Senior Director of Development

THIS OPPORTUNITY

WSOS is seeking a seasoned and creative fundraising leader who is passionate about increasing college and career opportunities for historically excluded and under-resourced students. They will have experience with all major fundraising approaches, with specific experience leading campaigns, major giving and corporate strategies. They should be ready to build systems to strengthen and significantly grow WSOS’s fundraising capacity, including hiring, supporting, and leading a talented and effective team. Successful candidates will share WSOS’s commitment to using an equity lens in all aspects of their leadership.

The Senior Director of Development reports to the WSOS Executive Director and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. This role builds and scales the WSOS fundraising program toward long-term, sustainable impact. WSOS is currently on track to raise $4M from private contributions next fiscal year and is committed to scaling that significantly over the next five to ten years. The role is primarily focused on strategic visioning, relationship building, and supporting the team and infrastructure that will be required to significantly increase the capacity of WSOS’s development efforts. This is a unique opportunity to work in a close-knit and mission-driven nonprofit organization, while still planning for and securing large-scale, multi-million-dollar gifts with measurable impact.

This role is highly external-facing, requiring frequent donor meetings and attendance at strategic events; work hours will vary to accommodate donor and event schedules, including occasional evenings, weekends, and in-state travel. The Senior Director of Development is a key leader in a collaborative, equity-focused team. Together, you’ll make a real difference in the lives of the students WSOS serves. The main WSOS office is in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood. Most staff work on a hybrid schedule, generally working from the WSOS office two days per week. This role is expected to follow this schedule.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Partnering with the WSOS Board and Executive Director to hone and lead a strategy that significantly increases the fundraising capacity of the organization and creates a sustainable model for the future
• Planning for and implementing fundraising infrastructure, processes, and metrics to support a more robust fundraising operation
• Leading and growing a highly effective team of 6 FTE of advancement professionals
• Expanding and deepening the donor base and soliciting sustaining gifts
• Building a major individual giving program and a planned giving program
• Managing a portfolio of principal donors including foundation and corporate donors and prospects
• Serving as key major gift solicitor for six- and seven- figure gifts and supporting the Executive Director in the effective management of her portfolio
• Creating consistent, powerful and compelling fundraising messaging in partnership with the External Affairs and Marketing & Communications teams
• Other duties as assigned

We look to the Senior Director of Development to maintain the highest ethical fundraising standards and to approach all their work with an equity lens. They are a key partner in our efforts to navigate the complex power dynamics that are inherent in fundraising to support historically excluded students and they will, at times, be called on to explore these issues with the students, staff, Board, and funders who make up the WSOS community.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We share our preferred qualifications to help candidates understand the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities we expect the ideal candidate to bring. If you feel you would be a strong fit for the role but do not meet every one of these criteria, we highly encourage you to apply.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience); graduate degree preferred, ideally in a field related to public service, nonprofit leadership or administration
• Minimum 10 years of work experience in fundraising, community engagement, corporate relations, higher education or related fields. We recognize that experience comes in many forms and encourage candidates who meet most qualifications to apply.
• At least five (5) years of experience leading an effective team
• Active desire to opt in to the eight WSOS values the top as outlined on our website including:

1. Scholars are our North Star
2. People our greatest asset
3. Diversity, equity and inclusion are superpowers

Knowledge of:

• People management and motivation best practices to support employees in reaching their fullest potential
• Fundraising strategies across the spectrum of development activities including annual giving, events, grants, major gifts, planned giving and campaigns
• CRM best practices for moves management and real-time reporting
• Systems of power and oppression and how they impact the lived experience of students of color, first-generation college students, students from low-income families and other historically marginalized communities

Skill in:

• Overseeing, designing and implementing a diversified fundraising strategy and a history of successfully delivering on fundraising goals
• Serving as a senior development team leader including experience hiring, developing, and coaching fundraising staff
• Graciously cultivating, soliciting and stewarding individual and institutional donors, with a proven track record of success in securing six- and seven-figure gifts from donors
• Building and scaling individual major gift programs
• Leading strategy to support a board in fundraising, including providing board training
• Developing a culture of excellence with clear expectations and accountability
• Leveraging technology and other creative solutions to enhance productivity and increase efficiencies
• Having respectful, courageous and honest conversations

Ability to:

• Use strategic vision and solution-centric thinking to set and drive toward ambitious goals and adapt in response to unforeseen challenges and opportunities
• Communicate clearly and persuasively both orally and in writing
• Work with influential leaders from a wide variety of industries, cultures, belief systems and backgrounds with confidence and competence
• Work independently and under supervision in an energetic, fast-paced team environment toward shared aspirational goals with quantifiable measures of success
• Learn from experience with a focus on continuous improvement.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Valid driver’s license or identification card
• Access to reliable transportation for business travel 
• Proof of automobile insurance upon request if using a personal vehicle for business travel
• Criminal background check absent of offenses impacting ability to perform in the role
• References will be required of short-listed candidates

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Moving to and from meeting spaces with sitting, bending, twisting and reaching; occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds
• Open to dialogue about issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Hybrid workplace including work-from-home time blended with shared office environment with moderate noise levels from standard office equipment
• Ability to perform consistent work on a PC
• Local travel required up to 25% of the time; statewide travel required occasionally

BENEFITS

• Health, dental, vision, and prescription coverage where employer pays 100% of the employee portion; long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance
• Support for setting up and optimizing home office ($500 to set up a home office plus $35 per month thereafter; $65 per month cell phone stipend)
• Comprehensive employee recognition program including performance-based and extenuating circumstances awards available
• Generous paid time off includes 22 days of PTO, plus 16 paid holidays
• 401(k) with employer match up to 4%

HOW TO APPLY:

Please visit https://waopportunityscholarship.org/about/careers/ and click on “Check for open roles” to submit the following documents:

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position
• Resume highlighting relevant aspects of your experience

All applications received by June 26, 2026, will be reviewed. The position will remain open until filled.

Equal employment opportunities and diverse staffing are fundamental principles of WSOS. People who have personal experience as a first-generation, under-resourced or historically excluded student like the majority of those WSOS serves are especially encouraged to apply. To learn more about the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, please visit www.waopportunityscholarship.org.