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Executive Director

Lake Washington Schools Foundation

Job Location:

Redmond, WA - USA

Yearly Salary: USD 110000 - 140000

Posted: 7 September 2026 (Yesterday)

Application Deadline: 6 December 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position Profile

The Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) seeks a mission-driven innovative and entrepreneurial leader to serve as its next Executive Director.

About the Foundation

The Lake Washington Schools Foundation raises funds and amplifies community resources to provide students in the Lake Washington School District with what they need to thrive now and in the future. Every gift and every partnership is directed toward a single purpose: helping students learn grow and reach their full potential.

Serving the Lake Washington School District in the Eastside of greater Seattle LWSF supports students and families across Redmond Kirkland and Sammamish Washington. Lake Washington School District is the second-largest public school district in Washington State and serves a diverse and growing community.

LWSF works in partnership with educators families local businesses community organizations and generous neighbors who believe that strong public schools are the bedrock of a thriving community. LWSF remains nimble personal and closely connected to the students educators and classrooms it serves while delivering meaningful and measurable impact.

The Foundation is well established and deeply supported throughout the Lake Washington School District community for over 20 years.

The Opportunity

This is a pivotal and energizing moment to lead the Lake Washington Schools Foundation.

Following a period of steady growth and careful stewardship the Foundation is well positioned for its next chapter. The current Executive Director is concluding their tenure and the Board of Trustees is leading a search for the next Executive Director.

The next Executive Director will inherit significant strengths: deep community goodwill an established and loyal donor base a committed Board of Trustees a capable staff and a strong partnership with the Lake Washington School District (LWSD).

At the heart of LWSFs work is its relationship with LWSD. The Foundation listens to the needs of educators and district leaders identifies opportunities where philanthropic resources can make a meaningful difference and connects the generosity of the community with programs and initiatives that benefit students.

With these foundations firmly in place the incoming leader will have a significant opportunity to shape the Foundations next chapterexpanding its reach and impact strengthening and diversifying revenue deepening community partnerships and welcoming more of the Eastside community into the shared work of supporting students.

This is an opportunity to build on a strong legacy while helping to define what comes next.

Priorities for the Next Executive Director:

The next Executive Director will be expected to:

Build the future of LWSF. Shape and champion the long-term vision of the organization while driving disciplined execution operational excellence and measurable impact across all programs partnerships and functions.
Strengthen and grow fundraising. Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy spanning annual giving major gifts events grants corporate partnerships and sponsorships with particular emphasis on expanding sustainable and diversified revenue.
Deepen relationships. Strengthen relationships with individual donors businesses community leaders educators district leadership families and other partners while expanding LWSFs visibility and reach throughout the community.
Strengthen the Foundations partnership with LWSD. Maintain a close productive and appropriately independent relationship with district leadership schools and educators while ensuring that philanthropic investments are aligned with meaningful student needs and opportunities.
Engage and leverage the Board. Partner with the Board of Trustees on strategy and governance while engaging trustees as ambassadors advocates connectors and fundraisers.
Build organizational capacity. Hire lead mentor and support the staff while assessing systems processes and resources needed for the Foundations next stage of growth.
Strengthen impact measurement and storytelling. Develop clear ways to measure evaluate and communicate the impact of LWSF investments to donors trustees educators community partners and the broader community.
Ensure sound financial stewardship. Maintain strong budgeting forecasting financial controls reporting compliance and organizational policies that honor donor trust and position the Foundation for sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities:

The Executive Director is the Foundations chief executive and reports to the Board of Trustees. Leading a small dedicated staff the Executive Director combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution across the organizations fundraising programs operations communications and community engagement.

Fundraising and Resource Development:

Lead the Foundations overall fundraising strategy across annual giving major gifts events grants corporate sponsorships and other revenue opportunities.
Personally cultivate solicit and steward major donors corporate partners community leaders and other key supporters.
Build a strong culture of philanthropy throughout the organization and engage trustees as active fundraising partners.
Strengthen donor acquisition retention stewardship and communications.
Identify new opportunities to diversify and increase sustainable revenue.

Board Partnership and Governance:

Partner with the Board of Trustees to develop strategic direction establish priorities and evaluate organizational performance.
Serve as an ex-officio member of Board committees engaging trustees strategically to advance the Foundations fundraising governance and programmatic priorities.
Provide the Board with timely accurate and meaningful information to support effective oversight and decision-making.
Foster a strong partnership between the Board and staff while maintaining clear governance and management roles.

