Exempt, Executive Director For Whatcom Community College Foundation

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 11,000 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington. WCC's core themes - achieving success, building community, advancing equity, and enhancing effectiveness - describe the College's values and goals to create a thriving learning community that supports excellence, opportunity, and equity for students, faculty, and staff. Whatcom offers transfer degrees, an applied baccalaureate degree, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes. Programs and courses are offered through face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population. The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community. WCC has been selected as one of the top 150 community colleges in the country by the Aspen Institute based on its outstanding and equitable student outcomes (Aspen Institute, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. For more information about WCC, please visit www.whatcom.edu

The Community:

Whatcom's campus is located in Bellingham (population 86,720). Bellingham showcases a strong commitment to education and is regularly rated on "best of the Northwest" lists. The 12th largest city in Washington State, Bellingham is midway between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Canada. The city is surrounded by the rural landscape of Whatcom County (population 212,540), which is home to a thriving network of farms and scenic wilderness. As you explore our community, you'll discover historic neighborhoods, waterfront cities, farmlands and mountain towns all within a few dozen miles of each other. Bellingham and Whatcom County are known for their outdoor activities and being ranked second in the nation for arts businesses per capita. Whether your idea of fun is visiting galleries, watching live theater, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, or unwinding with a good book, you'll love Bellingham and Whatcom County. To learn more about Bellingham, please visit: http://www.bellingham.org

General Description of Work

Whatcom Community College welcomes applications for an Executive Director for the Whatcom Community College Foundation. The Executive Director is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic, comprehensive development program designed to meet fundraising goals to support students and college initiatives. The Executive Director, reporting to the President of the College, will provide vision, leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight of the WCC Foundation Board of Directors and Foundation staff. The primary focus of the Executive Director shall be in leading and overseeing fundraising, alumni relations, and creating a strong institutional culture of philanthropy in support of the College goals and Foundation mission.

Responsibilities

Development and Fundraising:

• Serve as lead fundraiser and major gifts officer for the Foundation and college, meeting annual and long-term fundraising goals.

• Oversee fundraising activities of the Foundation and college including annual giving, planned giving, major gifts, and campaigns.

• Maintain an active portfolio of major and planned gift prospects from identification to solicitation.

• Prepare written proposals, informational materials, endowment agreements, and other materials appropriate to secure gifts and grants.

• Report on fundraising progress and outcomes.

• Create and develop future fundraising campaigns in support of WCC, its mission and strategic plan.

• Lead and collaborate with staff for fundraising and donor stewardship events.

Board of Directors:

• Serve as the primary liaise between WCC and the Foundation's Board, including but not limited to regular meetings, strategic planning, monitoring, and communicating progress towards meeting annual and long-range Foundation goals.

• Oversee preparation of Foundation Board agendas, minutes, policies, and reports in consultation with the College President and Foundation Board Chair.

• In collaboration with the College President and the Foundation Board Chair, coordinate the work of the Board, goals, and strategies.

• Responsibility for the fiscal integrity of the Foundation, to include submission to the Board of a proposed annual budget and bi-monthly financial statements, which accurately reflect the financial condition of the organization.

• Ensure ongoing legal and regulatory compliance for the Board of Directors and Foundation.

• Play an active role in supporting the recruiting of prospective Foundation Board members and provide mentorship as needed for new board members.

Administration & Staff:

• Manage day-to-day operations of the WCC Foundation.

• Maintain fiscal health and integrity of the Foundation and comply with all federal and state laws governing 501(c)(3) non-profits. Direct the day-to-day business operations of the Foundation, ensuring the accuracy of financial information and efficiencies in administrative systems.

• Oversee endowment investment performance, and work with the investment managers and WCC Foundation Board to achieve optimal strategic results in alignment with the WCC Foundation Investment Policy.

• Ensure that all gifts are administered to honor the donors' intent, scholarship criteria, Foundation by-laws, tax requirements, state and federal requirements for charitable organizations, and college policies.

• Responsibility for hiring, retention and evaluation of each Foundation staff member.

• Oversee all WCC Foundation staff and their areas of responsibility including scholarship programs, fiscal operations, annual giving, gift acceptance processing, and donor acknowledgement activities.

• Provide leadership, guidance and support for professional development to Foundation staff while creating an atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork. Work with staff to set goals and manage workloads.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;

• A minimum of three years progressively increasing fundraising work experience in an educational or nonprofit organization;

• Demonstrated fundraising experience including a successful gift solicitation track record for securing and stewarding major gifts;

• Ability to successfully conduct annual and multi-year fundraising campaigns;

• Knowledge of acceptable fundraising standards, operations, and ethics is required;

• Management experience including employee supervision, oversight of cash management activities and procedures, and management/development of budgets;

• Demonstrated success meeting objectives as a key staff member working with a volunteer Board of Directors;

• Exceptional communication skills including writing, public speaking, and meeting facilitation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Donor Perfect donor management software;

• Knowledge of and skilled in donor-centered fundraising best practices;

• Possess excellent interpersonal skills, empathy, and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, donors, students, colleagues, and the community;

• Possess strong strategic and critical thinking skills and demonstrate initiative, the ability to work independently, and the ability to prioritize work efficiently;

• Demonstrate proficiency using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, and Word;

• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) Certification.

Salary

Salary and Appointment:

• This is a full-time Administrative/Exempt position. Exempt from Washington State civil service law with an annual salary based on a range of $120,000.00-135,000.00.

Benefit Package:

• The position comes with a full benefit package, including health, dental, life, long-term disability insurance and a retirement plan.

• Accrues 8 hours per month of sick leave and 14.67 hours per month vacation leave.

• Additionally, as a Washington State, public higher education institution, WCC offers the following:

• Whatcom Community College is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). If you work for the College full time, have had Direct Loans and are on an eligible repayment plan, you are eligible to apply.

• Full-time employees are eligible to apply and participate in the Whatcom Community College Employee Tuition Program, which provides a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses.

• Full-time employees may qualify for Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit.

Start Date:

• As soon as can be arranged with the successful candidate.

Application Due Date:

• For guaranteed consideration, applications packets should be received by Friday, April 26th, 2024 at 5:00 pm. Position open until filled.

How To Apply

A completed application consists of an online application and:

• Cover letter which includes a diversity statement that provides examples of (1) how you have integrated equity and inclusion in your work and (2) how you will promote equitable practices in education through this position.

• Current resume.

• Unofficial Transcripts for all earned degrees; official transcripts required prior to the official start date.

Mission and Vision Statement

Mission: Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society.

Vision: Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education.

EEO Statement

Whatcom Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. WCC provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, or honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the use of trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types). As of October 1st, 2020 as per RCW 28B.112.080 WCC will be requiring all finalists for positions to complete a Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct. WCC provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director for Human Resources, 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 360.383.3400. For Title IX compliance, contact: Title IX Coordinator, 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 360.383.3400. WCC publications are available in alternate formats upon request by contacting the Access and Disability Services Office at 360.383.3080; VP 360.255.7182. Whatcom Community College is a smoke-free/drug free environment.