Development Director

About Futurewise

Futurewise works throughout Washington state to encourage healthy, equitable and opportunity-rich communities, and to protect our most valuable farmlands, forests, and water resources through wise land use policies and practices. We are a growing nonprofit, leading nationally groundbreaking policy development, advocacy, and legal strategies in our field.

In the past five years, Futurewise has won major victories in the state legislature that require cities and counties to increase housing abundance and affordability, dismantle exclusionary zoning, prevent displacement, combat health disparities and environmental injustice, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster transit-oriented, climate-resilient communities for all. These new state requirements build on Futurewise’s longstanding priorities to protect the beloved ecosystems, local food systems, and natural beauty of Washington state.

On the heels of our state legislative wins, Futurewise is growing to meet the needs for successful implementation across our state. We are building new local advocacy coalitions, forming new community partnerships, and increasing staff capacity. To support this growth, Futurewise has a goal of increasing annual revenue from $1.5M to $2M over the next three years.

The Development Director will serve as the chief architect of Futurewise’s fundraising strategy, ensuring the organization has the resources needed to grow its impact. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Director will design and implement a comprehensive development plan that prioritizes major gifts, institutional partnerships, and long-term sustainability. The Development Director will supervise communications and align fundraising and communications strategies to reinforce a cohesive organizational voice and brand.
The role will focus on cultivating and stewarding strong relationships with donors, funders, and stakeholders while overseeing all fundraising activities, including major donor engagement, foundation and corporate support, planned giving, and annual campaigns. While the Development Director will guide the overall strategy for events and grassroots fundraising, this role is primarily focused on building high-level donor relationships and advancing organizational capacity for long-term growth.
The Development Director will also build relationships with all staff and board and will need to understand the full range of Futurewise programs and program funding needs. A successful candidate will feel a personal connection and passion for the Futurewise mission.

The new Development Director will be joining Futurewise during a time of growth and opportunity. In the past six years, Futurewise has successfully implemented a development strategy to grow annual revenue from $800K to $1.5M. This role offers the opportunity to build on recent success and catalyze the next phase of organizational growth.

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy to support organizational growth and sustainability.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and program staff to align fundraising strategies and priorities with organizational and programmatic needs.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership for all development activities, ensuring integration with communications and programmatic goals.
• Oversee Futurewise communications to ensure cohesive messaging, aligned fundraising and communications strategies, and effective storytelling that advances organizational goals.

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors and high-potential prospects, deepening engagement and advancing long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Develop and execute strategies to expand and diversify the donor pipeline, with an emphasis on sustained donor growth and increased giving capacity.
• Lead membership and grassroots fundraising initiatives, including online giving, direct mail, workplace giving, and other broad-based campaigns that strengthen community support.
• Collaborate with communications staff to…