About Lydia Place

At Lydia Place, we believe that housing interventions today with prevention strategies for tomorrow is an investment in ending family homelessness in our community. Our vision is for a compassionate community where everyone has a home and the opportunity to thrive. We can achieve this through our mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness and nurture healing and belonging for current and future generations. 

Lydia Place is rooted in four main values that guide our strategic direction: Upstream Impact, Community, Equity, and Employee Wellness. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our strategic plan and the impact of our work in the community.

Position Summary - Director of Community Engagement & Development

The Director of Community Engagement & Development (DCED) is responsible for developing, managing, and executing the budget, financial policy compliance, and goals of the Community Engagement Program, centering Lydia Place’s values and community centric philosophy. The DCED is responsible for balancing a multi-million dollar fundraising budget annually through overseeing and cultivating Lydia Place’s donor portfolio, agency fundraising events, external communications, and engaging the broader community in our work. Additionally, they will supervise the Community Engagement Program team (currently 2.75 FTE); act as a spokesperson on behalf of the agency; and actively engage with volunteers, staff, Lydia Place’s leadership team, external contractors, and the Board of Directors. This role is highly collaborative both internally and externally and requires a high level of flexibility. 

Salary & Benefits:

Hiring Salary Range: Level 11 – $78,357 – $94,406 annually; 40 hours/week (1 FTE); exempt. Through longevity, this position tops out at $110,455. 

Candidate offers considerable experience, qualifications, and internal equity. Entry salary is typically in the first third of the hiring salary range.  

Paid time off for this position includes up to 4 weekly wellness hours, 19 days of PTO in the first year of employment (PTO includes sick time), and 13 paid holidays per year. Other benefits include agency sponsored medical/dental insurance (current premium covered at rate of 100% for the employee), a $50,000 Life Insurance policy, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), premium Calm meditation app subscription, and employer retirement plan contribution (current rate of up to 3% matching) after first year of employment. Lydia Place also provides a supportive, family-friendly work culture with flexible scheduling.

Donor Development & Community Engagement (.6 FTE)

  • Develop, manage, and actively participate in organizational strategy to cultivate private donors, major gifts, business partnerships, and legacy giving, rooted in Community-Centric fundraising approaches:
    (1) Establish new and maintain active relationships with individual and business donors and partners
    (2) Create and present proposals and other direct asks to agency donors to achieve contribution goals related to individual donations, fundraising events, and capital campaigns
    (3) Set and achieve annual organization fundraising goals
    (4) Oversee excellent donor and sponsor records using eTapestry & Greater Giving software platforms; prepare and present reports and data, collaborating with the Executive Director or Finance team as necessary, to inform organizational development strategies
  • Create agency event sponsorship strategy; procure commitments from event sponsors to achieve sponsorship strategy goals
  • Provide oversight and support to the Development & Impact Manager as they develop, implement, and oversee work plans for all annual giving campaigns including, but not limited to, e-newsletters, annual End of Year publications, and Giving Tuesday
  • Actively participate in the Board of Directors’ Community Engagement Committee; utilize Board of Director insight to set strategy and achieve donor development and fundraising goals, providing technical assistance as necessary
  • Oversee and collaborate with the Development & Impact Manager to create and implement strategies and timelines for grant and foundation funding opportunities in accordance with our organizational budget
  • Create and maintain opportunities for public awareness and outreach by serving on committees and community boards, acting as spokesperson on behalf of the agency, attending government council meetings, commissions and workgroups
  • Oversee execution of all external communication strategies, including the agency's use of digital communication tools such as social media and the agency website to raise community awareness of Lydia Place’s work and drive their engagement in the solutions
  • Leverage partnerships to reduce agency expenses and support cross-program needs; oversee the Community Involvement Coordinator in managing direct client benefit programs such as donor drives, vouchers for clothing and furniture, food, local activities, holiday gifts, etc.
  • Support in establishing and executing capital campaign strategies, as required  

Fundraising Events (.2 FTE)

  • Develop and oversee Lydia Place’s annual events calendar:
    (1) Provide strategic oversight and support to the Event Coordinator in executing fundraising events and meeting fundraising event goals; support in donation procurement as needed
    (2) Steward and support the Community Engagement team in managing special and one-time benefiting events organized by outside entities on the agency's behalf
    (3) Provide leadership on the day of events; inspire during team huddles, give speeches as necessary, nurture a sense of joy and calm, respond to crisis effectively and professionally
    (4) Support in the packing, moving, transporting, set-up and tear-down of equipment inventory at events, as needed

Management & Supervision (.2 FTE)