Staff Leadership and Organizational Development:

Lead mentor and support the Foundations staff fostering a collaborative inclusive accountable and mission-driven culture.
Establish clear goals priorities responsibilities and performance expectations.
Assess organizational capacity and strengthen systems and processes as the Foundation grows.
Ensure staff have the resources tools and support needed to deliver results.

Financial Stewardship:

Serve as a data-informed and financially disciplined steward of the Foundations resources.
Oversee annual budgeting financial forecasting financial controls reporting and compliance.
Work closely with the Board Treasurer Finance Committee and financial professionals to ensure sound financial management.
Ensure the Foundations financial practices reflect transparency accountability and responsible stewardship of donor resources.

Programs and Impact:

Guide the design evaluation and delivery of programs and philanthropic investments so that resources reach students effectively.
Work closely with district and school leaders to understand emerging needs and opportunities.
Establish meaningful metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and inform future investment.
Communicate outcomes and impact through compelling data stories and evidence.

Community and District Relations:

Serve as a highly visible ambassador and spokesperson for LWSF.
Develop and maintain strong relationships across Redmond Kirkland Sammamish and the broader Eastside community.
Strengthen partnerships with local businesses civic organizations families educators and community leaders.
Nurture the Foundations central partnership with Lake Washington School District its schools and its leaders.
Represent LWSF with credibility integrity sound judgment and enthusiasm.

Candidate Profile

LWSF welcomes candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and career paths. We recognize that exceptional leaders may have developed their skills in nonprofit organizations education business community organizations philanthropy or other sectors.

Must-Have Qualifications:

Successful candidates will bring:

A demonstrated track record of successful fundraising revenue development and relationship building.
Experience leading people and managing budgets and organizational resources.
Strong strategic thinking combined with the ability and willingness to execute.
Sound public judgment integrity discretion and credibility.
A demonstrated passion for public education and a commitment to understanding the opportunities and challenges facing public schools students and families.
An entrepreneurial action-oriented adaptable and innovative approach to organizational leadership and business planning.
The ability to serve as a highly visible and compelling spokesperson who can inspire donors volunteers staff partners and community members.
Strong written verbal interpersonal and presentation skills.
The ability to work effectively with a volunteer Board of Trustees and diverse community stakeholders.

Desired Attributes and Experience:

The following experiences and qualities would strengthen a candidacy though none is required:

Experience in education philanthropy nonprofit leadership a school-district partnership or a community foundation.
A genuine connection to the Eastside and its communities in Redmond Kirkland and Sammamish.
Experience working with a volunteer governing board.
Experience cultivating major donors and corporate or community partnerships.
Strength in using data storytelling and communications to demonstrate impact.
Experience leading an organization through a period of growth or transition.
Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges facing public education and school communities.
An ability to build trust and productive relationships across diverse perspectives and constituencies.

The Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will be a relationship-oriented and entrepreneurial leader who combines strategic vision with a willingness to roll up their sleeves.
They will be equally comfortable presenting to community leaders meeting one-on-one with a major donor working collaboratively with district leadership coaching staff engaging trustees reviewing financial information and turning ideas into action.
Above all the successful candidate will bring genuine enthusiasm for the Foundations mission and a belief that strong public schools create stronger communities.

What Success Will Look Like:

During the first 1224 months the successful Executive Director will:

Build strong and trusting relationships with the Board staff district leadership donors educators and community partners.
Develop and implement a clear measurable fundraising and revenue-growth strategy.
Strengthen major-gift corporate and community partnerships.
Improve donor stewardship and communications.
Establish clear measures for fundraising programmatic and organizational performance.
Strengthen financial and operational systems.
Increase awareness and understanding of LWSFs impact throughout the community.
Position the Foundation for sustainable long-term growth while preserving its strong community relationships and mission focus.

Compensation & Location:

The Foundation offers competitive and equitable compensation. The anticipated salary range is $110000$140000 based on market benchmarks and the candidates experience.

This is a full-time exempt position with a hybrid work schedule. The position includes employer-paid medical coverage 11 paid federal holidays 50 hours of sick leave annually and 10 days of paid vacation. Occasional evening and weekend work is required.

The role is based in Redmond Washington and serves the Redmond Kirkland and Sammamish communities.

How to Apply

The Lake Washington Schools Foundation is conducting a Board-led search supported by a search consultant.

To apply submit a cover letter and resume to . Applications received by September 30 will receive first consideration; the position will remain open until filled.

Questions referrals and nominations are warmly welcomed and may be directed to . A member of the Board of Trustees is also available to serve as a point of contact for prospective candidates.

LWSF is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applicants of all backgrounds identities experiences and perspectives. We are committed to building a team and supporting a community that reflects the students and families we serve.

Required Experience:

Director

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