The Shadow Project is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven Director of Development to grow a mission-aligned fundraising program that fuels educational equity for K–8 students with learning challenges.

In this senior leadership role, you’ll grow our portfolio of major donors; design and lead creative annual and monthly giving campaigns; and design and execute fundraising events that build community and engagement. This hybrid position offers meaningful collaboration with a high-performing team, the opportunity to build a multi-year development strategy, and generous benefits—including fully covered medical, dental, and vision insurance—as you help expand a mission that celebrates and supports diverse learners.

Job Title: Director of Development
Job Type: e.g. Full-time; Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director
Salary Range: The annual salary is based on experience pursuant to the organizational pay scale. Candidates with additional experience may qualify for higher pay grades. (Condensed pay scale below and full pay scale available upon request.)

About The Shadow Project

The mission of The Shadow Project is to make school more accessible and engaging for K-8 students with learning challenges like dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and trauma. We envision an education system that normalizes and celebrates learning differences and supports every student to thrive in school.

To learn more about our programs, please visit: https://www.shadow-project.org/school-programs/

Job Summary

The Director of Development is a member of the senior leadership team responsible for growing The Shadow Project’s major gifts program, as well as increasing support from monthly & annual donors and special events. In collaboration with the Director of Foundation Relations & Evaluation, the Director of Development will design and execute the organization’s annual fund development plan leading to strong revenue growth to support Shadow Project’s strategic plan. It is a full-time (40 hour/week), exempt, hybrid role, with an estimated 10% of work time spent in-person in the Portland Metro area. During peak seasons, more in person work may be required. This position reports to the Executive Director. 

Together with all Shadow staff, volunteers, and Board members, the Director of Development is responsible for centering equity in all aspects of their processes and products, and continually seeking out opportunities to improve practices of equity, inclusion, and cultural competence.

The Shadow Project’s mission is centered on advancing educational equity for underrepresented students. We believe that diversity of experience and perspective makes us stronger. Thus, we encourage and support applicants from all backgrounds to join us in our work. This includes — but is in no way limited to — people experiencing disability, those from communities of color, and people who are LGBTQIA2S+.

Primary Job Duties

Major Gifts (50%):

Design and implement a growth plan for major giving:

• Create and implement a process for conducting donor research, including rating protocols, research procedures, and donor profile creation
• Manage a portfolio of 250 donors (30 major donors), prioritizing regular and personal contact for relationship building, stewardship, and direct solicitation
• Coordinate and help execute special fundraising events with our community throughout the year including galas, fundraising house parties and online peer to peer fundraisers
• Support the Executive Director’s and Board members’ major gift work with top and prospective donors, including: coordinating community outreach events and vision meetings, coordinating with communications staff to provide high-quality solicitation assets, providing donor briefings to Board members, meeting with donors, supporting follow-up; staffing the Board Fundraising Committee

Annual & Monthly Fundraising: (35%):

• Design and execute a minimum of two campaigns/year focusing on increasing unrestricted giving, in collaboration with the Communications & Development Manager
  • Create compelling direct mail and digital appeal content based in ethical storytelling
  • Provide communications staff with appeal and stewardship tactics and content for use across all communications pillars 
  • Support communications staff to execute donor communications plan
• Design and manage implementation of a donor stewardship plan that consistently appreciates donors and leads to increased retention & giving

Additional Duties (15%)

• Serve as thought partner and organizational leader in fundraising efforts, furthering the organization’s culture of philanthropy
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Director of Foundation Relations & Evaluation to design and execute a successful 3-year fundraising development plan.
• Provide executive director with monthly and annual revenue projections
• Collaborate with program staff to maintain accurate and up to date knowledge of Shadow Project programs, activities, and community needs
• Collaborate with communication and grants staff to ensure an integrated donor stewardship plan and execution across all giving streams
• Assist with all audits of individual giving, maintaining an archive of records according to policy and nonprofit accounting best practice
• Oversee individual gift receipt, acknowledgment, and recording processes, as performed by the Communications & Development Manager

Minimum Requirements

• 3-5 years’ experience in fund development strategy & execution, donor solicitation and stewardship, or related field such as sales, marketing or business development.
• Experience leading a team or acting as a project manager of a fundraising campaign or similar project
• Experience producing or advising on non-profit communications strategies, tactics and tools
• Demonstrated cultural competence with people of diverse races, ages, genders, neurotypes, and economic backgrounds
• Strong computer skills, including CRM databases and Google Suite
• Ability to work independently, collaborate in person and virtually, and learn new skills via research & collaboration
• Commitment to The Shadow Project’s mission
• Willing to reflect on and take action to further social justice and equity
• Able to perform work regularly at The Shadow Project’s two offices in NE Portland and at events in the Portland Metro area
• Able to pass a criminal background check

Desired Qualifications

• Life knowledge/experience of disability, neurodiversity, racism, and/or poverty.
• Experience working within k-8 education settings

Compensation

The annual salary is based on experience pursuant to the organizational pay scale. Complete pay scale is available upon request.

• 2 Years Relevant Experience: $77,134.71
• 3 Years Relevant Experience: $77,906.06
• 4 Years Relevant Experience: $78,685.12
• 5 Years Relevant Experience: $79,471.97
• 6 Years Relevant Experience: $80,266.69

Benefits Include

The Shadow Project covers 100% of premiums for employee medical, dental, and vision insurance. Generous paid time off totaling up to 28 days of leave. $50/month remote work stipend. Laptop and general office supplies provided for remote work. Reimbursement for travel expenses between work sites.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

The Director of Development primarily works remotely, with some in-person meetings and events. This is largely a sedentary position that requires the employee to sit, stand, walk, and bend, and may occasionally require moving files and other equipment. The employee will regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. The Development Director works full-time, typically between the office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There may be periods in which operational demands necessitate evening and weekend work. 

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for pregnant people and individuals with disabilities, including in the application process. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please send an email with the subject line “Reasonable Accommodation Request” to bryan@sasquatchhr.org.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Shadow Project’s mission is centered on advancing educational equity for underrepresented students. We believe that diversity of experience and perspective makes us stronger. Thus, we encourage and support applicants from all backgrounds to join us in our work. This includes — but is in no way limited to — people experiencing disability, those from communities of color, and people who are LGBTQIA2S+.

To Apply

Send your resume and a cover letter explaining your qualifications for the position to Bryan Baker, Bryan@sasquatchhr.org.