Description

Hedgebrook seeks a Director of Development to steward and strategically connect a national community of diverse writers and readers to the power of women’s voices. This position manages donor engagement and provides leadership for an array of philanthropic revenue streams, including annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, fundraising events, and an endowment. You will have  an opportunity to build on the foundation of a well-established, world-renowned program supported by a committed and passionate donor base, working with a team that is genuinely inspired by Hedgebrook’s mission. 

Hedgebrook is a world-class writing residency on Whidbey Island with an expansive vision: ensuring women’s voices are part of the conversation in every community. Through our Writers in Residence and other programs, Hedgebrook provides the space and support for women whose narratives give shape to the change we need in the world. More than 60% of Hedgebrook’s alumnae are women of color, many of whom have gone on to publish award-winning books and define national conversations about race, gender, and the ways in which we flourish when presented with the gift of voice.   

About Hedgebrook

Hedgebrook was founded in 1988 to provide space for women to write. In small, hand-crafted cottages, set discreetly in the woods of a 48-acre farm, writers are invited to rest and reflect, to hone their craft, and strengthen their voice. Our residency experience is grounded in the nurturing and non-transactional tenets of Radical Hospitality. Hedgebrook provides the space–and the permission–that women need to take care of themselves. The result is often a period of dramatic productivity and renewed confidence in the writer’s own voice.

While many of our writers have gone on to write best sellers and gain national recognition, we ask only one thing of our residents during their time with us: at the end of the day, they gather for dinner in the farmhouse, where over a home-cooked meal they connect with other writers. The community that grows out of these connections helps support and sustain our residents well beyond their time on the land. At its core, Hedgebrook is about building a community of powerful, outspoken women. 

The Role

Through its practice of Radical Hospitality, carefully honed over decades, Hedgebrook offers a welcoming space and creates the conditions that allow women to flourish. The Director of Development sustains and stewards those who would help set the table.  

Philanthropy at Hedgebrook ranges from small, monthly donations to unrestricted, six-figure gifts. Long-time supporters have made provisions for Hedgebrook in their wills, while every year, our closest friends buy tables and sponsor Equivox, Hedgebrook’s signature fundraising brunch. An established development plan provides a foundation of thoughtful stewardship activities throughout the year.

A recent three-year capacity building grant allowed Hedgebrook to hire an Alumane Impact and Engagement Officer, a new position charged with collecting and organizing alumnae data to measure impact and build narratives about the change Hedgebrook writers are creating in the world. The Development Director will work closely with this position to develop new ways of telling the Hedgebrook story and activating extended networks of alumnae, writers, and readers around the country.

Meanwhile, a matching challenge from founder Nancy Nordhoff’s estate provides Hedgebrook with an opportunity to engage more deeply with well-established donors and supporters to sustain Hedgebrook’s core residency experience through a designated, revenue-generating fund.

The Director of Development works closely with the Executive Director to drive fundraising strategy and manage donor cultivation. The position manages a Development Coordinator, who provides gift processing, stewardship, and event support. Hedgebrook also contracts with a grantwriter to provide additional support for institutional fundraising. The Hedgebrook Board of Directors are active and eager partners in donor stewardship.

The Development Director is responsible for generating $2 million in annual contributed revenue. The successful candidate will be someone who appreciates the basics of stewardship and connecting donors to mission, while also thinking strategically across all facets of Hedgebrook’s development activities to forge a path to long-term sustainability. The position involves small, timeline-driven tasks like making calls and writing notes, in addition to designing strategies that connect donors to Hedgebrook’s vision, all in the service of building greater mission impact. 

Core Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship

• Curate and manage giving portfolios for the Executive Director, fundraising team, Board members, and other Hedgebrook staff
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major donors, including individuals, corporations, and foundations
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership gifts, including five-, six-, and seven-figure investments
• Establish, nurture and steward trusting relations with individual donors, corporate partners and other supporters

Events

• Serve as the main point of contact for event strategists and consultants to plan and execute special events that engage donors and raise funds for the organization, including Hedgebrook’s annual Equivox gathering
• Work with staff and Board to engage donors in meaningful mission-oriented experiences that connect Hedgebrook to a nationwide community of writers, readers, and alumnae

Impact Storytelling

• Working with the Alumnae Impact and Engagement Officer, identify outcome metrics and narratives that build the story of Hedgebrook and the expansive impact of its 2,000+ alumnae network
• Collaborate with Hedgebrook staff to develop a strong case for support while ensuring consistent and clear communications across all donor channels, including annual giving, alumnae network, and major gifts
• Collaborate with Hedgebrook staff to develop and execute effective donor communications and marketing materials, including an annual report highlighting Hedgebrook’s impact

Fundraising Planning

• Manage an annual fundraising plan to sustain Hedgebrook’s operations, while building a foundation for other strategic gifts, including endowment contributions and program development
• Work closely with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to develop fundraising strategies and goals scaled to opportunity and desired impact
• Develop creative, collaborative fundraising campaigns that center Hedgebrook’s vision and the voices of women
• Strategically leverage Hedgebrook’s CRM (Raisers Edge) to provide strong, data-driven prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts
• With the Executive Director, cultivate institutional funders and oversee grant strategy, proposal development, and grant reporting
• With the programs team, expand paid stay and fellowship opportunities for mission-aligned partners to increase alternate revenue streams

Team Management

• Provide leadership, supervision, and assessment for the Development Team to accomplish the goals and objectives of the department and to acknowledge and retain high-performing staff
• Uphold and model anti-racist, equity centered practices in all aspects of program delivery.
• Ensure donor communications, including acknowledgements, are consistent, timely, and reflective of our mission
• Develop and manage the annual fundraising plan with related revenue and expense budgets, consistently growing and evaluating performance metrics in conjunction with the Executive Director
• Oversee financial reporting and related metrics for staff and Board review

Requirements

Desired Experience

• Demonstrated record of successful and significant fundraising (at least $2 million annually) across a diverse set of revenue streams, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns
• Measurable success in managing a donor portfolio, including donor stewardship and personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing six-figure gifts
• Experience successfully prospecting, cultivating, and stewarding donors through mission-centered relationships
• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience with at least eight years of progressively responsible experience in fund development
• Proven supervisory, management, and leadership capabilities
• Experience working with communities of color and supporting organizations committed to anti-racist work
• Track record of effectively engaging and activating a Board of Directors and Development Committee in fundraising
• Experience in the philanthropic communities of Seattle, Bay Area, New York City or Los Angeles a plus

Desired Skills

• Ability to work independently, with an entrepreneurial approach to engaging in many functions across a small organization
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to center relationships with empathy, and proactive engagement
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and social justice values
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate a compelling case for support and adjust message to audience
• Advocate for effective management and use of systems and data, including proficiency with donor management systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) for active tracking, donor management and program strategy
• Ability to work across teams to advance collective goals, including with finance to forecast and track revenues and expenses
• Exceptional judgment and discretion with internal and external relationships
• Passion for the mission and the importance of elevating women’s voices