $170M capital campaign.

The Director of Development will lead an experienced philanthropy team through a significant transition: modernizing development operations and data systems, building out a comprehensive annual giving and grants program, refining the events strategy, and stewarding the major donor relationships that are foundational to Friends' long-term success.

The Director will have meaningful visibility with the Board of Directors and the Development Committee, working in close partnership with the CEO to align fundraising strategy with organizational priorities. Friends' signature fundraising events, the Pier Party and Dinner with Friends, anchor the summer calendar and represent significant donor engagement opportunities the Director will help shape.

The Fundraising Portfolio

The Director of Development will lead strategy and relationship management across Friends’ fundraising program. While the 2027 portfolio may adjust in scope, the 2026 portfolio totals approximately $3.66M in annual fundraising and includes:

• Leadership Circle: $1,200,000 (33%)
• Fundraising Events (Key events include Pier Party, Dinner with Friends): $990,000 (27%)
• Major Gifts: $700,000 (19%)
• New Grants / Institutional Funding: $600,000 (16%)
• Annual Giving and Board Giving: $172,500 (5%)

The Director will personally manage a portfolio of approximately 100 top donors and prospects. The top 25 relationships will be co-managed in close coordination with the CEO and Board; the remaining 75 donors and prospects will sit in the Director's independent portfolio. The Director will also staff and support the Development Committee.

In addition, the Director will provide stewardship oversight for previous campaign contributions ($2,000,000) and secured grants ($1,853,238) currently in the budget. Candidates should be prepared to engage with donors and funders across the full scope of Friends’ philanthropy revenue.

Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Leadership

• Lead and grow Friends’ philanthropy revenue program across major gifts, leadership giving, annual fund, institutional funding, and events.
• Develop a multiyear fundraising strategy that transitions Friends from capital campaign mode to sustained operational philanthropy.
• Build and manage a personal portfolio of major and leadership donors; lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with intention and care.
• Identify and develop new donor relationships in the Seattle philanthropic community, including major donors and prospects, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Provide fundraising counsel and partnership to the CEO and Board as needed.

Team Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic oversight and daily leadership of a philanthropy team spanning major gifts, events, sponsorships, grants, annual giving, and database functions.
• Assess current team structure, identify gaps in functional coverage, and lead the buildout of new roles, including data strategy, corporate relations, and grants, to create a fully resourced, integrated development program.
• Directly supervise direct reports; set clear goals, provide regular feedback, and invest in the professional growth of each team member.
• Foster a collaborative, high performing team culture that balances meaningful investment in each team member's growth and well-being with clear accountability for professional standards and best practices.
• Ensure strong coordination across the philanthropy team and the organization, so strategy, portfolio activity, and data practices are integrated and aligned.

Collaboration Across the Organization, Values and Culture

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to ensure messaging consistency across development materials, events, and donor outreach.
• Support Board members and volunteers in their fundraising roles, providing clear expectations, tools, and talking points.
• Contribute to a culture of philanthropy across the organization by modeling donor centered values and partnership.
• Collaborate as a member of the Friends team, providing thought partnership and support as needed.
• Work collaboratively with and contribute to the growth of the entire organization, and with external partners, stakeholders, and community.
• Incorporate the organization-wide value/ethos of centering community throughout work (e.g., attend community events, seek out and listen to diverse communities and perspectives).
• Foster and contribute to organizational culture by helping build a fun, welcoming, and productive workplace.

Donor Relations and Stewardship

• Design and implement stewardship pathways that build long-term donor loyalty and connection to the Friends’ mission.
• Ensure donors receive timely, meaningful impact communications and opportunities for engagement.
• Strengthen portfolio management, prospect movement, and prospect cultivation activity across all segments.
• Provide stewardship oversight for campaign contributions and secured grants, in coordination with the CEO.
• Serve as a visible and credible representative for Friends in the community.

Data and Operations: Oversight

• Provide oversight of development data systems, ensuring CRM (Salesforce) use, prospect tracking, data hygiene, and performance dashboards to support sound decision making.
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of fundraising activities to support goal setting and forecasting.
• Maintain compliance with gift acceptance policies and donor records standards.
• Manage grant tracking, application timelines, and funder relationship documentation.