  • Provide leadership, guidance, and inspire teamwork for the agency’s staff and volunteers to meet agency goals 
  • Responsible for the management/coordination of Community Engagement Program team employees:
    (1) Hire, supervise, and retain qualified and diverse staff members and volunteers 
    (2) Ensure that all program activities and staff conduct comply with the agency’s policies, procedures, rules and standards
    (3) Provide mentorship and coaching to staff; evaluate employee performance, providing corrective action as needed, including termination when required 
  • Ensure Lydia Place is compliant with all requirements and regulations regarding: WA State Liquor Control Board, Gambling Commission, any Special Occasion licenses or permits
  • Uphold strict ethical fundraising standards specifically in regards to confidentiality, appropriate use of funds, and donor and client data
  • Work with the Executive Director in the planning, development, and implementation of organizational and department goals, strategic plans, and objectives; develop programmatic documents, forms, policies and procedures, and budget recommendations accordingly
  • Oversee all community engagement and development, income and expense budgets.
  • Participate in bi-monthly Board of Director Meetings

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. While performing these job duties, the employee is regularly required to listen to others and provide verbal feedback. The employee is required to sit for extended periods of time. Employees are frequently required to stand, walk, climb, or balance.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in Fundraising, Communications, Social Sciences, Business, Public Administration, or related field AND
  • Minimum four (4) years of experience in senior level leadership, employee supervision, and strategic program management
  • Minimum of four (4) years of experience in major donor and financial gift stewardship, event planning, and communications
  • Proven track record of community-based partnership building and participation  
  • Proven track record of successful fundraising, achieving multi-million dollar fundraising targets
  • Demonstrated effectiveness in public speaking 
  • Experience in managing dynamic program budgets  
  • Experience working with and leading diverse groups of people 
  • Skilled in use of relevant computer, software, and web programs/social media including but not limited to: Microsoft Suite, Adobe Suite, Facebook, Canva, Instagram, WordPress, and cloud-based internet software 
  • Completion of background investigation that includes social security verification, professional reference checks, and a federal criminal background investigation
  • Valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle and proof of insurance required

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proficiency in Spanish, Russian, Punjabi, or Sign Language
  • Experience in Community Centric fundraising principles and their application 
  • Experience with grant writing and reporting 
  • Proficient in CRM donor software, event planning software, and electronic communication platforms (eTapestry/Blackbaud, Greater Giving, MailChimp, or similar software/programs) 
  • Experience in graphic design

Core Competencies:

In addition to the position specific qualifications outlined above, all members of the Lydia Place team are expected to demonstrate proficiency in these core competencies:

  • Anti-Oppressive Lens: Able to adopt anti-oppression, anti-racist, and trauma-informed framework to navigate complex systems of racism, poverty, homelessness, violence against women and children and other systems of oppression.
  • Effective Communication: Able to read and interpret documents, write reports, correspond verbally and in writing with clarity, and must embody active listening skills. Able to ask for help when needed and offer help to others when appropriate as well as give and receive feedback. Support and explain reasoning for decisions.
  • Initiative: Able to assess and identify actions to address issues independently while knowing when to ask for appropriate support.
  • Organization: Able to effectively manage time and develop and carry out complex timelines and action plans. Able to follow policies and procedures.
  • Integrity: Responsible, reliable, and accountable for actions in all settings. Open and honest about own strengths, limitations, and boundaries. Able to maintain confidentiality and commitments.
  • Emotional Intelligence: Have an awareness of own emotions and be able to manage them while also being able to understand and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. Effectively manage disagreements. Able to manage frequent high stress situations.
  • Open-mindedness: Adept at holding space for opposing ideas and embrace diversity in all areas of the workplace.
  • Courage: Able to step outside of one’s personal comfort zone to address uncertainty, fear, discomfort, and inequities.
  • Curiosity: Positive change and innovation require that we ask questions. The why’s, why nots, and what-ifs are crucial to this work and we encourage and expect employees to ask questions. Be curious about oneself, our workplace, the people and families we serve, and the larger community.
  • Flexibility: Able to adapt and pivot as situations arise that are unexpected and/or challenging. Embrace needed change and manage well when faced with ambiguity.
  • Creativity: Think outside the box, be resourceful, try new things, approach things differently and move beyond the status quo.
  • Collaboration: Embrace a team approach with colleagues, community partners. Can work both individually and part of a team, when needed. Support organizational goals and values.

Email resume and detailed cover letter outlining your interest, qualifications, experience, or information that may not be encompassed in your resume, such as lived experience as it relates to this position, in an attached .doc or .pdf format. Direct materials to Director of Learning & Operations, Sara Wilson, at [email protected]. You may also submit hard copy materials via PO BOX 28487 Bellingham, WA 98228. Position is open until filled.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

Lydia Place is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on the basis of race, sex/gender, religion/creed, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, national origin, genetic markers, military or veteran’s status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.


To apply for this job email your details to [email protected]