Archived listing. The details below describe a past opening.
Full Position Description Position Profile The Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) seeks a mission-driven, innovative, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as its next Executive Director. About the Foundation The Lake Washington Schools Foundation raises funds and amplifies community resources to provide students in the Lake Washington School District with what they need to thrive, now and in the future. Every gift and every partnership is directed toward a single purpose: helping students learn, grow, and reach their full potential. Serving the Lake Washington School District in the Eastside of greater Seattle, LWSF supports students and families across Redmond, Kirkland, and Sammamish, Washington. Lake Washington School District is the second-largest public school district in Washington State and serves a diverse and growing community. LWSF works in partnership with educators, families, local businesses, community organizations, and generous neighbors who believe that strong public schools are the bedrock of a thriving community. LWSF remains nimble, personal, and closely connected to the students, educators, and classrooms it serves while delivering meaningful and measurable impact. The Foundation is well established and deeply supported throughout the Lake Washington School District community for over 20 years. The Opportunity This is a pivotal and energizing moment to lead the Lake Washington Schools Foundation. Following a period of steady growth and careful stewardship, the Foundation is well positioned for its next chapter. The current Executive Director is concluding their tenure, and the Board of Trustees is leading a search for the next Executive Director. The next Executive Director will inherit significant strengths: deep community goodwill, an established and loyal donor base, a committed Board of Trustees, a capable staff, and a strong partnership with the Lake Washington School District (LWSD). At the heart of LWSF's work is its relationship with LWSD. The Foundation listens to the needs of educators and district leaders, identifies opportunities where philanthropic resources can make a meaningful difference, and connects the generosity of the community with programs and initiatives that benefit students. With these foundations firmly in place, the incoming leader will have a significant opportunity to shape the Foundation's next chapter - expanding its reach and impact, strengthening and diversifying revenue, deepening community partnerships, and welcoming more of the Eastside community into the shared work of supporting students. This is an opportunity to build on a strong legacy while helping to define what comes next.
Priorities for the Next Executive Director:
The next Executive Director will be expected to:
*Build the future of LWSF. Shape and champion the long-term vision of the organization while driving disciplined execution, operational excellence, and measurable impact across all programs, partnerships, and functions. *Strengthen and grow fundraising. Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy spanning annual giving, major gifts, events, grants, corporate partnerships, and sponsorships, with particular emphasis on expanding sustainable and diversified revenue. *Deepen relationships. Strengthen relationships with individual donors, businesses, community leaders, educators, district leadership, families, and other partners while expanding LWSF's visibility and reach throughout the community. *Strengthen the Foundation's partnership with LWSD. Maintain a close, productive, and appropriately independent relationship with district leadership, schools, and educators while ensuring that philanthropic investments are aligned with meaningful student needs and opportunities. *Engage and leverage the Board. Partner with the Board of Trustees on strategy and governance while engaging trustees as ambassadors, advocates, connectors, and fundraisers. *Build organizational capacity. Hire, lead, mentor, and support the staff while assessing systems, processes, and resources needed for the Foundation's next stage of growth. *Strengthen impact measurement and storytelling. Develop clear ways to measure, evaluate, and communicate the impact of LWSF investments to donors, trustees, educators, community partners, and the broader community. *Ensure sound financial stewardship. Maintain strong budgeting, forecasting, financial controls, reporting, compliance, and organizational policies that honor donor trust and position the Foundation for sustainable growth.
Key Responsibilities:
The Executive Director is the Foundation's chief executive and reports to the Board of Trustees. Leading a small, dedicated staff, the Executive Director combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution across the organization's fundraising, programs, operations, communications, and community engagement.
Fundraising and Resource Development:
*Lead the Foundation's overall fundraising strategy across annual giving, major gifts, events, grants, corporate sponsorships, and other revenue opportunities. *Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, corporate partners, community leaders, and other key supporters. *Build a strong culture of philanthropy throughout the organization and engage trustees as active fundraising partners. *Strengthen donor acquisition, retention, stewardship, and communications. *Identify new opportunities to diversify and increase sustainable revenue.
Board Partnership and Governance:
*Partner with the Board of Trustees to develop strategic direction, establish priorities, and evaluate organizational performance. *Serve as an ex-officio member of Board committees, engaging trustees strategically to advance the Foundation's fundraising, governance, and programmatic priorities. *Provide the Board with timely, accurate, and meaningful information to support effective oversight and decision-making. *Foster a strong partnership between the Board and staff while maintaining clear governance and management roles.
Staff Leadership and Organizational Development:
*Lead, mentor, and support the Foundation's staff, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and mission-driven culture. *Establish clear goals, priorities, responsibilities, and performance expectations. *Assess organizational capacity and strengthen systems and processes as the Foundation grows. *Ensure staff have the resources, tools, and support needed to deliver results.
Financial Stewardship:
*Serve as a data-informed and financially disciplined steward of the Foundation's resources. *Oversee annual budgeting, financial forecasting, financial controls, reporting, and compliance. *Work closely with the Board Treasurer, Finance Committee, and financial professionals to ensure sound financial management. *Ensure the Foundation's financial practices reflect transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of donor resources.
Programs and Impact:
*Guide the design, evaluation, and delivery of programs and philanthropic investments so that resources reach students effectively. *Work closely with district and school leaders to understand emerging needs and opportunities. *Establish meaningful metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and inform future investment. *Communicate outcomes and impact through compelling data, stories, and evidence.
Community and District Relations:
*Serve as a highly visible ambassador and spokesperson for LWSF. *Develop and maintain strong relationships across Redmond, Kirkland, Sammamish, and the broader Eastside community. *Strengthen partnerships with local businesses, civic organizations, families, educators, and community leaders. *Nurture the Foundation's central partnership with Lake Washington School District, its schools, and its leaders. *Represent LWSF with credibility, integrity, sound judgment, and enthusiasm.