Vice President of Development & Communications

Ballard Food Bank’s mission is to bring food and hope to our neighbors because there can be enough for everyone. To achieve our mission, we provide access to nutritious foods through our grocery model food bank, Kindness Café, and Community Resource Hub, which encompasses financial resources, referral, and mail services that support self-sufficiency. We also advocate for food equity and justice. Our new home, which opened in October 2021, serves as a Hub for Hope as it brings together food, services, and community partners in a one-stop shop. The Ballard Food Bank actively strives to be an anti-racist organization and promotes the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its work.

Position summary:

The Vice President of Development & Communications is responsible for creating, implementing, and leading the organization’s development and communications strategy. The position provides strategic oversight and direction to all resource development activities including development (fundraising, corporate and community partnerships), communications (PR, brand management, internal communications) and external engagement in partnership with the Executive Director. As a member of Ballard Food Bank’s Leadership Team, the VP of Development & Communications helps shape BFB’s external image and brand identity and works directly with the ED and board to create a strong community base of support. Manages 6 direct reports as part of the development and communications team; manages contract partners as needed.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management

• Partner with the Executive Director to set and execute development and communications strategies that strengthen financial sustainability and organizational reputation.
• Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and collaborate on agency-wide strategies.
• Builds and sustains a high-performing, collaborative team through recruitment, performance management, coaching, professional development, and succession planning.
• Maintains current knowledge of best practices and trends in fundraising and marketing within the nonprofit and human services sectors, including an understanding of community centric fundraising.
• Represents the organization in the community, including with partners and funders, to share Ballard Food Bank’s mission and impact.

Fundraising Strategy

• Lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy and annual development plan to grow private revenue streams (6M+ annually) and facilitate achieving planned organizational objectives
• Oversee a diverse fundraising program, including major gifts, comprehensive donor stewardship, seasonal campaigns, recurring giving, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, and planned giving.
• Oversee the planning and execution of special fundraising initiatives such as campaigns to raise dollars for capital projects in addition to unrestricted operations funds.
• Develops and implements a major gifts strategy in partnership with donor relationship managers and Executive Director.
• Works in conjunction with a contract grant writer to establish a grant calendar and ensures their timely submission of applications and reports.
• Oversee technology initiatives designed to facilitate and strengthen development and communications operations, community-facing fundraising efforts, and cross-functional volunteer engagement.

Communications & Marketing

• Partners with the Executive Director and leadership team on messaging, position, and external relations.
• Shapes the organizational narrative through mission-driven content that translates programmatic successes into powerful philanthropic messages.
• Oversee the communications team and communication strategy, including website, email, press, print, and social media to drive engagement, awareness, and donor conversion.
• Partners with program team to communicate Ballard Food Bank programs to clients and external community members.
• Work with ED to manage internal communications to ensure transparency and inclusiveness.

Operations, Budgeting & Analytics

• Develop and manage departmental budget, including projections of organizational revenues and departmental expenditures that support growth and financial sustainability.
• Analyzes development reports and donor trends to inform revenue goals and donor strategy.
• Ensures organizational compliance with generally accepted fundraising principles, financial reporting requirements, and ethical codes of professional conduct.

Skills/Qualifications:

Experience & Skills

• 7 years of development experience, with at least 3+ years in an executive role.
• A proven track record of leading multi-million-dollar fundraising efforts, including major and principal gifts.
• Strategic expertise in brand, communications, and digital engagement.
• A commitment to strength-based storytelling.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Analytical thinking and ability to analyze data.

Leadership Competencies

• Experience building and aligning high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Strong interpersonal, decision-making, and leadership skills.
• Strategic, accessible leadership style that builds trust across diverse teams and community partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to BFB’s core values, with an equity-centered leadership approach.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Ukrainian, or Russian a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employment: Ballard Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to cultivate a staff team that reflects the rich diversity of our community. We value a team that is vibrant, inclusive, and offers a place of belonging. Applicants representing the diversity of our communities including, people of color, people with disabilities, people with lived experience, and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions are encouraged to apply.

The starting range for this position is $140,000 to 160,000 per year. Ballard Food Bank provides a comprehensive benefits package including but not restricted to: Medical, dental and vision benefits; employer-matched Simple IRA; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.