Job Summary

The Director of Storytelling & Donor Impact Communications is a creative leader and content producer responsible for shaping and delivering compelling, donor-centered storytelling that brings the YMCA of Greater Seattle's mission to life.

Situated within the Financial Development division, this role translates organizational priorities, program outcomes, community experiences, and donor investments into engaging creative content and persuasive copy that strengthens fundraising, stewardship, donor engagement, and campaign performance across digital, social, email, and live experiences.

This position serves as the division's lead creative strategist, storyteller, and copywriter-developing mission-driven content that captures the impact of philanthropy, community engagement, and volunteerism. The role plays a critical part in ensuring the organization effectively communicates the impact of approximately 30% of its revenue generated through philanthropy and the power of its volunteer workforce.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this role works closely with Financial Development leaders, frontline fundraisers, program teams, and Marketing and Communications to align creative direction, produce high-quality content, and ensure storytelling is cohesive, compelling, and reflective of community impact.

What you'll get from working at The Y:

• Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance
• Retirement with generous employer contributions
• Free access to mental health resources
• Rapidly-accruing paid time off (PTO) available immediately upon hire
• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare and day camp programs

Hiring Range: $96,000-$114,000
Schedule: Monday-Friday; 9am-5pm

Responsibilities

Storytelling Strategy & Creative Content Development

• Lead a storytelling and creative content strategy that supports fundraising, donor engagement, and the Chief Development Officer's community engagement priorities.
• Translate program information, community needs, organizational priorities, and impact data into compelling narratives and creative assets.
• Produce written and multimedia content for digital, social, email, events, and donor communications.
• Develop audience-centered messaging with clear value propositions and calls to action.
• Maintain consistent voice, tone, messaging, and creative quality.
• Balance emotional storytelling with credible data and measurable impact.
• Ensure storytelling is ethical, accurate, respectful, and supported by appropriate consent.
• Partner with Donor Services and the Director of Campaigns & Community Giving to develop stewardship reports, donor updates, recognition materials, and a bi-monthly impact newsletter.
• Produce content that supports donor retention, increased giving, reactivation, recurring giving, and deeper engagement.
• Develop tailored materials for the Chief Development Officer's donor, community, and advocacy engagements.
• Strengthen the connection between donor generosity, community impact, and the YMCA's mission.

Story Collection & Creative Asset Development

• Establish systems for identifying, collecting, approving, and maintaining impact stories.
• Build and manage a centralized Financial Development story bank containing narratives, testimonials, photography, video, data, and consent documentation.
• Partner with Marketing and Communications on story intake, interviews, editorial standards, and approval workflows.
• Produce and adapt creative assets for campaigns, donor communications, events, presentations, and digital platforms.
• Work with event and volunteer teams to capture stories highlighting community and philanthropic impact.
• Participate in campaign planning to ensure content is appropriately sequenced and aligned.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as Financial Development's primary partner to Marketing and Communications for donor-facing storytelling and creative production.
• Collaborate on brand alignment, design, production, digital execution, and distribution.
• Coordinate with the Chief Development Officer on high-visibility donor and community engagement opportunities.
• Work across departments to align storytelling with fundraising strategy and organizational priorities.

Editorial Oversight & Project Management

• Manage concurrent storytelling and creative production projects and improve workflows to increase efficiency and access to approved content.
• Maintain editorial calendars, production timelines, and content workflows.
• Establish standards for writing, storytelling, and creative quality.
• Manage external writers, photographers, videographers, designers, and other creative vendors.
• Contribute to Financial Development planning and help shape storytelling and engagement priorities.
• Advise leadership on creative direction, audience engagement, messaging, and emerging content opportunities.
• Stay informed on best practices in fundraising communications, philanthropy, and digital storytelling.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and donor-centered culture.

General

• Support the AVP of Community Giving and Financial Development Team in various tasks to ensure smooth
  division functioning.
• Maintain discretion and independent judgment when handling confidential donor information.
• Able to occasionally work non-traditional hours, including evenings or weekends, for events and donor
  activities.
• Represent YGS's values-cause-driven, equity-centered, and community-focused-in all interactions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Code of Conduct for Applicants

All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries, completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements.

Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization's abuse risk management standards.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in business administration, financial development, communications, public relations, human services or equivalent experience. Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
2. Five or more years of related experience.
3. Experience supervising staff, working with volunteers and knowledge of nonprofit organizations and fundraising principles.
4. Ability to produce high quality written and verbal solicitations and messaging to a broad audience.
5. Ability to collaborate and work effectively and proactively with all levels of branch and Association Office staff.
6. Excellent computer skills, including word processing, database, spreadsheet software and web-based applications.

PREFERRED POSITION ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS

• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
• Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Role may require standing, walking, squatting, sitting, typing, bending, reaching, twisting, repetitive hand
  movements, and driving.
• Hearing must be adequate to perform job duties in person, over the telephone, and in virtual meetings.
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently in person, over the telephone, and in
  virtual meetings.
• Visual acuity must be adequate to perform job duties, including visual examination of information from printed sources and computer screens.
• Must be able to remain stationary in a sitting or standing position up to 95% of the time.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move anywhere from lbs. - lbs.
• Requires lifting above the shoulders

EFFECT ON END RESULTS

A collaborative approach with both internal and external stakeholders ensure that Vision 2020 goals are met through inspiration, education, best practices and strategic direction.

Competencies for success at the Y:

Cause Driven Leader Level: Team Leader

• Values - Strengthens the Y's culture by demonstrating the values of the Y - honesty, caring, respect, and responsibility - in every aspect of work.
• Inclusion - Models cultural competence and supports diversity, effectively working with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Develop Self and Others - Demonstrates teamwork and personal accountability, seeking and providing feedback, coaching, and resources for development.
• Quality Results - Takes the initiative and holds self and others accountable to meet or exceed quantitative and qualitative goals relating to people (employees and members), philanthropy, finance and volunteerism.
• Change Capacity - Facilitates change, seeks opportunities in the change process, models adaptability, and leads transition in support of the Y's mission.
• Inspire Others - Promotes creativity, generates excitement, and rewards risk taking, while consistently demonstrating a high level of emotional maturity, maintaining a positive attitude and building strong relationships.

Become a leader on our team at the YMCA of Greater Seattle where we promote a continuous learning environment and career opportunities. Competitive pay range and excellent benefit package includes YMCA membership, health, dental, life and disability insurance; tuition assistance; 12% retirement contribution, as eligible.