Director of Development

Brigadoon Service Dogs | Bellingham, Washington

Schedule: Full-time | Flexible/Hybrid

Location: Bellingham, WA and surrounding communities

Join Our Team

Brigadoon Service Dogs is seeking an experienced, relationship-driven Development Director to lead and grow our fundraising and community engagement efforts.

This is not a traditional desk-based development position. We are looking for someone who enjoys being out in the community—meeting donors, developing corporate partnerships, attending business and community events, building relationships, and sharing Brigadoon’s mission.

The Development Director reports directly to the Executive Director and will work closely with the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and community partners to strengthen Brigadoon’s fundraising program and build a sustainable development strategy for the future.

What You’ll Do

The Development Director will:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual fundraising plan in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Create and maintain a multi-year development strategy to support organizational growth and sustainability.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors.
• Develop and grow corporate sponsorships, partnerships, employee giving, matching gift, and workplace giving programs.
• Build relationships with local, regional, and national businesses to secure financial support, sponsorships, and in-kind donations.
• Research and pursue new revenue opportunities, including foundation grants, corporate giving, planned giving, and community fundraising initiatives.
• Develop donor cultivation and stewardship strategies to increase donor retention and giving.
• Secure sponsorships and donations for Brigadoon’s annual gala and other fundraising initiatives.
• Lead fundraising events, including budgets, timelines, sponsorship strategies, volunteer committees, and post-event evaluations.
• Support grant consultants and volunteers by researching opportunities, providing program and outcomes information, and reviewing proposals.
• Maintain accurate donor records and ensure timely gift acknowledgment and stewardship.
• Work closely with the Marketing Director on donor communications, social media, printed materials, branding, storytelling, and fundraising campaigns.
• Partner with the Executive Director on annual appeals, donor communications, stewardship strategies, development budgeting, and revenue forecasting.
• Represent Brigadoon at Chambers of Commerce, business associations, veteran organizations, nonprofit networks, community events, donor meetings, and other stakeholder gatherings.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to identify, cultivate, and solicit prospective donors, sponsors, and community partners.
• Develop and monitor fundraising goals, KPIs, donor pipelines, and revenue forecasts.
• Evaluate and report on the ROI of fundraising campaigns, events, sponsorships, and donor acquisition activities.
• Prepare regular fundraising and development reports for organizational leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Analyze fundraising data and trends to maximize donor engagement, retention, and revenue growth.
• Learn to appropriately handle a Brigadoon service dog in training and, when appropriate, incorporate a dog into donor visits, community presentations, networking events, and other outreach activities.

Who We’re Looking For

Our ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a relationship builder. You should be comfortable developing a fundraising strategy while also enjoying the hands-on relationship building that makes that strategy successful.

We’re looking for someone who is organized, collaborative, self-directed, and comfortable representing Brigadoon throughout the community.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3–5 years of nonprofit fundraising and development experience.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and foundation funding.
• Experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies that achieve measurable revenue growth.
• Strong donor cultivation, stewardship, relationship-building, networking, and public speaking skills.
• Experience with fundraising events, corporate partnerships, and community engagement.
• Experience using donor databases, CRM systems, and fundraising software.
• Ability to analyze fundraising performance, donor trends, KPIs, and ROI.
• Grant writing and grant management experience preferred.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
• Strong organizational, project management, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Nonprofit Management, Marketing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel locally and regionally, with occasional national travel.
• Flexibility to participate in occasional evening and weekend events.

A Different Kind of Development Role

At Brigadoon, relationship building often happens outside the office. We want our Development Director to have the flexibility to meet donors and sponsors where they are, attend networking and community events, visit businesses, give presentations, and develop meaningful partnerships throughout the region.

While regular collaboration with the Brigadoon team is important, this position offers flexibility to work from home when appropriate and is expected to spend significant time engaging with the community rather than sitting behind a desk.

And because our dogs are at the heart of everything we do, the Development Director will have the opportunity to learn to appropriately handle a Brigadoon service dog in training and, when appropriate, bring a dog along to community visits, presentations, donor meetings, and events.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation to be discussed in interview process
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan
• Generous paid vacation time
• Paid sick time
• 9 paid holidays per year
• Flexible work environment with opportunities to work from home
• Flexible, community-focused schedule
• Budgeted professional development opportunities
• Opportunities to attend community, nonprofit, and professional networking events
• Opportunity to learn about service dog training and appropriately handle a service dog in training for community outreach and presentations
• Meaningful work supporting Brigadoon’s mission and continued growth
• And, of course, the occasional four-legged coworker

About Brigadoon Service Dogs

Brigadoon Service Dogs is an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited nonprofit organization based in Bellingham, Washington. We raise and train service dogs to increase independence and improve the lives of veterans, adolescents, and adults with disabilities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Brigadoon provides service dogs to veterans at no cost.

Our work is made possible through the generosity of donors, businesses, foundations, volunteers, and community partners who believe in the life-changing impact of a highly trained service dog.