Announcement

Casa Latina is pleased to announce this unique opportunity to join our senior leadership team as Director of Development & Communications. We are a growing organization with a progressive approach to workers’ rights and social justice. We have an engaged board of directors, stable financial position and a robust contingent of volunteers.

The Director of Development & Communications

We seek an experienced fundraising professional to become our next Director of Development & Communications. As a Director, you will work closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership, while leading a three-person team responsible for individual, foundation and corporate giving, events, marketing, and communications.

Our ideal candidate loves fundraising, is an excellent communicator, well-versed in print and digital communication, and is motivated to be part of an important social movement, empowering the Latino community to participate more fully in the economy and democracy of this country.

 This may be an exciting opportunity if you are…  

• Looking to match your fundraising skills with your passion for social justice;
• Wanting to get out from behind a desk to work more across departments and in the community;
• Excited to build your own team and help develop junior staff;
• Hoping to be engaged with program participants, staff, volunteers and donors, rather than working in isolation or separate from the people you serve;
• Eager to be part of a vibrant, Latino community;
• Experienced in fundraising, and looking to increase your responsibility and autonomy.

At Casa Latina, you will be part of a collaborative work environment and warm community atmosphere. The program participants and people you serve are on-site, where you can see the impact of your work every day. Many fundraising systems and processes are already in place, but there is a lot of room to build on our major gifts and workplace giving. We own a three-building campus, conveniently located in Seattle’s historic Central District with excellent public transportation options and free parking. In 2020, we are completing a three-year, strategic plan and the new Director of Development & Communications will help shape our future planning and growth. 

Casa Latina

Casa Latina serves as a role model for Day Worker Centers and Latino organizations across the US, providing employment, education and community organizing. Since Casa Latina formed 25 years ago, we have worked to secure self-sufficiency through employment and English language classes. Today, these priorities are still relevant and we center our work on these three pillars: employment, education and community organizing.

• Employment: Our Day Worker Center dispatches day laborers and domestic workers to jobs with sustainable wages, and is recognized as a model Day Labor Program across the country, with a member-led, democratic process.
• Education: Today, we teach not only English classes, but also OSHA approved and funded health and safety trainings. We also teach green cleaning, basic gardening and moving.
• Community Organizing: Casa Latina also works at the intersection of immigrant rights and labor rights. We work for fair wages and working conditions for immigrants, laborers and domestic workers. We fight wage theft and recover stolen wages. We create leadership opportunities for workers and empower day laborers and domestic workers to stand up for their rights, gain confidence and more fully participate in the American democratic process. 

Recent accomplishments include working with a broad coalition to help pass the $15 per hour minimum wage in Seattle in 2014, the creation of the Seattle Office of Labor Standards that same year and the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in 2018, making Seattle the first city in the country to offer such protections. Today we are working to pass a statewide Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and to support federal efforts.

Our future is bright. Casa Latina is at the forefront locally of a movement to protect immigrant and worker rights and to bolster self-sufficiency. Though our work is primarily in Seattle, we have initiated pilot projects in Everett and South King County. A 2019 feasibility demonstrated the need for increased growth South King County and our new Director of Development & Communications will leverage support for this much-needed expansion.

The Role

Lead our strategic fundraising efforts.

The Development and Communications team are responsible for raising approximately $650,000 from individuals, corporations, and foundations:

• Planning: Lead Casa Latina’s fundraising planning and strategy, working to enhance existing systems and to develop new ones. You will work directly with the Executive Director and Finance Director to set and enact annual goals with a realistic budget, focusing on unrestricted individual and corporate giving. We are looking to expand sustainably and need an experienced, enthusiastic fundraising professional to leverage this unique opportunity to grow our donor base and expand to new communities.
• Implementation: Working in a small but mighty team, you will take direct action and lead others to make a difference every day.
  • Individual donors: You will manage a portfolio of standard and major donors and conduct prospect research. You will have a strong fundraising ally in the Executive Director, and will develop systems to engage him and our Board in donor cultivation and stewardship. You will use a variety of solicitation methods such as online giving, direct mail and workplace giving, as well as other fundraising campaigns and methods.
  • Events: Our successful annual gala is in September and you will lead this event with the help of an events consultant before taking it over completely the following year.
  • Institutional Funders: Serve as the relationship manager for corporate and foundation funders. Conduct corporate solicitations and oversee grants management and tracking - with a team approach that includes grant writing and reporting by the Development Director, Executive Director and Program Directors.

Manage and create irresistible communications:

• Lead communications strategy and work with the Executive Director and Communications Associate to develop an annual communications plan.
• Oversee content creation for print and digital media that tells the story of Casa Latina’s work and impact. Inspire and increase philanthropic support and establish Casa Latina as a subject matter expert in the broader community through newsletters, direct mail, annual reports, email, the website, radio, TV, and social media.
• Promote Casa Latina working with the Communications Associate to pursue leads for media coverage, event participation and public speaking opportunities for the Executive Director, yourself and other key organizational leaders.

Supervision and coaching

• Supervise and Coach Staff: Your direct reports include a Communications Associate and Development Operations Associate.
• Analyze Performance of fundraising and communications strategies and report out regularly to the Executive Director, Management Team and Board of Directors.
• Oversee donor data tracking by the Development Operations Associate, using software tools—including eTapestry.
• Lead, inspire and mentor the development and communications team, supervising their work, supporting their success, providing direction, and boosting job satisfaction.

 Desired Qualifications:

• 5 years or more of successful nonprofit development experience, with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Proven ability to set and meet ambitious and achievable fundraising targets.
• Strong commitment to social justice and to immigrant and worker rights.
• Experience working with, advocating for, and/or relating to marginalized communities, including low-income, people experiencing homelessness, and immigrant and refugee communities.
• Success in relationship-based major gifts cultivation and solicitation.
• Experience developing and managing revenue and expense budgets.
• Ability to hire, inspire and lead a high-performing team.
• Knowledge of, commitment to, and experience with the Latino community and Latino cultures.
• Full professional proficiency in English (speaking, reading, and writing). Spanish language skills a plus.
• Exceptional communication skills, including interpersonal, written, verbal, and public speaking.
• Familiarity with the Seattle philanthropic community is a plus.

Compensation:

Salary range: $75,000 - $80,000, depending on experience. Generous benefits, including paid vacation, medical, dental, and retirement.

Application process:

Applicants please send: 

1) Cover letter describing your qualifications and interest in this specific position.

2) Your resume.

3) Please also tell us where you heard about the job.

Send applications to [email protected] with the subject line “Development & Communications Director.”

Call Marcos Martinez at 206-686-2620 with questions.

Position open until filled with priority given to applicants who apply by March 12, 2020.

Early applications are encouraged and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

*Casa Latina is an affirmative action employer. People of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and people with low-income backgrounds are encouraged to apply.