Director, Advancement & Engagement

Forterra innovates and scales land-based solutions to address the climate crisis and support equitable, green and prosperous communities. Forterra envisions people and nature thriving together in a place where everyone belongs. Forterra seeks to contribute to improved community health and sustainability outcomes through how real estate is owned, developed and managed, including for communities who have been marginalized from ownership of land. Summary Forterra is seeking an experienced and versatile advancement professional to help strengthen relationships, support philanthropy, and tell the stories that connect people to our work. The successful candidate is a relationship builder, communicator, and project manager who thrives at the intersection of people, strategy, and execution. They are highly organized, curious, proactive, and energized by helping others succeed. They excel at turning ideas into action, ensuring commitments are fulfilled, and creating meaningful experiences that deepen engagement and strengthen long-term support. They understand that successful philanthropy depends on thoughtful stewardship, compelling storytelling, strong systems, and consistent follow-through. This position is NOT a traditional frontline fundraising role. While the successful candidate will play a critical role in cultivating and stewarding donors, they will primarily support organizational leaders in advancing relationships rather than serving as the primary solicitor. This person is equally comfortable preparing a donor briefing, drafting a thank-you letter, coordinating a stewardship event, researching prospective supporters, or completing a foundation report. Responsibilities Job responsibilities are stated in broad terms and are not intended to be a comprehensive listing. It is expected that this position will be a high-level position that is independently able to set policy and exercise independent discretion regarding communication initiatives and strategic positions for Forterra. Major Donor & Philanthropic Support Support the CEO and senior leaders in cultivating, stewarding, and strengthening relationships with major donors and corporate partners. Conduct donor and prospect research to identify engagement opportunities and inform relationship-building strategies. Prepare donor briefings, talking points, background materials, correspondence, and follow-up communications. Coordinate donor meetings, site visits, stewardship events, and other engagement activities. Track donor interactions, commitments, and next steps to ensure timely follow-through and strong relationship management. Assist with annual fundraising initiatives, sponsorship outreach, and donor communications. Conduct donor and prospect research to identify engagement opportunities and inform relationship-building strategies. Communications & Storytelling Draft donor-focused communications, including stewardship updates, impact reports, thank-you letters, invitations, appeals, and other correspondence. Collaborate with program and leadership teams to gather stories, outcomes, and organizational impact that demonstrate mission success. Develop and maintain compelling donor-facing materials that communicate organizational priorities, accomplishments, and opportunities for investment. Help ensure a consistent, authentic, and engaging voice across advancement communications and engagement efforts. Foundation & Corporate Stewardship Coordinate foundation and corporate reporting activities, working across departments to gather required outcomes, metrics, narratives, and financial information. Prepare high-quality grant reports and stewardship communications that demonstrate impact and strengthen funder relationships. Maintain reporting schedules and stewardship calendars to ensure deadlines and commitments are consistently met. Support research and preparation of foundation, corporate, and philanthropic funding opportunities as needed. Advancement Operations & Systems Maintain accurate donor, prospect, and funder records within the organization's CRM and advancement systems. Track stewardship activities, reporting requirements, donor engagement, and fundraising outcomes. Generate reports and analytics that inform advancement planning and relationship strategies. Ensure strong data integrity, effective processes, and organizational discipline across advancement operations. Support implementation of systems and workflows that improve efficiency, accountability, and donor experience. Organizational Collaboration Partner with leaders and staff across the organization to align advancement activities with strategic priorities. Serve as a connector across programs, finance, communications, and leadership teams to ensure advancement initiatives are well coordinated and effectively executed. Provide project management and organizational support for a variety of advancement priorities, helping ensure opportunities do not fall through the cracks and commitments are fulfilled. Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, fundraising, donor relations, communications, nonprofit management, public affairs, or a related field. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, community stakeholders, and organizational leaders. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling correspondence, reports, and donor communications. Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously. Experience mentoring and guiding teams of direct reports and/or cross-functional partners. Experience working with donor databases, CRM platforms, Raisers Edge, or comparable relationship-management systems. Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, follow-through, and accountability. Demonstrated initiative, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive or confidential information appropriately. Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising practices, donor stewardship principles, and advancement operations. Experience coordinating events, donor visits, or executive-level stakeholder engagements. Familiarity with fundraising analytics, prospect research, and donor engagement strategies. Passion for mission-driven work and a commitment to strengthening relationships that advance organizational impact. Forterra is based in the greater Seattle area and supports a hybrid work environment. We allow primarily remote work, with some in-person meetings required. Candidates must successfully pass a background check, show proof of authorization to work in the United States, and reside in Washington state prior to employment. We are not able to sponsor applicants requiring work visas. Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that certain minority groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every qualification. At Forterra, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or for other roles in the future. Forterra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, race, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. #J-18808-Ljbffr Cascade Land Conservancy