Vice President of Development

Job Description

Title: Vice President of Development

Dept: Development

Wage: $121,013/yr.

Type: Full-Time/40 hours per week, Exempt

Location: Seattle, WA; hybrid-optional (WA residency required)

Note: Hybrid-optional positions can be performed by combining telecommuting with on-site work. Ability to work onsite 3 days per week required. When telecommuting, a private workspace & reliable internet are required.

To Apply:

All applicants must provide a cover letter which describes how they meet or exceed the requirements for this position and to demonstrate their business writing skills. Go to: https://wellspringfs.org/about/careers and click on “Career Center” to apply.

Who We Are:

Our Vision: A community in which every child has a safe and stable home.

Our Purpose: To prevent and address homelessness by connecting families and individuals in crisis to the support and resources they need to regain stability.

For over 130 years, Wellspring Family Services has worked to end homelessness by helping families and employees in crisis access the services they need to regain stability. Wellspring is a non-profit, multi-service agency serving families in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, and asset-limited, income-constrained employees nationwide.

Wellspring has five primary programs. The Housing Services division provides eviction prevention and rehousing services to vulnerable populations. The Early Learning Center delivers trauma-informed early childhood education to children, ages 1 to 5, who have experienced homelessness. The Family Store supplies clothing, toiletries, toys, diapers, and baby equipment to low-income families so they can better afford rent and other basic needs. Our Employee Assistance Program connects employees with the resources they need to address crises, retain housing, and remain employed. Finally, our new Employee Stability Program provides a financial safety net to asset-limited, income-constrained employees who are struggling to retain or regain housing.

Wellspring Family Services is committed to a diverse and accessible workplace. Everyone is welcome. We strongly encourage applicants from under-represented communities, including BIPOC, non-conforming gender identities & sexual orientation, people with lived experience of homelessness, veterans, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

All applications are reviewed by a real person. To request disability accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact HR@wellspringfs[dot]org.

Position Purpose:

The Vice President of Development is a strategic leader responsible for advancing Wellspring’s mission through leadership in fundraising, community engagement, and the development of strategically significant philanthropic partnerships. This role is critical in ensuring the organization’s ongoing, sustainable financial health and growth through philanthropy and strategic alliances.

Essential Functions:

• Strategic Fundraising Leadership
  1. Provide visionary leadership in the development and implementation of a strategic fundraising plan.
  2. Collaborate with executive leadership to execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing individual, corporate, and foundation donors, and government contracts.
  3. Acts as the voice of Development efforts within the organization to ensure that fundraising methods, integrity, and ethics are held to the highest standards.
  4. Champion diversity among donors and communities to foster an inclusive philanthropic support system that reflects the diversity of the families served.
  5. Play a key role in agency operations and community engagement, ensuring the organization’s mission and goals are promoted effectively.
  6. Develop and nurture key external alliances to support fundraising goals.
• Fundraising and Development
  1. Lead efforts to sustain and expand revenue-generating, fundraising, and volunteer activities to support existing program operations and regional/national expansion.
  2. Oversee all aspects of fundraising program design and implementation, including annual & major fund programs, corporate relations, private & public grants, government contracts, planned giving, in-kind gifts and volunteerism.
  3. Cultivate, manage and maintain a highly visible, high net-worth portfolio of individual and institutional donors with a comprehensive understanding of the stewardship and cultivation cycle.
  4. Guide research on funding sources and trends to position the organization advantageously within the marketplace and work with department leadership to ensure development plans align with market trends.
• Department Leadership
  1. Empower and resource the Development team to effectively grow a robust fundraising program, managing the budget and analyzing financial reports to maximize resources and meet fundraising and organizational goals.
  2. Monitor all fundraising activity. Provide and present analysis to CEO, Board and Executive Team.
  3. Supervise direct reports, including training, setting performance standards, day-to-day coaching & performance management, plus time & attendance supervision.

• Donor Engagement
  1. Cultivate, develop and maintain ongoing relationships with major donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations.
  2. Establish effective communication strategies to engage stakeholders and enhance donor loyalty.
• Marketing
  1. Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop marketing strategies and engage stakeholders through community-centric storytelling, narrative and public presentations.
  2. Represent the organization at external events, conferences, and meetings.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in the orientation of new staff and board members.
• Share the development plan with the Board including specifics on Board Members’ individual responsibilities and involvement.
• Help recruit, motivate, and retain organizational volunteers.
• Act as a management representative of the organization in all respects, with a particular responsibility to adhere to ethical standards, employment policies and communications guidelines as failure to do so creates serious legal liability for the agency.
• Support Wellspring values by acting in a manner consistent with those values.
• Additional tasks and projects may be assigned as needed.

Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in development functions, including major gifts, donor stewardship, and community engagement, with a proven track record of expanding donor relationships and fundraising achievements. Understanding and experience working with government funding contracts preferred.
• Minimum 3 years’ leadership experience managing manager or director level positions.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field; in lieu of a degree, equivalent years of professional experience in the sector may suffice.
• Strong background in budget planning, building alliances, and demonstrating agility in change management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Raiser’s Edge and proficient with social media. Familiarity with Salesforce and other fundraising technology a bonus.
• Expert knowledge of, and experience with the AFP Fundraising Code of Ethics to align with, ethical fundraising and best industry practices.
• Proficiency in various fundraising methods, program design, and execution, with a focus on learning agility and partnership development.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and strategic planning skills. Strong public speaking skills and experience.
• Capable of effectively supervising others by establishing clear expectations and regularly giving constructive feedback. Knows how to address performance issues clearly and in a timely manner.
• Highly developed awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with evolved ability to practice appropriate, relevant and thoughtful strategies for working with diverse populations.

Physical & Mental Requirements:

• Washington State resident at start date
• If an employee chooses to telecommute, they must be able to provide their own private workspace with reliable, secure internet.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• The ability to understand, express and exchange complex ideas in a fast-paced environment.
• The ability to communicate detailed or important information to clients and/or co-workers through written documents and emails and through verbal means over the telephone, using virtual meeting platforms, and in person.

• The ability to use a computer for long periods of time. Adaptive accommodations may be available as needed.

• A moderate amount of moving around in a standard office environment may be needed.

Please note that employees should expect to perform some tasks that are outside the scope of the job description.

Employee Benefits:

Choice of 3 Medical Plans • 30 days paid time off per year, plus 10 paid employee holidays • Dental • Life Insurance • Long-Term Disability • 403b Retirement Plan • Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account • Employee Assistance Program • Employee Resource Groups • Counseling Session Reimbursement • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Training

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Wellspring employees may use their time with us toward their participation in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).