Associate Director of Individual Giving

About the role

Youth Eastside Services (YES) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Associate Director – Individual Giving to lead the growth of its major gifts program. In this high-impact role, you will be part of a four-person development team that secures the philanthropic resources necessary to provide life-saving mental health counseling and substance use treatment to youth throughout East King County, regardless of their ability to pay.

You will expand the reach of an organization deeply embedded in the community through offices in Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond, as well as integrated programs in Lake Washington, Issaquah, and Bellevue schools. By partnering on initiatives such as the signature Invest in Youth Breakfast and cultivating the Champions for Youth donor community, you will directly support services that reach more than 4,000 children and youth annually through clinics, telehealth, schools, and community-based programs.

YES is committed to meeting the unique needs of diverse youth populations while fostering resilience, recovery, and hope. We embrace a trauma-informed and collaborative culture that values innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Your fundraising expertise, relationship-building skills, and passion for our mission will play a vital role in expanding YES’ impact throughout East King County.

Responsibilities

• Major Gift Strategy & Pipeline Development
  • Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan with clear goals, objectives, and key performance indicators aligned with the overall Development & Community Relations plan.
  • Identify, qualify, and track major gift leads using data analytics and research tools; expand the pipeline for both annual giving and the endowment campaign with 25 major gift qualifications annually.
  • Lead major gift solicitations, securing six-figure commitments, multi-year pledges, planned gifts, and endowment gifts.
  • Collaborate with leadership to provide accurate revenue forecasting and donor relationship tracking within the CRM (DonorPerfect experience preferred).
  • Identify and recruit volunteer leadership for fundraising committees, providing training and support to act as effective advocates.
• Relationship-Centered Stewardship
  • Create personalized cultivation and stewardship plans for each donor in the portfolio, ensuring they feel valued, informed, and connected to the mission.
  • Develop compelling donor-centric narratives that connect donor passions to measurable youth outcomes and organizational priorities; collaborate with Marketing & Communications to support key narratives.
  • Organize small, high-touch engagement opportunities (site visits/tours, Board member-hosted events) that deepen donor connections to YES’ clinical and community staff.
  • Focus on “moves management” to retain or upgrade donors, securing multi-year financial commitments and planned gifts.
• Team Collaboration & Integrated Fundraising
  • Support portfolio management for donors assigned to the CEO and VP of Development and engage board members in donor visits to maintain their confidence and involvement.
  • Attend department meetings with clinical and school-based staff to stay informed of YES programs, ensuring fundraising efforts are rooted in current clinical needs.
  • Partner with the development team to plan and execute the Invest in Youth Breakfast, utilizing it as a vehicle for major donor cultivation.
  • Work closely with the Marketing & Communications team to enhance YES branding via media relations and social media and represent YES within local Chambers of Commerce and civic groups.

Performance Expectations

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 75–125 qualified major gift donors and prospects.
• Complete 75–100 meaningful donor interactions annually.
• Qualify 20–30 newly qualified prospects annually.
• Conduct 10–12 major gift solicitations annually.
• Participate actively in the YES Endowment Campaign.
• Aim to achieve individual fundraising goals between $500,000 and $750,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience with demonstrated success securing major gifts of $25,000–$100,000+ and managing complex donor relationships.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Human Services, or a related field; Master’s degree or CFRE preferred.
• Soft Skills: High emotional intelligence, active listening skills, and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with donor databases (DonorPerfect preferred).
• Other: Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for frequent off-site donor meetings.

Our Culture & Values

YES values team members who place team goals above individual ones, assume the best intentions, and embrace a spirit of continuous improvement. We are committed to being an organization that respects and fosters diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Choice of Kaiser Permanente Access PPO (utilizing First Choice Health Network) + Health Savings Account (HSA), or Kaiser Permanente HMO plan. Much of the premium cost for the employee is covered by YES for both plans; YES also contributes to HSA for those on the PPO plan.
• Dental and Vision Coverage: Dental coverage for the employee is paid in full by YES and carried by Principal; Vision coverage for the employee is paid in full by YES and carried by VSP through Principal.
• Tax-Deferred Annuity (TDA): Available from day one for early retirement planning, with the option to transition to the 401(k) plan after one year.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: Eligible after one year, with employer matching from 2.5–5%.
• Paid Time Off: Start with 16 days in the first two years— increasing with tenure—plus 11 paid holidays, and sick leave accrued at the rate of one day per month for full-time employees.
• Life + Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: After one year of service, YES covers a $35K life insurance policy plus Accidental Death and Dismemberment; supplement coverage available for purchase by employee.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Coverage: Employee Assistance Plan access available from date of hire.
• Flexibility: Telecommute one day per week if aligned with the team.