Open Arms Development Director

Clover Search Works • Seattle, WA

55m • $100,000 - $125,000

About The Position

Open Arms Perinatal Services is seeking a dynamic and strategic Development Director to lead our fundraising efforts during an exciting moment of growth and opportunity. As a trusted leader in birth justice for nearly three decades, we're building on strong momentum, ready to diversify our funding, deepen donor relationships, and expand our reach to serve more families across Washington State and beyond.
This role offers a significant opportunity to shape fundraising strategy at an organization that has earned national recognition and major philanthropic investment. As Development Director, you'll lead the growth and evolution of our fundraising program, building a comprehensive individual and major giving program while stewarding our strong foundation of institutional support. You'll be working closely with our Executive Director to lead and support the development team, and collaborating regularly with program staff on future opportunities for Open Arms. You'll also deepen relationships with donors, engage and mobilize our board, and tell the powerful story of Open Arms' transformative work.
We're looking for a relationship-builder and strategic partner who brings a minimum of 5-7 years of fundraising experience, a track record of securing major gifts, and the ability to establish new systems and programs. You should be comfortable making asks yourself and coaching others, energized by donor engagement, and deeply committed to equity in how we raise money and build relationships. Open Arms is a deeply relational, diverse, collaborative, family-friendly team, and this role offers the opportunity to grow professionally alongside a nationally respected organization that's influencing the landscape of birth justice work.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5-7 years of fundraising experience, with demonstrated success in major gifts, individual giving, and donor relationship management, including making asks and securing gifts of $5000+.
• Experience building fundraising programs, including establishing individual giving systems, donor pipelines, and stewardship processes.
• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills, with ability to develop fundraising plans, set goals, and partner with leadership to shape organizational strategy
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse, multicultural communities is required
• Cross-functional collaboration experience, with demonstrated ability to work effectively with communications, programs, and finance teams
• Board engagement and coaching experience, including training board members in fundraising, facilitating donor introductions, and leveraging board networks
• Excellent writing and communication abilities, with skill to craft compelling donor narratives, appeals, impact reports, and proposals that inspire giving
• Strong project management capabilities, including experience providing strategic oversight of grants management, the execution of fundraising events and managing multiple priorities
• Experience using financial data, budgets, and donor databases to analyze relationships, measure impact, and inform strategy.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a Development Director is strongly preferred but not required.
• Planned giving or capital campaign experience is a plus.
• experience working with community based organizations is a plus.
• Little Green Light experience is a plus
• Familiarity with maternal and child health, early relational health, public health, or reproductive justice is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead Fundraising. Lead Open Arms' fundraising efforts and ensure development is woven throughout the fabric of the organization. Directly supervise and support the growth of the Donor Relations Associate through coaching and collaborative leadership, and partner with a contracted grant writer and events team. Manage development operations and establish systems that diversify revenue and grow our donor base.
• Be a Strategic Leader. Work closely with the Executive Director to set fundraising vision and priorities, shape organizational strategy, and determine where to focus development efforts. You'll think critically about opportunities, map out strategic approaches, and communicate your plans. This is not a role where you'll simply execute someone else's plan, you'll be helping to create it.
• Strengthen and Expand the Individual Giving Program. Further build out and formalize Open Arms' individual and major giving program that diversifies our revenue and creates sustainable, unrestricted support for our mission. You'll have the freedom to innovate, test new approaches, and build systems that will serve Open Arms for years to come.
• Build Authentic Relationships. Spend meaningful time with donors to understand their motivations and connect them deeply with our mission. You'll personally cultivate and solicit major donors while also supporting the Executive Director in her donor engagement. You'll need to be comfortable being the face of the organization with donors and equally comfortable stepping back to let the Executive Director take the lead.
• Engage and Mobilize Our Board. Work with our Board of Directors to build their capacity as fundraisers and ambassadors for Open Arms. You'll create the systems, training, and support that help board members leverage their networks and passion for birth justice.
• Tell a Powerful Story. Connect donors with the transformative work happening every day at Open Arms, from the doula supporting a mother through labor, to the lactation counselor making late-night home visits, to the community educator training the next generation of BIPOC perinatal professionals. You'll share compelling stories that honor the inherent strength of our communities. A strong communications background will support meaningful donor engagement and broader community storytelling.
• Grow with a Committed and Impactful Organization. Open Arms has earned local and national recognition as a model for community-based perinatal care, and we're embracing our role as leaders in the field. You'll have the chance to grow your experience as a senior leader and fundraiser, become an integral part of our supportive staff community, and represent Open Arms in regional and national philanthropic circles while helping to shape the future of birth justice work.

Benefits

• Open Arms offers generous benefits including 25 days of PTO and sick leave in the first year, and an additional 29 days of PTO for holidays and closures.
• Medical and dental insurance are 100% covered for employees.
• We offer an Employee Assistance Program, and WA Paid Family and Medical Leave premium coverage.
• Other benefits include a parking pass or public transportation assistance, professional development funds, Leave Sharing Bank to support leave needs, and a sabbatical for milestone years.
• Open Arms is committed to work-life balance starting with being a family-friendly workplace. We offer flexible work schedules with remote work being part of the usual weekly schedule for almost all staff as it fits with their job duties. Children of any age are welcome in our office, and many staff bring their children to work on a regular or as-needed basis, so comfort with the joyful chaos of kids in the workplace is important.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed