Development Director

Do you believe that Washington should have smart, progressive policies that build a just society, thriving communities, and a better future for our kids? Are you passionate about advancing racial equity, creating an economy that works for all of us, and supporting a clean energy future? Do you want a political climate that supports strong progressive leadership and demands accountability?

Fuse Washington is hiring a Development Director to lead and grow our fundraising program to support innovative election and issue campaigns that engage more people in our democracy and advance progressive change in Washington state. The Development Director is the senior leader of Fuse's development department, responsible for building the relationships, systems, and strategies that sustain and grow our organization across our family of c3, c4, and PAC entities.

The Development Director will manage a broad portfolio of individual major donors, mid-level donors, and foundation funders; lead and mentor development staff; oversee special fundraising initiatives; and serve as a key partner to the Executive Director, board, and senior leadership on all fundraising matters. Applicants should be experienced in and deeply committed to progressive change. The goal of this position is to grow Fuse's resources so we can build a more progressive political landscape in Washington state for years to come.

• Develop and implement an integrated fundraising strategy that aligns major gifts, mid-level donors, foundation funding, monthly giving, and events into a coherent, mission-driven approach
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and senior staff to track progress toward annual fundraising goals and adjust strategy as needed
• Use data, storytelling, and donor feedback to continuously refine what moves donors and deepens their alignment with Fuse's work
• Lead the development and improvement of fundraising systems, including CRM practices, donor segmentation, and pipeline management
• Develop and maintain internal and external fundraising tools, including data analysis, donor briefing materials, and training resources
• Support and train staff and board in fundraising and donor engagement, helping to build a shared culture of fundraising confidence and ownership
• Support the Executive Director in managing relationships with key institutional partners, program officers, and major funders
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership on fundraising priorities and organizational sustainability
• Co-manage, grow, and steward a portfolio of major donors ($2,500+), including scheduling and conducting one-on-one cultivation and solicitation meetings
• Develop and execute management strategies to renew, upgrade, and acquire major donors across Fuse's c3, c4, and PAC entities
• Conduct and oversee prospect research to identify new major donor prospects
• Coordinate regular major donor updates in partnership with the Executive Director and senior staff
• Personally make direct fundraising asks and support board members and staff in doing the same
• Lead strategy to retain, upgrade, and grow Fuse's mid-level donor base
• Develop personalized cultivation and stewardship plans including phone outreach, one-on-one meetings, and donor communications
• Oversee the revitalization of the mid-level donor program, including testing new engagement strategies and improving automation

Foundation, Grant, & Other Fundraising

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with current foundation partners in partnership with the Executive Director
• Oversee grant writing, submission, and reporting processes, ensuring high-quality, timely submissions and reporting across all funding cycles
• Identify, pursue, and renew foundation funding opportunities aligned with Fuse's long-term goals
• Lead Fuse's Give Big campaign and other annual giving initiatives
• Supervise development staff, including conducting regular check-ins, annual performance reviews, and supporting professional growth
• Oversee strategy and fundraising for two annual fundraising events and other cultivation events
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance for Fuse's Progress Partners monthly giving program

Systems, Data & Operations

• Oversee Fuse's fundraising database (Salesforce) and ensure accurate tracking of donor communications, gifts, and pipelines
• Develop and improve automated donor communications using Action Network and Salesforce to increase efficiency
• Maintain and improve systems for tracking major donor portfolios, gift acknowledgment, and tax receipts

Work, volunteer, academic, and life experience are all acceptable.

• Minimum 5 years of nonprofit fundraising experience with a demonstrated track record of success in major gifts and individual donor fundraising
• Experience making direct fundraising asks and personally managing a major donor portfolio
• Proven ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with donors, funders, board members, and organizational partners
• Experience supervising staff and building…