Events: Oversight and Strategy

• Provide strategic direction for Friends’ fundraising events, including the Pier Party and Dinner with Friends, to maximize donor engagement and philanthropic revenue.
• Partner with the Philanthropy Events and Operations Manager on sponsorship strategy, logistics, and post-event follow up; maintain oversight of event outcomes against fundraising goals.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI)

• Contribute to an inclusive workplace culture and adhere to Friends' Community Agreements.
• Engage in regular conversations about race and equity through all staff meetings and trainings.
• Incorporate the values of DEAI in all facets of this job and when collaborating across teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with demonstrated success securing major gifts and managing a diverse fundraising portfolio.
• Proven track record in individual major gifts, donor cultivation, and relationship-based fundraising.
• Demonstrated fluency across all major development functions, including major gifts, annual giving, grants, events, corporate relations/sponsorships, and data/operations, sufficient to provide strategic direction, mentorship, and sound decision making across each area.
• Experience directly supervising staff and developing high performing teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling donor communications and represent the organization externally.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or a comparable CRM; strong data management and reporting instincts.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and with high level volunteer leaders, including board members and development committee members, providing clear expectations, support, and partnership in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
• A commitment to incorporating the practices and ethos of Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) in all facets of your work.
• Must have the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities with flexibility and follow through.

Desired Qualifications

• High emotional intelligence, with a demonstrated ability to build trust quickly, lead through change, and navigate complex internal and external relationships with confidence, patience, and care.
• Lived experience and cultural competency with underrepresented communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latine, disabled, and/or LGBTQ+ communities, and the ability to bring this lens to conversations about anti-racism, anti-oppression and embedding equity in all aspects of work.
• Experience in the Seattle or Pacific Northwest philanthropic community.
• Familiarity with park, public space, cultural, or place-based organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience with Salesforce or other fundraising CRM.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is a full-time, exempt role with a salary range of $130,000 to $160,000 . The final salary offer is dependent on how the candidate’s skills, abilities, and experience align with the requirements of this role.

Benefits include (but are not limited to): employer paid medical, dental, life, and vision insurance, paid time off, WA PFML and additional supplement, ORCA regional transit pass (does not include Washington State Ferries), and a 3% retirement account match.

Working Conditions

• This position is a hybrid role with at least 60% of the work being in person at our office on the waterfront. The hybrid nature of this position and the required days in person are subject to change based on the needs of the organization.
• While typical office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, Friends is an event-based, seasonal organization. During event season (roughly May to September), many employees work a higher percentage of their time in person. Friends has a dedicated onsite team and during the event season, office employees are invited to assist onsite employees for events at the Waterfront.
• Exempt employees are asked to work a flexible schedule as determined by volume of work; however, the organization works hard to ensure proper work/life balance and to prevent burnout.

About the office space:

• Our office is on the second floor. There is elevator access at the front entrance.
• Most separate rooms and offices have braille labels.
• The office building contains a parent’s room, a wellness room, a kitchen, as well as several quiet meeting rooms.

The physical requirements of this role listed below are representative of those that may need to be met by an employee in this role:

• Operating a computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to work in an open office format with a fluctuating noise level. Friends’ office is located on Pier 56 on the waterfront. Music and ferry horns can often be heard from the office. However, noise cancelling headphones and other accommodations are provided. Noise levels are low to moderate in the office.
• Occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds; however, assistance with lifting or moving items can be provided.

How To Apply

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority will be given to applications received by August 14, 2026 .

Click the Apply link to submit your application (it will route you to our BambooHR ATS). Please upload a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the role and what draws you to this moment in Friends of Waterfront Park’s work, and how your values as a leader align with Friends’ commitment to equity and anti-racism. In addition, we ask that you please respond to a set of questions that are included as part of the application.

Note:

Friends has an Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use Policy. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) to review applications or evaluate candidates. In turn, we ask that applicants do not rely on AI when creating their application packets, and especially when answering the questions above.

Friends is committed to improving hiring practices to be more inclusive and anti-ableist. We have reviewed the job requirements and only include physical abilities when completely necessary. During the interview process, we email the panel questions ahead of time. We are also able to provide captioning and/or interpretation (e.g., ASL) if requested. If you need specific assistance and/or accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please let us know by emailing our People & Culture team at View email address on click.appcast.io.