Director of Fund Development - Children's Therapy Center

At Children’s Therapy Center, we are on a mission to maximize the potential of children with special needs. We provide individualized, family-centered therapy including early intervention services, early childhood special education, physical, occupational and speech therapy. In partnership with parents and caregivers, we celebrate where each child is today and work toward who they can become.

Founded in 1979, Children’s Therapy Center has grown from a dream shared by a handful of visionary pediatric therapists to the largest and most comprehensive independent nonprofit pediatric therapy program in Washington State. Growth like ours does not happen by chance. It takes a commitment to quality services, collaboration, innovation and a focus on excellence in all areas.

Children’s Therapy Center (CTC’s) Director of Fund Development is an experienced, community focused leader, responsible for strategically leading fundraising and resource development efforts as part of the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT). The Director of Fund Development reports to the Chief Executive Officer and leads the Community Engagement Team with responsibility for planning, implementing, and managing all aspects of fundraising to support CTC’s purpose and programs.

Fundraising and Resource Development

• Develop and execute annual and long-term fund development plans, aligning with CTC’s purpose, aspirations and program needs.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy within CTC, integrating donor cultivation into all activities.
• Identify community-driven opportunities and trends to lead and refine fundraising strategies, activities and events.
• Build relationships with private donors, foundations, corporations, and agency grants, ensuring alignment with CTC's purpose. Create streamlined processes to support fundraising initiatives and program sustainability.
• Identify opportunities and emerging trends within communities, the non-profit sector, health care, and early learning, to develop and implement new approaches and/or refine the fund development strategy.
• Plan and implement fundraising campaigns, events, and initiatives to secure financial support.
• Utilize community engagement strategies to amplify impact and reach a wide variety of donors and supporters.
• Oversee grant writing, reporting, and prospect research, ensuring alignment with purpose and priorities. Supervise community engagement staff to maximize grant opportunities and support effective program implementation.
• Strengthen board capacity in fundraising and philanthropic support through training and mentorship. Collaborate with stakeholders to advance fundraising objectives and community partnerships.
• Utilize data and metrics to assess fundraising effectiveness and inform strategic decisions. Lead annual fundraising calendar development, integrating campaigns, events, and communications.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Strategic Leadership Team to develop an annual policy agenda aligned with program and community needs. Establish corporate sponsorships and planned giving programs to enhance financial sustainability.
• Oversee systems, policies, and practices for gift solicitation, processing, and acknowledgment. Ensure accurate data management for constituent relationships and gift processing.

Relationship Building

• Expand CTC's donor base and establish collaborations within local communities by maintaining a strong external presence.
• Foster partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and stakeholders to amplify impact and support fundraising efforts.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with public and private funders; tailor individual plans for each donor/funder/supporter and prospect.
• Lead prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities, ensuring the CEO's active involvement in key events, relationships and partnerships.
• Develop and reinforce CTC's cultivation and stewardship functions to increase donor and grantor retention rates.
• Implement strategies to deepen engagement and appreciation among supporters, fostering long-term relationships.
• Collaborate with the CEO, Strategic Leadership Team, and Board to cultivate strong relationships with state, county, and municipal elected officials.
• Advocate CTC's purpose and initiatives within state and local government, leveraging support for CTC’s programs.
• Host building tours and events that bring together communities, funders, donors, and supporters, sharing CTC's impact and purpose.
• Utilize events as opportunities for meaningful engagement and relationship-building within the community.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with the CEO and fund development team to track and refine a comprehensive Fund Development Plan, including specific dollar goals, objectives, and strategies.
• Ensure alignment of fundraising activities with organizational priorities and community interests.
• Operate with a strong understanding of financial management principles, utilizing budgets, financial reporting, and projections to guide decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and best practices in fund management.
• Allocate resources responsibly, prioritizing initiatives that align with fundraising goals and support organizational mission and vision.
• Monitor and optimize resource utilization to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Monitor and evaluate financial performance regularly to inform strategic decision-making and adjustments to fundraising strategies.
• Utilize data-driven insights to assess the effectiveness of fundraising efforts and identify areas for improvement.
• Supervise all aspects of gift processing and acknowledgement, maintaining the integrity of donor records in the Raiser's Edge database.
• Support ongoing database maintenance to optimize donor stewardship and engagement efforts.

