Director of Individual Giving

About Water1st:

Water1st International is a Seattle-based nonprofit working to ensure families have reliable access to safe water and sanitation at home.

Around the world, millions of women and girls spend hours each day collecting water for their households. Water1st works alongside local partner organizations and communities to bring water and sanitation directly to homes, reducing this burden and supporting health, education, dignity, and economic opportunity.

Our work centers long-term sustainability and local leadership:

• We support infrastructure designed to function reliably for decades.
• We measure success by ongoing service and system reliability, not just installation.
• We prioritize equitable participation so all households can benefit.
• We work through long-term partnerships with local organizations that lead implementation and stewardship.

Water1st’s role is to support and invest in these partnerships while ensuring accountability, transparency, and long-term impact.

Position Overview: Water1st seeks a strategic and relationship-centered Director of Individual Giving to help steward and grow a community of supporters committed to equitable access to water and sanitation.

For more than two decades, Water1st has cultivated a network of donors who support the organization because they value long-term impact, transparency, and community-led solutions. Many supporters have remained engaged for years through relationships built on trust, shared values, and a commitment to global equity.

The Director of Individual Giving will partner closely with the Executive Director to deepen donor engagement, communicate the impact of Water1st’s work, and expand philanthropic support for community-led water and sanitation systems.

This role combines strategy and hands-on fundraising. The Director will develop and guide individual giving strategy while directly managing donor relationships, communications, and engagement opportunities.

This role is well suited for an experienced fundraiser who enjoys working independently while collaborating closely with leadership—someone who brings strategic thinking and also cares about the thoughtful, day-to-day work of building relationships and stewarding donor engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Individual Giving Strategy

• Develop and implement Water1st’s strategy for individual philanthropy, with goals for donor acquisition, retention, and long-term engagement.
• Use fundraising data and donor insights to inform strategy and guide sustainable growth.
• Evaluate fundraising activities, including campaigns and events, to ensure they support meaningful donor relationships and long-term organizational sustainability.

Donor Relationship Management

• Manage and steward a portfolio of major and leadership-level donors through thoughtful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop engagement pathways that support mid-level donors in deepening their connection to Water1st’s work.
• Partner with the Executive Director to prepare for donor conversations, major gift opportunities, and overall relationship strategy.
• Support donor learning opportunities, including travel experiences that help supporters understand Water1st’s partnerships and impact.

Donor Communications

• Collaborate with program and leadership staff to translate program work into clear, compelling donor communications.
• Develop fundraising communications including appeals, updates, newsletters, and stewardship messages.
• Ensure storytelling reflects the dignity, leadership, and expertise of the communities and local partners who lead this work.
• Coordinate internally to ensure donor communications are timely, consistent, and aligned with fundraising strategy.

Stewardship and Donor Experience

• Strengthen practices that ensure donors feel informed, appreciated, and connected to the work they support.
• Develop stewardship approaches that highlight long-term impact and community leadership.
• Support the Executive Director in cultivating relationships with key donors, ambassadors, and partners.

Events, Engagement, and Community Building

• Guide strategy for Water1st’s fundraising events while partnering with staff contractors responsible for logistical planning and execution.
• Ensure Water1st’s events build community, deepen relationships with supporters, and invite meaningful engagement with Water1st’s mission.
• Create pathways for event participants to remain involved as long-term supporters and advocates.
• Engage board members and volunteers as partners in hosting, relationship-building, and community outreach connected to events.

Systems, Data, and Operations

• Maintain systems for donor tracking, data integrity, and reporting.
• Use fundraising data to assess performance, strengthen donor retention, and identify opportunities for engagement.
• Ensure donor meetings, engagement plans, and follow-up are documented in Water1st’s fundraising systems.

Education & Experience

We recognize that people gain relevant skills through many pathways. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if their experience does not align perfectly with every qualification listed.

• 8+ years of experience in fundraising, individual giving, or relationship-based philanthropy.
• Experience building and stewarding major donor relationships.
• Experience managing a donor portfolio and securing significant philanthropic gifts.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies and implementing donor engagement initiatives.
• Strong writing and communication skills, including experience developing donor communications.
• Experience working with executive leadership or boards in fundraising efforts is helpful.
• Experience in international development, public health, infrastructure, or global equity initiatives is a plus but not required.

Position Qualifications

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage donors authentically.
• Strategic thinking combined with the ability to execute day-to-day fundraising work.
• Comfort working independently in a senior individual contributor role.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills.
• Strong judgment and the ability to prioritize effectively in a collaborative organization.
• Commitment to ethical, relationship-centered fundraising.
• Comfort using donor databases/CRMs and email marketing platforms to inform strategy and support effective donor engagement (experience with Givebutter and Mailchimp is a plus).
• Alignment with Water1st’s values of equity, partnership, transparency, and long-term impact.

Physical Requirements

This role involves extended periods of computer-based work and communication with donors, colleagues, and partners. Responsibilities may include attending and supporting donor meetings and events, occasionally transporting event materials (up to approximately 20 pounds), and participating in domestic and international travel opportunities that help donors learn about Water1st’s work.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Working Conditions

This position is primarily based in an office or remote work environment in the Seattle area, with regular off-site meetings, events, and donor engagement activities.

Some domestic and international travel may be required to support donor engagement and learning opportunities connected to Water1st’s programs.

Equal Opportunity

Water1st is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience connected to the communities our work serves.

We believe a wide range of perspectives strengthens our organization and deepens our impact.

• Hybrid work schedule with flexibility for in-office and remote work.
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with 3% employer contribution.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Convenient access to public transportation, including light rail and major bus lines.
• Access to on-site amenities including a gym, showers, and shared recreation space.

English fluency