Development Director

Whatcom Hills Waldorf School (WHWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit private school founded in Bellingham in 1986. We offer AWSNA-accredited Waldorf education to children from thirty months through eighth grade on our historic, wooded campus in Bellingham’s Geneva neighborhood. Now celebrating our fortieth year, we are excited to build the foundation for the next forty and beyond.

Like many private schools, Whatcom Hills Waldorf School relies on fundraising to provide tuition assistance, cover a portion of our operating expenses, and contribute to capital expenses. Our Development Director plays a key role in the financial health of the school by fostering a culture of philanthropy and building the relationships that sustain WHWS over the long term.

At present, this role is focused on two connected priorities:
cultivating annual and major donors and deepening ties with alumni and their families
, supported by clear, consistent storytelling about the school's mission and impact. Through strong personal relationships with key supporters, meaningful alumni engagement, and content that reflects the school's mission, this role creates the foundation for sustained philanthropic support — engaging all stakeholders in an affirmative, inclusive community aligned with Waldorf values of inspiration, abundance, respect, generosity, integrity, and gratitude.

WHWS, like many Waldorf schools, operates with a shared governance model. The Development Director shares school leadership and works day-to-day alongside the Administrative Director and Pedagogical Director. The Development Director reports to and is evaluated by the WHWS Board of Trustees, and serves as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Board and Co-chair of the Board's Advancement Committee. The Development Director also attends all meetings of the Collegium – the school’s faculty leadership group – and Parent Council meetings and serves on the Collegium's Community Committee.

WHWS is a continually learning, evolving organization, and our Development Director role is still relatively new; we expect that the details and scope will continue to evolve in collaboration between the Development Director and the Board. In the short term, this is an opportunity for the right candidate to build (or continue to build on) the systems and processes to sustain and grow a healthy fundraising practice for the school.

In the longer term, the role could evolve to include broader responsibility, particularly in advancement-related activities — e.g., enrollment and retention, marketing, communications, and community relations.

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Annual Fund contributions totaling approximately 4-5% of annual operating budget, with an additional 3-4% coming from events and other fundraising
• Year-over-year increases in total fundraising, participation rates, major and minor gifts, and planned giving
• Expansion and engagement of donor and alumni networks
• Creation and execution of capital campaigns on an as needed basis
• Active and visible participation in the WHWS community, school culture, and governance

The following are the current responsibilities of the Development Director position. As noted, this is an evolving role and specific responsibilities may change in order to better serve the needs of financial health and a thriving school.

• Co-chair the Advancement Committee (typically meets monthly), setting direction for advancement goals and strategies, including annual Fund Development Plan and a multi-year plan to grow giving (both participation and dollars raised)
• Serve on the Collegium's Community Committee and participate in Collegium and administrative meetings;…