Director of Development

What We Need

The World Affairs Council isseekingan experienced people-centeredandstrategic development professional to serve asourDirector of is aunique opportunity to buildphilanthropiccapacity inawell-established and respected organization that works to advance global understanding and cultivate enduring relationships within our local community and with the world one conversation at atime.

The Development Director reportstoand worksclosely withthe President and CEO and will be supported in their efforts bya mission-driven staff andan engaged Board of Directorscommittedtobuildingasolidphilanthropicfoundationof supportforthe this position supervises the Community Engagement Officer and dedicated interns.

Who We Are

We envision an inclusive and informed community that is inspired to create a just andequitableworld. We work toward this vision by advancing global understanding and cultivating enduring relationships within our local community and with the world one conversation at a time.

It has never been more important to understand the world around us. To navigate every aspect of our lives; to build strong prosperous communities; and to prepare our children to be the next generation of leaders we need to be globally aware engaged and its founding in 1951the Council has sustained alocal community of informed global citizens. By bringing the world to Seattle our programs make global citizenship accessible to everyone.

WhatYoullBring

Duties and Responsibilities

The Development Director willleverageexisting relationships and lead new independent outreach via targeted prospecting community engagement event attendance and other activities as needed to build a robust pipeline of potential be successful the Development Director will develop and execute strategic diversified development plans to raise funds throughstewardship ofindividual members and donorscorporatememberships and sponsorshipsfoundations and grants anddonor cultivationevents.

2026 also marks the 75thanniversary of the World Affairs Development Director will play a significant role in working with program staff to implement the anniversary campaign and fall celebrationof our founding.

Skills andCoreCompetencies

• Strategic management and inspirational leadership.
• Experience in partnering with a Board of Directors and President and CEO to develop and implement a strategic and diversified fundraising plan that assures ongoing donor engagement and stewardship and brings new individual corporate and foundation donors to the organization.

• Actively promotes a culture of philanthropy amongst staff and board with a vision to strengthen and deepen donor and member engagement.

• Ability to lead strategy review of membership value proposition communications and outreach and proactively seek opportunities to enhance core support among member constituencies.

• Knowledge of best practices in nonprofit database management accounting and general policy and procedural compliance.

• Skilled at representing the Council and articulating a compelling membership value proposition to relevant stakeholders.

• Possess an understanding of the role of planned giving as part of a robust development plan.

BoardEngagement

• Leverage the Board to help meet critical financial goals for the organization.

• Work with the President/CEOto engage board members indevelopment activities.

• Attend board meetings andrelevantboardcommitteesstaff board committees asappropriate.

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Develop strategies and programs that recruit cultivatesolicit and steward donor givingandleverage Council events for cultivation and stewardship opportunities.

• Develop and manage special campaigns and planned gifts. Implement strategies to increase the number of donors giving at all levels and growdonorgiving year-over-year through engagement and cultivation.

• Prepare and writeor oversee the writing ofpersonalized proposals reports letters emails notes and other documents as needed.

• Provide industry knowledgemonitorindustry trends and implement best practices.

• Ensureprocesses are in placeand followedso thatall financial support to the Council is receipted appropriately acknowledged andreported oninan is reflected in the donor database.

• Partner with thePresident and CEOtoprioritizethe CEOs development-relatedactivities strategizegoals and outcomesandpartner on meetings withdonors andfunders.

• Grant prospect research and grant writingand submissions

• RepresenttheWorld Affairs Council at external events andattend our Community Programsand other eventswhereourstakeholders and supporters are.

• Work closely with the Finance Directorto ensureaccuratereconciliation of gifts.

WhatWereLooking For

• Experiencedprofessional:Experiencedemonstratingprogressive responsibility and a proventrack recordof soliciting closing and stewarding gifts with major donors corporations and foundations. You havebuilt and successfully executeda fundraising strategy met fundraising goals andexcelled inrelationship-based fundraising.

• Diversitymindset:Recognition that diverseperspectivesand experiences create better outcomes for everyone involved.

• Collaborative andrelationshipsteward: You build andmaintaincollaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with staffcommunity partners funders board members and program participants.

• Strategicmindedness: You take a strategic approach and long-term perspectivetogoals challenges and projects.

• Globalperspective: You havedemonstratedinterest in international issues and current events.

• Resiliency:Youknownot allcultivations andasks willsucceedand keep goingdespiteand learn fromthe case for support not landing successfully.

• Initiative andself-management: You take independent action for planning leading and implementing your work within a distributed leadership structure.

• Growth andgrace: Youremainadaptable and flexible amid change and extend grace for colleagues and yourself.

• Builder: You can seewhatspossible and then guide its creation.

• Communication: You are a direct and clear communicatorwhoholds space for reflectionandlistening.

• Adaptable: You have the development experience that allows you to jumpfrom donor outreachto event planning toboard relations agility.

• Comfortable withrapidchangeandambiguity:Youremainflexible andsolution focusedas circumstances evolve.

• Motivated: The mission matters.

What you might be looking for

• Colleagues: A small staff focused on the mission and on creating a supportive place to work.

• Support:Youllwork most closely with the President/CEO CommunityEngagementOfficerFinance DirectorandGlobal Programs Coordinatorbut everyone on the team will be committed to your success.

• Perks:Medical dental and vision insurance; life insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; and generous paid time off including volunteer time off and floating holidays so you can celebratewhatsimportant to you.

• Trust:Werenot into micromanaging. Youhaveautonomyto manage your time programs and working relationships with external partners.

• Opportunities:Youllhave a supportive environment to build something that will help shape the future of the World Affairs Council.

• Recognition: We will celebrate your successes and respect your contributions and value to the organization.

• Flexibility:Weveembraced a hybrid workschedule.

• Leadership:Youllbe part of the senior leadership team.

Supervisory Experience

This position supervises theCommunity Engagement Officer and dedicatedinterns. Internally this position leadsthe Development Communications team meetings to activelyensure a spirit of philanthropy exists inall external communications and that the Councilremainsfocused on the core principles of aspirational mission-driven work.

Inclusiveness

We bring the world to Seattle; we want you to bring your world to work with us. The World Affairs Council is committed to building a more inclusive organization that celebrates the diversity of the global cultures and traditions of our staff board members international visitors and the community.

The World Affairs Council is an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age color disability national origin race religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation veteran status or any classification protected by federal state or local law.

If you share our values and want to help shape our work going forwardwedlove to hear from you.

Compensation

Our compensation philosophy aligns with our values and supports the strategic initiatives guiding the Councils work. The key principles that guide our approach to compensation:

• Attract andretain: We strive to offer a total compensation program that attracts andretainstalent and is competitive for similar organizations.

• Motivate: We reward performance that drives the organizations mission forward.

• Understand the market: Benchmark basepaylevels and practices against peer organizations (like-size/budget non-profits in King County) and pay within industry norms.

• Equity in the workplace: We are committed to providing equal pay for equal work within the Council with allowable pay differences based on factors not prohibited by law. While fairness is fundamental individuals bringdifferent experiencelevels and skills to roles thatare themselvessometimes different. Compensation reflects these meaningful differences and varies accordingly.

The salary range for this position is $90000-$120000 depending on experience andpast achievement. Benefits package includes medical dental and vision insurance;life insurance;and generous paid time phone stipendincluded.