Branding and Communication

• In partnership with the Director of Communications, develop and implement a comprehensive brand strategy that authentically communicates CTC's purpose, services, and impact to the community.
• Operate with a deep understanding of CTC's mission, services, and impact, ensuring that all communication materials accurately reflect the organization's values and goals.
• Create compelling materials that resonate with the community and effectively convey the importance of CTC's work.
• Utilize inclusive and accessible communication methods to reach a wide audience and foster community participation.
• Partner with the Director of Communications to develop CTC's social media presence, digital marketing initiatives, and peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.
• Utilize social media and digital platforms to amplify CTC's message and engage community members in meaningful action and support.
• Facilitate board groups and presentations; steward board members by providing resources and support to engage their networks in fundraising efforts, recognizing the invaluable role of the board in advancing CTC's mission.
• Participate in the recruitment of new board members who bring diverse perspectives, experiences and community connections to further CTC's work.
• Support the CEO in holding board members accountable for their roles in fund development and building awareness and support within the community.

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead a small Community Engagement team; manage projects and team effectively to balance multiple short-term projects and deadlines while maintaining perspective for long-term goals.
• Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to team members.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment to achieve fundraising and resource development goals.
• Manage the hiring process by participating in interviews, selection, and orientation of new team members.
• Ensure adequate staffing to support fund development work and contributions.
• Provides job-specific orientation and training; assigns work duties; supervise day-to-day functioning of the team.
• Provide recognition and performance coaching as needed; conducts Professional Development Reviews; participates in progressive discipline or termination process as needed. 
• Supervise, assign projects, provide parameters, and oversee execution of work across the team; provide guidance and training, and foster professional development

Other Duties: special projects/support

Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills, Abilities & Attributes:

• Proven success working in the non-profit sector; effectively with Board of Directors, and in organizing and leading large events.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey thoughts and express ideas effectively using various oral, written, visual, and/or non-verbal skills.  Effective public speaking skills, with the ability to represent the organization and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge and capability in lobbying strategies, advocating effectively for organizational goals and initiatives.
• Extensive experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies to effectively communicate organizational purpose, values, and impact.
• Comprehensive understanding and experience working with children and family centered programs, including community outreach in family-centric environments.
• Record of success in community engagement and marketing, leveraging community partnerships and grassroots initiatives to drive awareness and support.
• Organized and detail oriented, with the ability to organize work to meet various commitments and responsibilities. Adept at navigating complex tasks and priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Familiarity with data management systems, including Raiser's Edge, to store and analyze essential organizational data.
• Strong decision-making skills, including the ability to complete duties factoring appropriate or relevant details, considerations, and input from all individuals impacted.   
• Strong critical thinking skills to analyze situations, make informed decisions, and effectively lead teams in achieving organizational objectives.
• Ability to carry out the responsibilities of a working director, providing strategic direction and oversight while actively engaging in day-to-day operations
• Effective listening skills, including the ability to recognize, comprehend and appreciate various perspectives and diverse points of view.
• Ability to anticipate potential challenges, and adjust to changes as needed.
• Collaborative and participatory; serves as an active member of the team, inviting diverse perspectives to support organizational priorities and common goals.
• Demonstrated the ability to include, value, respect, and engage perspectives that cross cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and diverse points of view.
• Consciously and intentionally operates with self-awareness; consistently seeking opportunities to learning and grow in proactive and respectful ways.
• Strong understanding of financial management principles and budgeting.
• Strong knowledge of grant writing and management processes.
• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office and other software skills to manage workflow, communicate and execute work.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Non-Profit Management, Business, Communications).
• 5+ years proven experience in non-profit fundraising and resource development leadership, with a record of successful results.
• Experience in early learning or human services sectors is a plus.

Job Setting and Schedule:

This role operates in a hybrid job setting; onsite office environment, in-community, and remote.

Typical work onsite at CTC, in-office or in-community is 3 days per week (minimum) with flexibility to increase in-person presence based on the needs of the work and role.

Physical Requirements:

Frequently involves sitting or standing for long periods of time. Requires the ability to lift objects such as a laptop, or other objects under 20 lbs. including, files; open filing cabinets, walking, bending, stooping, or reaching.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Other Requirements:

• Must be able to travel between CTC locations with reliable personal transportation
• Attend offsite meetings and events, sometimes after hours and on weekends.

Compensation & Benefits:

Children’s Therapy Center offers equitable and competitive pay commensurate with job-related experience and education. The pay rate range for this position is $80,907-$129,201 (salaried) per year dependent on related experience and education.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and continuing education benefits.  Supplemental/premium insurance options are also available.  Eligible employees can enroll in our retirement plan with their first paycheck and will be eligible for company contributions after their first year of employment.

Children’s Therapy Center is an equal opportunity employer.  We seek to hire candidates that reflect diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultural histories.  We continually seek to understand, acknowledge and appreciate our differences, engaging with an attitude of respectful curiosity, and a growth-mindset.  We believe everyone has the right to be respected and valued. 

Consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, and our values, Children’s Therapy Center provides all employees and applicants with equal opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship including consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a disabled person.