Director of Development and Communications

Salary: The anticipated annual salary range is between $125,000 for candidates with 10 years of experience and $135,000 for those with 20 years of experience.

About Columbia Legal Services

Columbia Legal Services (CLS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to civil legal aid, focusing on advancing social, economic, and racial equity for individuals experiencing poverty. Our mission is to empower communities and movements through expert legal support, deeply rooted in an understanding of racial equity.

We strive for systemic change by engaging in class action lawsuits, employing innovative legal theories, advocating for policy reforms, and assisting communities in building their own strength. We have a unique obligation to serve individuals whose access to free legal services is limited due to systemic barriers or immigration status.

Our Commitment

At CLS, we prioritize building a team that embodies our core values of community, racial equity, and justice. This includes actively seeking to hire individuals connected to the communities we serve and fostering a culture committed to justice and equity in our hiring practices.

Role Summary

Columbia Legal Services is in search of a skilled and collaborative full-time Director of Development and Communications. This individual will play a vital role in our statewide team, working towards a vision where every individual enjoys full human rights and economic opportunities.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Development and Communications will be an integral member of the executive leadership team, overseeing a dedicated team of 3-4 staff and interns within the development and communications department. This team is focused on community-driven fundraising and people-first communication strategies, aiming to expand the organization's budget over the coming years.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and manage an annual fundraising strategy encompassing direct contributions, individual fundraising, grants, corporate donations, charitable trusts, and estate gifts.
• Lead a $10 million capital campaign to fruition by 2028, collaborating with campaign leaders, funders, board members, and stakeholders to enhance CLS's mission.
• Align fundraising events, communications, and appeals with CLS's mission, utilizing a community-centric storytelling approach.
• Engage staff and board members in fundraising efforts, ensuring an understanding of the legal aid funding landscape.
• Utilize CLS's customer relationship management (CRM) database to track development progress through meaningful reports.
• Assist the Resources & Engagement Manager in identifying and nurturing new grant opportunities; oversee grant writing and reporting activities.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and funders, delegating tasks as necessary.

• Collaborate with various CLS teams on internal and external messaging, ensuring alignment with CLS's mission.
• Create and implement an annual communications strategy, supporting the Communications Manager in its execution.
• Establish internal communication practices that promote collaboration and transparency.
• Develop and execute media strategies around key advocacy issues, including talking points and briefing documents.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of electronic and print communications, including website content, social media, email, and public education initiatives.
• Direct the transition to a new CLS website, projected for 2025.

• Lead the development and communications team, supervising the Resource & Engagement Manager, Communications Manager, and DECO Coordinator.
• Support the professional growth of DECO staff.
• Coordinate team members' involvement in working groups and advocacy initiatives.
• Establish departmental goals and develop accountability structures for development and communications efforts.
• Contribute to organizational policy development as a member of the Organizational Management Team.
• Manage the DECO department budget and provide regular updates on revenue.

• Foster relationships with the Board of Directors to enhance their understanding of community-centric fundraising.
• Develop fundraising and communications plans for the Board, considering their evolving capacity.
• Lead the Board DECO Committee in supporting CLS's development and communications initiatives.

This job description is not exhaustive and may include additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• A minimum of five years' experience in fundraising or development, or a combination of education and relevant experience.
• Five or more years' experience in external communications or community engagement.
• Proven knowledge of the funding landscape and community-centered fundraising, with a track record of achieving fundraising goals.
• Experience in developing and executing internal and external communications strategies.
• Exceptional written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building abilities, fostering collaboration among diverse groups.
• Experience working with individuals from various racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
• Experience supervising staff or long-term interns.
• Ability to integrate organizational values into communications and fundraising efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in both fundraising and communications, particularly in advocacy contexts.
• Experience with capital campaigns or major fundraising initiatives.
• Project management experience and leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience engaging directly with board members to enhance their involvement in communications and development.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice.
• Experience with legal aid, civil rights, or the criminal justice system.
• Fluency in Spanish, both spoken and written.

CLS is dedicated to its core values of community, racial equity, and justice in all aspects of its work. We seek an individual who aligns with these values and is committed to advancing community-centric fundraising and communications practices.

Compensation and Benefits

CLS is in the process of updating its salary scales. The annual salary range for the Director of Development and Communications is expected to be between $125,000 and $135,000, depending on experience.

Columbia Legal Services is committed to creating an equitable work environment, including a focus on pay equity. Salary adjustments may be made based on experience once salary schedules are finalized. An annual cost-of-living adjustment may also be applied, along with step-level increases for each additional year of service, contingent on CLS's overall budget.

This full-time, exempt position is confidential and not eligible for representation by Washington Legal Workers, our in-house labor union.

CLS operates on a 35-hour workweek, with occasional deviations from the standard schedule. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 14 paid holidays annually.
• Winter Break office closure.
• 12 sick days annually.
• 15-21 paid vacation days annually, based on experience.
• 3-5 personal days annually, based on experience.
• Early office closure on the first Friday of each month.
• Paid parental and family medical leave.
• Paid sabbatical every seven years.
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance for employees with less than 10 years of experience.

Additionally, we cover 100% of employee premiums for health, vision, and dental insurance, along with 50% of the maximum out-of-pocket deductible, and offer heavily subsidized family premiums.

We also provide a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions and matching, disability and life insurance, a subsidized transit pass, and an employee wellness program.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit an application, including a cover letter and resume in PDF format, through our application portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We are committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect, collaboration, and equal opportunity for all employees, and we strongly encourage applications from individuals of color, immigrants, those affected by mass incarceration, and other historically marginalized groups. We believe in building a diverse organization that reflects the communities we serve.