Company description Viva Farms is a non-profit Farm Business Incubator and Training Program established in 2009. We operate two locations in Skagit County Washington, and one in King County Washington. We lower the barriers for beginning farmers, and create the opportunity for success. Viva has educated over 700 small farmers (150+ Spanish speakers) in sustainable organic farming, and is currently incubating 24 independent farm businesses (7 Latino owned). 
 

Nestled between the Cascade Mountain Range and the Puget Sound, and nourished by some of the largest rivers on the West Coast, northwest Washington is home to some of the most productive soil in the world. Skagit County alone produces 300 million dollars annually in over 90 different food crops and is 2nd in the Puget Sound Region, and 10th in the state based on crop value. 

But Western Washington is facing a generation crisis in farming as farmers with an average age of 58 are retiring, and the number of farms, produce processing facilities, and acreage of farmland are all decreasing. The disappearance of these four vital components of our local and regional food economy is alarming, and we need to act now before we pass the point of no return in local communities and as a region. In the next 20 years, 70% of all Washington State farmers are expected to retire, with their farmland changing hands. Skagit Valley alone has lost 38 percent of its farmland since only 1940 shrinking from 150,000 acres to 93,000 acres today. The number of farms in Skagit County have decreased 12% from 2007 to 2012, and American Farmland Trust has designated the region the fifth most threatened agricultural region in the nation. 

We believe that sustainable organic farming can be an economically viable business, and it is our hope that with the knowledge, experience, and passion for producing healthy food in a sustainable way, todays’ aspiring farmers will become part of the solution that nourishes our planet and ourselves for generations to come. Job description Position Summary

The Development and Communications Director is a key member of the Leadership Team that ensures the achievement of the development and communication goals of Viva Farms. The Director is responsible for designing and leading activities related to the analysis, planning, execution, and evaluation of development and communications programs for the organization.

The Director works in partnership with the Leadership Team to define fundraising strategy, including communications and public relations programs designed to elevate Viva’s profile that further support and enhance the organization’s mission. The Director will lead the efforts in the design and implementation of a comprehensive and strategic development and communication programs including major and planned gift donor development, grant proposals, event management and special campaigns. 

Essential Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership

• Provide strategic fundraising and communications counsel to Executive Director, board members, volunteers, and staff
• Identify and anticipate opportunities; design and propose strategic solutions and detailed plans to achieve Viva’s business and fundraising goals
• Keep apprised of fundraising and communications best practices in the non-profit sector, constantly improving and innovating our strategy to advantage the organization

 

Staff Supervision

• Manage contracts and scope of work for graphic design, website, and campaign consultants
• Lead Resource & Community Development Team
• Supervise Development and Communications Manager

 

Volunteer Supervision & Coordination

• Staff the Board Fundraising & Communications Committee in their duties to:
  • Review, assess, and provide council on the fundraising and communications strategies
  • Play an active role in outreach to current and prospective donors
  • Share Viva’s brand and core messaging
• Coordinate staffing of campaign leadership and event team volunteers
• Engage and retain volunteer photographers and videographers
• Oversee the grant writing team

 

Resource Development:

• Ensure secure record-keeping systems are in place and maintained for tracking donor participation, identification, cultivation, stewardship and volunteer activities
• Prepare detailed plans of action for all approved fundraising and communications programs, including budgets to support their implementation
• Work with the Executive Director to set, track, and meet annual and capital fundraising goals, and impact investments from individual philanthropists and institutional funders
• Lead grant proposals and letters of inquiry; prepare budgets, reports, and other documentation and correspondence
• Research prospective individual, corporate, and foundation donors identified by board members, staff, and other volunteers
• Build and maintain relationships with a portfolio of 100+ current and prospective major donors, and institutional funders; attend events, conferences and trainings
• Oversee institutional giving, annual fund, recurring gifts, workplace donors, and fundraising event goals within annual and multi-year fundraising plans
• Establish a formalized planned giving program and instigate next-generation philanthropist giving initiatives
• Grow and maintain public-facing partnerships

 

Communications:

• In close collaboration with the Development and Communications Manager, establish measurable goals for the communications program that support Viva’s revenue generation, audience growth, and community engagement objectives
• Direct the development and implementation of a communications plan that conveys Viva’s mission with clarity, inspires lasting community support, increases organizational visibility, and supports revenue generation and community engagement objectives
• Oversee and approve content and materials for fundraising and communications programs, including: campaign messaging; cases for support; fundraising appeals and acknowledgments; press releases; email, website, social media, and video content
• Direct grant-related contracts and reporting in collaboration of program staff; ensure all deadlines are anticipated and met
• Work with staff and volunteers to ensure that all fundraising, communications, and community engagement initiatives are consistent with the overall mission, vision, and values of Viva Farms

Core Competencies & Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the Viva Farms’ Vision and Mission and have a deep commitment to growing a culture of philanthropy
• 7-10 years of progressively-responsible nonprofit experience, preferably in fundraising, communications and/or marketing
• Experience managing capital and marketing campaigns, working with high-net-worth donors, and overseeing complex teams
• Experience with federal, state, regional, and local government grants and other funding mechanisms
• Ability to maintain professional stance; earn trust, credibility, and respect from internal and external stakeholders
• Be a strategic and creative thinker with the ability to be flexible and proactive within the context of a growing organization
• Have a drive to continue learning and pursuing professional development opportunities to advance Viva’s development and communications programs
• Strong organizational, strategic, and work planning skills
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Successful experience leading, working within and across diverse groups and teams
• BA/BS degree; excellent written and spoken communications skills
• Skilled in Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Documents, Smart Sheet, QuickBooks; Adobe products for design and layout
• Proficiency in written and spoken Spanish a plus

Compensation this position is : salaried, varies DOE, $55,000.00 - $85,000.00 Application instructions Deadlineno deadline