Development Director

Job Summary

This new leadership role is accountable for growing and building upon the Friends of Willamette Week’s philanthropic revenue, the relationships that support it, and the internal relationships that make it work. The Development Director will oversee all fundraising campaigns, activities, and strategy with the goal of building a diversified and resilient revenue base that sustains WW’s independent local journalism.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Revenue Leadership: Set fundraising strategy and annual goals in partnership with the FOWW team. Plan and lead FOWW's fundraising campaigns, including in Give!Guide. Monitor revenue and analytics, and report progress to WW leadership. Meet or exceed annual revenue goals.

• Major Gifts & Grants: Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, from cultivation through solicitation and stewardship. Lead grant fundraising — from prospecting through proposals, reporting, and compliance. Partner with WW leadership on joint donor strategy, visits, and solicitations.

• Donor Relationships: Build authentic, long-term donor relationships grounded in WW's mission and journalism. Collaborate with editorial leadership to connect donors with relevant coverage, while maintaining strict editorial independence. Contribute to long-term program growth, including planned giving down the road.

• Team & Organizational Representation: Manage the Development Coordinator, setting priorities and delegating work while maintaining oversight. Represent WW at development events and stay closely connected to WW's editorial priorities to identify funding opportunities. Partner with WW’s creative team on promotional strategy on items like merch and member benefits.

Qualifications

• A track record of executing successful fundraising campaigns, securing major gifts, and writing winning grant proposals. Familiarity with Oregon's foundation and journalism funding landscape.

• Fundraising experience is a must. Comfortable working in a CRM to track and report on your work. Natural partner who raises the bar and brings the best out of your colleagues. Clear and effective communicator.

• Organized and dependable, motivated by mission and long-term impact rather than short-term wins. Comfortable delegating as you are rolling up your sleeves. Curiosity, empathy, and calm under pressure. Real commitment to public service.

Location

Hybrid (Slabtown neighborhood), with occasional offsite meetings

Type

Full-time, with some flexibility and rare evenings/weekends

Salary

$70,000 - $80,000

To Apply

Application (Google Form)

Be prepared to upload your resume (pdf only, under 10 mb), share your LinkedIn profile, and answer these questions specifically and briefly (

• Why do you want to join our team?

• How have you brought fundraising and development expertise to an organization that has had an impact on their growth or resiliency?

• How do you use AI in your fundraising work?

• Is there anything we should know about you and your application?

Review of applications will begin immediately. We hope to hire quickly. We hire the best fit for the role, and we know that can come from a range of experiences and backgrounds. Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply if you think you could do well in this role.