Development Director

Lavender Rights Project (LRP) is a Black trans service organization with a grassroots legal department, established in 2016, based out of Seattle, Washington. We are proud to offer quality, affirming, and accessible community programming and legal services centered in values of social justice for Black trans and queer folks. We recognize people at the intersections of their LGBTQI+ identity encountering barriers of anti-blackness, xenophobia, racism, ableism, low-income, class status, and experiences with incarceration. 

The Development Director will manage our fundraising program and supervise our Development Associate and Grants & Communications Manager. Our hope is that the Development Director will help grow our fundraising capacity while encouraging community, Board, and staff participation in fundraising efforts. The Development Director will diversify and grow each of our fundraising sources, ensuring that LRP remains fiscally secure and healthy. This position reports to the Executive Director.

LRP’s operating budget is approaching $2.5 million and growing. Our funding sources include federal and state grants, civil legal aid, fee-for-service work, program revenue, as well as foundations, events, and individual contributions. 

Responsibilities:

• Manage a robust and diverse portfolio of major donors Support the budget process through the development of the organizational and fund development budgets, tracking monthly development projections, participating in the monthly reconciliation process, and overseeing progress towards goals for the fund development budget
• Prepare the executive director for fund development meetings, events, donor meetings, and other activities as needed
• Annually review development plan, find strengths and weaknesses, revise and strengthen plan, identify metrics and track and share progress towards goals, in collaboration with the executive director
• Manage stewardship of current donors, donor correspondence, and lead donor retention strategy
• Oversee donor appreciation efforts, including acknowledgements, recognition events, and other activities
• Supervise and guide the development associate’s management of the donor database, develop a pool of prospective donors, and retain annual fund donors
• Oversee fundraising events, periodically holding direct appeals at key moments (especially around LGBTQ+ and Trans Pride), and develop an annual approach for direct appeals
• Develops complimentary fundraising plans such as endowments, planned giving, sponsorships, and membership Work closely with the program team on incorporating asks into program events
• Remain informed of LRP programs and communicate current program plans to donors
• Work with Grants & Communication Manager in writing appeals, announcing campaigns via social media and emails, composing appreciation letters and communications, and support writing the annual report
• Staff the Board of Director’s Development Committee, providing information, reports, and communications to engage the board in fundraising efforts

Preferred Qualifications: Has lived, volunteer, or work experience with QTBIPOC and TLGBQ2SIA communities. Extensive experience in sustained giving.

Required Qualifications: 5 years of experience as leading a fundraising department for a nonprofit with a budget of over $1 million. Education or experience, or a combination related to this position. Relevant experience in communications, development, grant management and/or public relations. Can work occasional evenings and weekends.

Skills: Current WA state driver’s license, required insurance, and vehicle for local travel (preferred). Can learn or has experience with Google Suite, Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word. Comfortable working with donor databases.