The Development Director will lead development efforts, grow key relationships and manage fundraising operations of the foundation with guidance from the Executive Director.  This role will engage with executing the vision and strategic plan set by the Executive Director and Board of Directors, to ensure healthy, sustainable, transparent, timely, and consistent outcomes.  This is ideal for an experienced fund development professional with proven solicitation experience and relationship building skills who is ready to lead and partner with the Executive Director in growth.  As an energetic, creative, and inspiring front-line leader of the development program, this position will require time spent building relationships with existing donors, volunteers and new prospects. It will also require creative leadership and new thinking to build the organization’s giving portfolio, a close relationship with the Executive Director, and excellent communication and writing skills.

PRIMARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Fundraising 

• Work with the Board and Executive Director in developing a fundraising strategy to meet approved revenue budget to support SDF’s mission.
• Establish an annual Development Plan, and lead efforts to successfully reach established goals, including increasing the programming budget from $482,000 to $1 million annually by 2027.
• Create case statements and storytelling that aligns with SDF’s work and goals, and encourages and motivates donors. 
• Lead in all development areas including year-end appeal, Giving Tuesday, monthly and major donor stewardship and cultivation, annual fundraisers, new revenue stream identification, and additional fundraising activities by providing clarity and planning and execution. 
• Ensure that the fundraising plan and all development work includes case support for research projects, complimentary activities that strengthen the field, disseminate learnings, promote collaboration, and bring the benefits of research to kids and their families in the Pacific Northwest. 
• Cultivate, build, and appreciate all current donors and sponsors to grow their connection and giving journey through SDF. 
• Work to qualify, identify, engage, and organically grow a network of deeply committed supporters through successful funding infrastructure. 
• Research, identify and pursue additional funding opportunities, including individuals, corporate support, and third party grants. 
• Execute grant writing to get a good cadence going and grow this income stream with a potential for oversight of a grant writer in the future.
• Create and implement a stewardship plan that ensures timely communications to include thank you and appreciation messages, event recaps and impact reports to show how funds were used. 
• Serve as staff leadership for the Board Development Committee to include cultivation of existing and new donors, scheduling timely meetings, providing reports and materials needed to help execute the Development Plan.
• Expand the reach of SDF as beneficiary of funding events within the Pacific Northwest.

Management/Operations

• Work with the Director of Finance and Operations,  Board Treasurer and Executive Director to prepare and manage budgets using pre-determined metrics and reporting on variances.  
• Update and/or establish development policies, systems, and procedures, with a special emphasis on professionalism and ethical standards for soliciting, tracking and reporting gifts and for exceeding the expectations of all donors.
• Coordinate the timely processing and acknowledgement of all gifts.
• Manage SDF’s CRM, currently GiveButter. 
• Manage content creation and maintenance for the website, annual report, and other promotional materials.