Description

Title:               Director of Development

Reports to:   Executive Director

Job Type:     Full time, Exempt

Salary:           $160,000 to $180,000

Mission:

Seattle Arts & Lectures (SAL) cultivates transformative experiences through story and language with readers and writers of all generations.

We invite you to join our fun, book-loving team of 18 to fulfill the mission of SAL as our Director of Development. SAL offers thoughtfully curated experiences through programs that are intergenerational in nature, bolstering both emerging and established literary artists, and inviting change and new perspectives in our audience. We envision a community where stories are treasured, creative and critical thinking brings us together, and everyone reads. Our work both internally and externally is guided by our core values: joy, equity, curiosity, community, and accessibility.

SAL Program Overview:

SAL fulfills its mission through educational, public, and community programming, in-person and online. Our public literary events bring the most talented and thought-provoking writers of our times to speak about and read their work. Our free Summer Book Bingo program (co-presented with The Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System) inspires our community to reconnect with the joy of reading through a series of fun challenges. Our arts education programs include Writers in the Schools (WITS) and the Seattle Youth Poetry Fellowship (YPF) program. WITS places local, professional writers in public school classroom residencies to inspire K-12 students to tell their stories as they develop lifelong writing skills. YPF elevates the powerful voices of local youth poets committed to community engagement, education, and equity in our region.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Access:

All staff actively participate in SAL’s ongoing efforts to become an anti-racist organization and embody an organizational culture that supports and reinforces our inclusion, diversity, equity & access goals. Our 2026-2029 Strategic Plan and SAL’s Equity Accountability Reports are available on the SAL website under “About.” This commitment and understanding should be demonstrated throughout the performance of the Director of Development responsibilities and staff activities.

Position Overview:

Seattle Arts & Lectures seeks a visionary, collaborative, and relationship-driven Director of Development to help shape the organization’s next chapter.

Following several years of remarkable organizational growth, SAL has launched an ambitious new strategic plan that will guide the organization’s future. The plan includes expanding access to the Writers in the Schools program, developing a signature Seattle book festival, increasing access to literary experiences across the region, deepening community partnerships, and strengthening the organization’s long-term financial sustainability. The Director of Development will play a central leadership role in helping realize this vision by increasing funding, diversifying funding sources, and growing SAL’s community of champions.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the Director of Development serves as a strategic leader and trusted advisor, partnering closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, staff, and community partners to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances SAL’s mission and supports the organization’s continued growth. As SAL enters its next phase of growth, the Director of Development will also help build the philanthropic capacity and organizational readiness to support the organization’s long-term ambitions, including a future comprehensive campaign.

The Director of Development leads a team of four development professionals and oversees SAL’s comprehensive fundraising program generating approximately $2.8 million in annual contributed revenue through individual giving, institutional philanthropy, government support, corporate partnerships, planned giving, special events, and campaigns.

The Director of Development will succeed by providing strategic leadership for SAL’s development program while serving as one of the organization’s primary frontline fundraisers, personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding the relationships that drive philanthropic revenue. With passion and experience, the Director of Development will inspire a culture of generosity that strengthens relationships with donors, volunteers, and the broader community.

Responsibilities:

Executive Leadership (20%)

Serve as an active member of SAL’s Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, financial sustainability, culture, and long-term planning.
Partner closely with the Executive Director on strategic initiatives, fundraising strategy, annual budgeting, and board engagement.
Champion a culture of generosity throughout the organization.
Lead the annual development planning process aligned with SAL’s strategic plan.
Develop strategy and collaborate cross-functionally in creating effective fundraising communications across all channels.
Assess fundraising performance and recommend improvements based on data and best practices.
Partner with Finance on forecasting, budgeting, reporting, audit preparation, and long-range financial planning.
Represent SAL as an ambassador in the community.

Philanthropic Strategy (15%)

Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with SAL’s strategic plan.
Lead annual giving, major gifts, institutional giving, government grants, corporate partnerships, planned giving, fundraising events, and special campaigns.
Build diversified revenue streams and fundraising capacity.
Help position Seattle Arts & Lectures for a future comprehensive campaign by strengthening philanthropic capacity, expanding leadership giving, and building the systems and relationships necessary for long-term success.
Major Gifts & Strategic Partnerships (30%)

Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major donors and prospects with regular cultivation, asks, and stewardship.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership gifts, including five-, six-, and seven-figure investments.
Partner with the Executive Director and Board on securing principal gifts.
Expand planned giving and legacy giving efforts.

Team Leadership (20%)

Establish clear fundraising goals, portfolio expectations, and accountability measures while coaching staff to strengthen fundraising effectiveness and donor relationships.
Lead, mentor, and inspire a team consisting of the Development Associate, Grants Manager, Individual & Annual Fund Manager, and Fundraising Events Manager.
Support professional development and foster a collaborative, inclusive, and joyful team culture.
Foster a culture in which leaders at every level actively participate in fundraising and relationship building.

Board Partnership (15%)

Staff the Board Events & Stewardship Committee.
Coach and support board members in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
 

Diverse Workforce statement:

SAL values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture in all areas of our work and culture. SAL is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize that opportunities in the arts have historically excluded and continue to disproportionately exclude Black and Indigenous people, people of color, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people. We strongly encourage individuals with these identities to apply. Strong candidates will bring a diverse set of skills, characteristics, and experiences, both professional and lived. SAL focuses on a holistic view of potential candidates and understanding that no single candidate will offer every desired skill and characteristic. The following offers an aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile, and we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Eight or more years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising leadership.
Demonstrated success developing and personally securing significant philanthropic revenue through major gifts, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, government funding, planned giving and other contributed income streams, while leading comprehensive fundraising programs generating $2.5 million or more annually.
Measurable success in managing a portfolio of at least 75-100 individuals and personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing five-, six-, and preferably seven-figure gifts.
Demonstrated proficiency with fundraising CRM systems (PatronManager preferred), Microsoft Office Suite, and donor research, reporting, and analytics tools. Ability to leverage technology and data to inform fundraising strategy, track performance, and strengthen donor relationships.
Proven experience managing and mentoring fundraising staff and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team.
Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including proposal writing and donor presentations.

Desired Qualifications:

Excellent financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, and fundraising revenue management.
Demonstrated ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on fundraising execution.
Comfortable serving as the organization’s lead fundraiser, representing SAL with donors, sponsors, foundations, and community leaders.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity, accessibility, and belonging, and an ability to build authentic relationships across diverse communities and constituencies.
Experience partnering effectively with executive leadership, boards of directors, and volunteers to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
Experience with campaign planning or significant fundraising growth initiatives.
Familiarity with Seattle’s philanthropic community and regional foundations.
Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credential or interest in pursuing certification.
High degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and accountability.

Additional Considerations:

Evening/weekend hours required (typically 4 to 6 times per month, September to June).
This is an on-location position in Seattle. We are, unfortunately, not able to provide relocation assistance for this position.

Benefits overview:

Generous paid time off, including 20 vacation days/year starting your second year (15 days in year one), as well as wellness time, 3 personal days, and holidays.
100% of medical, vision, and dental insurance. Long-term disability, and group life insurance is also covered, including an Employee Assistance Program.
403(b) retirement plan with a 3% gross salary contribution funded by SAL and an optional employee pre-tax distribution available.
Flex time as appropriate.
Support and budget for professional development and growth

Application Instructions:

Send a resume and cover letter that tells us why this position is a good fit.
Submit applications electronically in one PDF document to salhr@lectures.org. The email subject line should be “Director of Development.”
Open until filled. For best consideration, please submit no later than September 8, 2026.
Please Note: Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.