What We Need  

The World Affairs Council is seeking an experienced, people-centered, and strategic development professional to serve as our Director of Development. This is a unique opportunity to build philanthropic capacity in a well-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 a time. 

The Development Director reports to, and works closely with, the President and CEO and will be supported in their efforts by a mission-driven staff and an engaged Board of Directors committed to building a solid philanthropic foundation of support for the organization. Additionally, 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 and equitable world. 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 connected. Since its founding in 1951, the Council has sustained a local community of informed global citizens. By bringing the world to Seattle, our programs make global citizenship accessible to everyone. 

What You’ll Bring  

Duties and Responsibilities  

The Development Director will leverage existing 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 funders. To be successful, the Development Director will develop and execute strategic, diversified development plans to raise funds through stewardship of individual members and donors, corporate memberships and sponsorships, foundations and grants, and donor cultivation events.  

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

Skills and Core Competencies  

• 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. 

Board Engagement 

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

• Work with the President/CEO to engage board members in development activities. 

• Attend board meetings and relevant board committees, staff board committees as appropriate. 

Fundraising and Donor Relations  

• Develop strategies and programs that recruit, cultivate, solicit, and steward donor giving and leverage 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 grow donor giving year-over-year through engagement and cultivation.  

• Prepare and write or oversee the writing of personalized proposals, reports, letters, emails, notes, and other documents, as needed.  

• Provide industry knowledge, monitor industry trends, and implement best practices.  

• Ensure processes are in place and followed so that all financial support to the Council is receipted, appropriately acknowledged, and reported on in an accurate and timely manner. Ensure accurate information is reflected in the donor database. 

• Partner with the President and CEO to prioritize the CEO’s development-related activities, strategize goals and outcomes, and partner on meetings with donors and funders. 

• Grant prospect research and grant writing and submissions 

• Represent the World Affairs Council at external events and attend our Community Programs and other events where our stakeholders and supporters are.  

• Work closely with the Finance Director to ensure accurate reconciliation of gifts. 

What We’re Looking For  

• Experienced professional: Experience demonstrating progressive responsibility and a proven track record of soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts with major donors, corporations, and foundations. You have built and successfully executed a fundraising strategy, met fundraising goals, and excelled in relationship-based fundraising.  

• Diversity mindset: Recognition that diverse perspectives and experiences create better outcomes for everyone involved.  

• Collaborative and relationship steward: You build and maintain collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with staff, community partners, funders, board members, and program participants.  

• Strategic mindedness: You take a strategic approach and long-term perspective to goals, challenges, and projects.  

• Global perspective: You have demonstrated interest in international issues and current events. 

• Resiliency: You know not all cultivations and asks will succeed and keep going despite—and learn from—the case for support not landing successfully.  

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

• Growth and grace: You remain adaptable and flexible amid change and extend grace for colleagues and yourself.  

• Builder: You can see what’s possible – and then guide its creation.  

• Communication: You are a direct and clear communicator who holds space for reflection and listening.  

• Adaptable: You have the development experience that allows you to jump from donor outreach to event planning, to board relations, etc., with agility. 

• Comfortable with rapid change and ambiguity: You remain flexible and solution focused as 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: You’ll work most closely with the President/CEO, Community Engagement Officer, Finance Director, and Global Programs Coordinator, but 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 celebrate what’s important to you.  

• Trust: We’re not into micromanaging. You have autonomy to manage your time, programs, and working relationships with external partners.  

• Opportunities: You’ll have 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: We’ve embraced a hybrid work schedule. 

• Leadership: You’ll be part of the senior leadership team. 

Supervisory Experience 

This position supervises the Community Engagement Officer and dedicated interns. Internally, this position leads the Development + Communications team meetings to actively ensure a spirit of philanthropy exists in all external communications and that the Council remains focused 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 forward, we’d love to hear from you.  

Compensation  

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

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

• Motivate: We reward performance that drives the organization’s mission forward.  

• Understand the market: Benchmark base pay levels 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 bring different experience levels and skills to roles that are themselves sometimes different. Compensation reflects these meaningful differences and varies accordingly. 

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$120,000, depending on experience and past achievement. Benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; life insurance; and generous paid time off. Orca pass and phone stipend included.