Development Manager

Ethiopian Community in Seattle | Seattle, WA | Full-Time Compensation: $75,000–$85,000 | Reports to: Executive Director About Ethiopian Community in Seattle Ethiopian Community in Seattle (ECS) is a vibrant, community-rooted nonprofit dedicated to empowering immigrants from Ethiopia and East Africa and their families in the greater Seattle area. With a dedicated staff of 10, ECS is currently managing a $1.5M annual budget with significant opportunity to expand our funding base through major gifts, institutional grants, and new partnerships. We provide culturally responsive social services and long term programs on education, health, housing and small business support. As the organization grows, we are building out our development function to match our expanding impact and ambition. The Opportunity This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead the development function at a mission-driven organization with deep community trust and strong growth momentum. You will work in close partnership with the Executive Director to own donor cultivation, grant writing, partnership development, and fundraising strategy—building systems, deepening relationships, and opening new revenue streams. This is a hands‑on, high‑impact role for someone who thrives with autonomy, leads with relationships, and is energized by building. Key Responsibilities Research, write, and submit compelling grant proposals to foundation, corporate, and government funders across local, state, and federal levels. Manage the front‑end grant lifecycle including prospect research, proposal development, and funder relationship management; collaborate with program and grants coordination staff on award compliance and reporting. Maintain the grants calendar and track submission deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance obligations across all active grants. Cultivate relationships with program officers at key foundations and government funders, opening doors and positioning ECS for future funding opportunities. Work with program staff to document outcomes and gather data that feeds into proposals, grant reports, and renewal applications. When grant volume demands it, coordinate with external grant writing support—providing context, data, and review to ensure strong proposals. Individual Donor Identification & Cultivation Inherit and grow ECS’s existing donor base and membership, building authentic, long‑term relationships with current members and new prospects. Lead a proactive donor identification strategy—researching prospects, mapping community networks, and surfacing new giving opportunities. Transition the organization from an Excel‑based donor list to a CRM system, building the infrastructure for sustainable, data‑driven donor management. Design and execute a full individual giving program including annual fund campaigns, recurring giving, mid‑level and major donor outreach, and planned giving conversations. Create compelling donor communications—appeals, impact updates, stewardship touchpoints—that deepen connection to ECS’s mission. Develop and manage a moves management system to track donor relationships and ensure no prospect falls through the cracks. Corporate & Community Partnerships Identify, pursue, and steward corporate sponsorship opportunities with Seattle‑area businesses aligned with ECS’s mission. Develop a tiered partnership program that offers meaningful engagement opportunities for corporate partners at varying levels of investment. Build relationships with civic leaders, community organizations, and cross‑sector partners to expand ECS’s reach and influence Represent ECS at community events, coalition meetings, and networking opportunities to grow the organization’s presence and relationships. Negotiate and manage partnership agreements that generate financial support, in‑kind resources, employee volunteer engagement, and visibility. Plan and execute annual fundraising events in partnership with volunteer committees including annual galas, and fundraising campaigns. Engage community members as ambassadors and volunteer fundraisers to extend ECS’s reach and donor network. Explore earned income and social enterprise opportunities in collaboration with the Executive Director. Visibility & Communications Increase ECS’s public profile through strategic storytelling, media outreach, and digital communications. Collaborate with staff to capture and communicate program impact in ways that resonate with diverse funders and audiences. Develop case for support materials, one‑pagers, and presentations for funders and partners. Qualifications Require Minimum 5-8 years of nonprofit development experience, with demonstrated success in fundraising, grant writing, and/or individual donor cultivation. Familiarity with public and private funding streams, including government grants at the city, county, and state level Proven grant writing experience, with a track record of successful proposals to foundations and/or government funders. Proven ability to identify, cultivate, and close gifts from individual donors across giving levels. Strong relationship‑builder who is comfortable making asks, following up, and sustaining long‑term donor and partner relationships. Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to tell compelling stories to diverse audiences. Self‑directed and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently. Comfort working in a growing organization with evolving systems and processes. Genuine commitment to and respect for the Ethiopian community and ECS’s mission. Preferred Experience implementing or migrating to a nonprofit CRM Experience working with a community centered organization is a plus. Established relationships with funders and corporate partners in the Greater Seattle area. Salary range: $75,000–$85,000, depending on experience. 100% employer‑paid medical and dental insurance 401k with 3% employer match. Paid time off and holidays. The opportunity to shape and lead the development function of a growing organization. Ethiopian Community in Seattle is an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr