Development Manager

Title: Development Manager

Supervises: NA

Reports to: Director of Advancement

FLSA Status: Exempt

When Needed: 2024 – 2025 Academic Year

FTE: Full-time, Year-round

Seattle Waldorf School is seeking a Development Manager, with fundraising and event planning experience. We are looking for someone who has a passion for human and organization development and facilitation skills to inspire a culture of collaboration and giving built upon trust and engagement. We need a leader who understands best practices in development and administration, and who is passionate about supporting a Waldorf School. We are looking for staff and faculty who share our belief that a culturally rich and inclusive school community provides students with the best possible environment for a quality education. Seattle Waldorf School offers an excellent benefits package, opportunities for professional development, and an extraordinary work environment.

WHO WE ARE:

At Seattle Waldorf School, students become creative problem-solvers—imaginative thinkers who journey toward intellectual excellence, human compassion, and artistic skill. Our modern curriculum is rooted in tradition—for children 18 months to 14 years. We lead students on a joyful journey that fosters critical thinking, synthesis, and creativity. Founded in Seattle in 1980, we are privileged to employ some of the most highly trained Waldorf teachers in the country. At Seattle Waldorf School we are committed to creating a community that is inclusive for all faculty, staff, families, and students, especially those who have been impacted by racism and oppression, and to create a culture that supports racial equity and gender inclusion by changing our existing systems and practices.

Our Mission: Daily we strive to inspire learning, courage, and joy in the developing human being.

Job Summary: Under minimal supervision, manages all fundraising and community engagement efforts; including imagining, planning, record keeping, managing event staff and volunteers and working with the business office around best practices. Provides support for or management of community development opportunities such as the Annual Fund Drive and Auction, Community Association events, Admission and Retention Events, School Festivals, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and Volunteer and Teacher Appreciation events.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversees all aspects of gift management – solicitation, outreach, donor stewardship, data entry, report creation, and reconciliation
• Manages fundraising campaigns and events, including strategic case development, prospect research and cultivation, volunteer support and campaign/event execution
• Works in close collaboration with Director of Advancement in developing messaging for fundraising and community events
• Manages volunteer component of all school events and specific development events
• Creatively engages community and donors for positive relationship growth
• Key member of Advancement Team
• Engages in his/her/their own professional development
• Is familiar and complies with all policies and regulations as put forth in the school’s documents
• Since safety and security are everyone’s responsibility, takes all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, faculty, staff, equipment, materials and facilities
• Performs other duties as assigned

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university required or other experience that provides  a strong base for this work
• 5+ years’ experience in fundraising/development experience in a non-profit or school setting a plus
• Database management experience required

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with databases, database management and spreadsheets. Blackbaud and Raiser’s Edge a plus
• Strong solicitation and appeal letter writing skills
• Proficient at event management
• Ability to balance priorities and meet hard deadlines
• Ability to work in a hands-on team environment
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to work and communicate well with all levels of faculty, staff, community members, outside partners and donors
• Flexibility, maturity, and a sense of humor
• Possessing a level of cultural competency necessary for working with a diverse population in an inclusive and equitable community
• We have a diverse student body, and we want all our teachers and staff to have the skills necessary to ensure that our classrooms are safe, inclusive places for everyone
• We seek a leader who is aware of the racial, socio-economic, gender, and other inequities present in education, and actively works to eliminate these in the school
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds
• Ability to sit and keyboard, talk on the phone up to 8 hours per day

Annual Salary Range for Full-time Position:  $70,000 - $74,000

Benefits: Please see our Benefits Summary which outlines the generous insurance, leave, and benefits provided for SWS Staff

To Apply: Interested candidates should respond immediately by email to careers@seattlewaldorf.org with a letter of interest, resume, and employment application, available on the school website at: http://www.seattlewaldorf.org/careers/

Thank you for your interest in Seattle Waldorf School and this position. Position open until filled. www.seattlewaldorf.org