Hiring Organization Information
Position Information
Organization: Washington Alliance for Better Schools leads a partnership of school districts, industry, and community dedicated to ensuring students furthest from opportunity can pursue a future that embraces their strengths, passions, and dreams.
Vision: Equity in every school. Opportunity for every student.
Mission: We lead a partnership of school districts, industry, and community dedicated to ensuring students furthest from opportunity can pursue a future that embraces their strengths, passions, and dreams.
Core Values:
- Engage: We authentically engage with students, families, community, and partners
- Create: We co-create innovative programs and strategies to advance equity for students
- Amplify: We activate and amplify the capacity that exists in people, communities, and systems
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement: We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which requires that we use our collective voice to identify and eliminate institutional barriers that deny equitable access and impact the success of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and other underserved students.
Join our dynamic team as a Director of Development and play a pivotal role in securing the funding that powers our innovative K-12 programs and partnerships. You'll be responsible for creating and implementing a strategic fund development plan in partnership with the VP of Development & Impact, building strong relationships with funders, and crafting compelling proposals that showcase our mission and impact. The Director of Development will play a critical role in securing funding, building donor relationships, and advancing the organization's mission.
Job Responsibilities:
- Grant Acquisition and Management:
- Proposal Development: Collaborate with WABS leadership, staff, and external partners to develop compelling grant proposals that align with the organization's strategic goals and adhere to funder requirements.
- Portfolio Management: Effectively manage a diverse grant portfolio, ensuring timely submission of proposals, tracking deadlines, and monitoring award status.
- Reporting: Prepare accurate and timely interim and final reports to funders, demonstrating program impact and compliance with grant terms.
- Fundraising and Donor Relations:
- Fundraising Planning: Develop and implement fundraising action plans to meet annual revenue goals, including identifying new funding sources and expanding the donor base.
- Donor Stewardship: Foster strong relationships with donors, cultivating their support and ensuring timely acknowledgment of gifts.
- Community Engagement: Represent the organization in the community, building relationships with potential funders and advocates.
- Research:
- Prospect Research: Identify and research potential funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels, staying current on trends and funding priorities.
- Professional Development: Stay abreast of industry best practices and trends in grant writing and fundraising.
Qualifications
- Experience & Education:
- A minimum of 4 years of experience securing funding through grant writing, including prospect research, reporting, and fund development best practices
- Nonprofit fundraising experience (preferred)
- 5-7 years of above experience (preferred)
- Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent work experience
- Grant Writing: Proven ability to write persuasive grant proposals that effectively communicate the organization's mission and impact to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated track record of success in securing grants, including multi-year, state, and/or federal awards.
- Expertise in grant application processes and procedures, including budget development and reporting requirements.
- Fundraising: Strong track record of successful fundraising, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Individual/major giving experience (preferred)
- Relationship Building: Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong relationships with funders, donors, team members, and community partners.
- Project Management: Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
- Ability to communicate passionately and effectively about our mission, vision, and values, both verbally and in writing, and in various venues.
- People who can speak to their lived experiences and multilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Technical Skills & Abilities:
- Proficient in Google Suite and MS Office Suite programs.
- Access to regular, reliable transportation for local travel.
- Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, sit, use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and speak or hear.
- The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We believe that to be inclusive, we must go beyond this statement to operationalize anti-racism as a part of our practice and are committed to creating a workplace where employees thrive both personally and professionally. We also believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve—in race, gender, age, cultures, and beliefs—and we support this diversity through all of our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.