Washington State University

Carson College of Business Director of Development 3 or 4

Washington State University$83K — $110K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and 4-5 years of relevant experience, including fundraising experience and project management skills.
  • Demonstrated success in proposal writing and closing gifts of at least $25,000 (Director 3) or $50,000 (Director 4).
  • Experience in consultative sales or fundraising with a focus on long-term relationships and negotiation.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with donors and clients.
  • Valid driver's license and ability to meet departmental driving standards.

Responsibilities

  • Manage a donor portfolio of 125-150 individuals, securing major gift pledges annually.
  • Plan and execute solicitations and fundraising activities, maintaining clear goals.
  • Conduct outreach to promote awareness of CCB activities and research.
  • Cultivate and develop donor relationships to enhance future giving.
  • Travel extensively across Washington State and beyond to engage with potential donors.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, life, and disability insurance for employees and dependents.
  • Paid time off including sick leave, vacation, and holidays.
  • Retirement plans with deferred compensation options and supplemental accounts.
  • Employee tuition waiver for personal and family education needs.
  • Training and development opportunities for professional growth.
Full Job Description

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

September 9, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

1521-NN_ADMINPRO - Director of Development 3, 1522-NN_ADMINPRO - Director of Development 4

Business Title:

Carson College of Business Director of Development 3 or 4

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The Development Director is responsible for supporting the Washington State University (WSU)Carson College of Business (CCB) fundraising goals by planning and conducting outreach designed to promote constituent understanding of the CCB99s activities and research with the aim of cultivating donors and raising money. These efforts may include, but are not limited to annual giving, major gift development, and planned gift identification and advancement.

Extensive travel in Washington State (especially in the Puget Sound area), the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere is required.

A Development Director 3 manages a portfolio of approximately 125-150 donors, secures 12-16 major gift pledges, opens/plans a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has an annual fundraising goal of $750,000+.

A Development Director 4 manages a portfolio of approximately 125-150 donors, secures 12-16 major gift pledges, opens/plans a minimum of 20 solicitations, and has an annual fundraising goal of $1,000,000+.

This position may be based in Pullman, Spokane or Seattle at WSU Campus.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. This position is overtime exempt.

Monthly Salary:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Director of Development 3 based in Pullman or Spokane: $6,943 - $7,673

Director of Development 3 based in Seattle: $6,943 - $8,286

Director of Development 4: based in Pullman or Spokane: $7,134 - $8,897
Director of Development 4: based in Seattle: $7,408- $9,240


In accordance with , the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate99s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits:

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications for a Director of Development 3:

  • Bachelor99s degree and four (4) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes two (2) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $25,000 or more, OR comparable experience. Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success. A Master99s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

Required Qualifications for a Director of Development 4:

  • Bachelor99s degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant experience, which includes three (3) years of full-time fundraising experience, demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission, evidence of ability to plan and execute a fund drive (i.e. responsibility for a project from conception to realization), demonstrated success in face-to-face solicitations of gifts of $50,000 or more, OR comparable experience. Comparable experience includes progressively responsible full-time consultative sales in real estate, industrial equipment, vehicles, custom services, or bulk commodities, which include long term relationships between salespeople and clients, which includes negotiating the terms and conditions of individual sales with customers, program oversight and management, clearly defined goals and objectives, and a demonstrated track record of sales success. A Master99s degree in a related field may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

Required Qualification for all applicants:

  • Experience demonstrating strong interpersonal skills in establishing and maintaining internal and external relationships.

  • Demonstrated ability to cultivate, develop and steward client/donor relationships.

  • Understanding of proposal development and writing, fundraising and/or client development principles and techniques; project management skills; and relevant event planning/management.

  • Demonstrated success in proposal writing and submission.

  • Must have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver99s license and meet requirements in accordance with and departmental driving standards.

  • Evening and weekend work required.

Preferred Qualifications for all applicants:

  • Fundraising experience closing major gifts of $500,000+ and above.

  • Evidence of ability to plan and execute a fundraising project from conception to realization.

  • Experience engaging faculty and translating their research into layman terms for prospective donors.

  • Experience with alumni/donor database applications.

  • Experience in higher education.

  • Experience with networking in unfamiliar settings and at events.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility:

Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

About Department/College/Area/ Campus -



Area/College:

Carson College of Business

Department Name:

CCB Development

Location:

WSU Campus; Pullman, Spokane or Seattle WA

Application Instructions:

Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume
2) Cover Letter

  • External candidates, upload all documents in the 9Application Document9 section of your application.

  • Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, . Internal candidates, upload all documents in the 9Resume/Cover Letter9 section of your application.

  • Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

  • Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.


Background Check:

This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by , engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

About Washington State University

Washington State University is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant universities in the American West. With an undergraduate enrollment of 24,278 and a total enrollment of 28,581, it is the second largest institution for higher education in Washington state behind the University of Washington. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". The WSU Pullman campus stands on a hill and is characterized by open spaces and a red brick and basalt material palette—materials originally found on site. The university sits within the rolling topography of the Palouse in rural eastern Washington and remains closely connected to the town and the region. The university also operates campuses across Washington at WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, and WSU Vancouver, all founded in 1989. In 2012, WSU launched an Internet-based Global Campus, which includes its online degree program, WSU Online. In 2015, WSU expanded to a sixth campus at WSU Everett. These campuses award primarily bachelor's and master's degrees. Freshmen and sophomores were first admitted to the Vancouver campus in 2006 and to the Tri-Cities campus in 2007. WSU's athletic teams are called the Cougars and the school colors are crimson and gray. Six men's and nine women's varsity teams compete in NCAA Division I in the Pac-12 Conference. Both men's and women's indoor track teams compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Learn more about Washington State University

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