Who We Are

Priority Consideration Date: August 17, 2026

Located in the scenic Puget Sound area with nearby mountain ranges and Mount Rainier in the distance, Tacoma is surrounded by outdoor recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating and camping. Tacoma, Washington has been ranked as one of the most livable cities in the country, due to the increasing career opportunities, cultural diversity and community engagement, just to name a few.

Tacoma Community College (TCC) was built on the ancestral territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Puyallup and Squaxin Island Tribes. The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty forcibly removed them to Reservations to make way for colonizers; we recognize the privilege of utilizing this land has come at a great cost. We honor the resilience of the Puyallup and Squaxin Island people, who still live here, defend their rights, and contribute greatly to the well-being of our community. Our institution aims to increase partnerships and community ties with the local indigenous populations. Moreover, TCC stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the Black community by further strengthening collaboration with the Black Student Union as well as community entities such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, the Tacoma Urban League, and local black-owned businesses. In addition, we strongly support the Stop Asian Hate movement and have an active Asian Pacific Islander Student Club as well as an Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Coalition. TCC is committed to developing more culturally responsive curricula by infusing and incorporating more educational content focused on the lives, experiences, and contributions of Native, Black, Asian, and other marginalized communities. We continually strive to become an anti-racist institution.

We are specifically focusing on improved support for traditionally marginalized populations, including Black/African- American, Indigenous, People of Color, Dreamers, justice-involved, immigrants and refugees, Veterans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. To this end, TCC seeks applicants who:

Value intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching
Welcome difference and model respectful interaction with others
Recognize and honor the important role that diversity brings to an educational community
Are committed to educating a racially and socioeconomically diverse student population
Are committed to teaching in a community college setting
Care deeply about student success
Intentionally support and promote efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Honor TCC’s mission promoting equitable access to educational opportunities
Reflect the diversity of our community

Position Summary

The Director of Philanthropy works closely with the Executive Director of the Tacoma Community College Foundation (TCCF) to lead and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies in support of the College’s mission and strategic priorities.

The majority of this role is dedicated to frontline fundraising and donor relationship management, with responsibility for building a strong pipeline of support through multi-year giving, major gifts, and planned giving. This position manages a portfolio of donors and prospects and plays a key role in advancing long-term philanthropic investment in the College.

Essential Functions

Fundraising & Portfolio Management:

Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects (alumni, community members, employees, and supporters), prioritizing gifts at the $5,000+ level as part of a long-term strategy to build sustained, multi-year support and advance donors toward major and planned gift commitments
Develop and implement individualized engagement, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
Execute the full fundraising cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
Partner with the Executive Director on annual, major, planned giving, and campaign strategies
Meet established short- and long-term fundraising goals, including support for scholarships, basic needs, programmatic, and unrestricted funding
Identify and qualify new prospects to expand and strengthen the donor pipeline
Portfolio donors are expected to demonstrate growth in engagement and giving over time, with increasing levels of philanthropic investment

Relationship Building:

Build and sustain strong relationships with donors, alumni, volunteers, faculty, staff, and community leaders
Increase visibility and engagement with TCC and TCCF through strategic relationship-building
Participate in campus, foundation, and community meetings, committees, and events
Deliver presentations that communicate mission, impact, and philanthropic opportunities

Internal Giving Program:

Lead strategy for TCCF’s internal employee giving campaign ( ~ 1,000 employees)
Collaborate with leadership, HR, and Marketing to drive participation
Track results and refine strategies to increase engagement and giving

Scholarships & Donor Stewardship:

Partner with donors and campus stakeholders to enhance existing and establish new donor-funded scholarships
Develop and manage MOUs outlining donor intent
Support scholarship review and selection processes
Ensure accurate and timely award distribution aligned with donor intent

Events & Donor Engagement:

Support key Foundation events as strategic opportunities for donor cultivation and stewardship
Participate in events to strengthen donor relationships and advance giving
These include Reach Higher fundraising event, Scholarship Celebration, Alumni events, commencement, and other Foundation aligned events.

Operations & CRM Management:

Maintain accurate and timely donor records in CRM systems
Document donor interactions, strategies, and next steps
Ensure timely gift acknowledgments and stewardship actions
Support donor recognition efforts
Recommend and implement process and system improvements

Communications:

Partner with Foundation staff to develop fundraising communications and materials
Contribute content for appeals, newsletters, and donor engagement
Align messaging with donor engagement strategies

Leadership & Team Contribution:

Provide guidance, mentorship, and strategic support to staff, volunteers, and student workers as appropriate
Foster a collaborative, equity-centered culture of philanthropy
May supervise staff, work-study, volunteers, project-based team members

General Duties:

Adhere to administrative systems and procedures.
Participate in research and improvement of systems that support development activities, in collaboration with leadership.
Support administrative and operational processes as they relate to development efforts.
Control fundraising expenses related to donor solicitations.
Make critical decisions and solve problems within the scope of the position in a timely manner.
Utilize existing technology and donor information systems appropriately and effectively.
Research, evaluate, and recommend new methods, processes, or technology tools to improve efficiency and streamline fundraising and donor engagement operations.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
6 years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated knowledge of fundraising strategies, principles and techniques.
Successful track record and experience in retaining, growing and acquiring fundraising support, including individual, foundation, corporate, grants, and sponsorships.
Experience in maintaining positive on-going relationships between volunteers, community organizations, or businesses and colleagues.
Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating teams, including staff, volunteers, or project-based groups.
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite.
Experience accessing and utilizing donor databases, such as Bloomerang, Raisers Edge, Salesforce or other Client Management software.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree and/or certification indicating special expertise in facilitating philanthropic gifts, such as CFRE and/or CAP.
Experience in community college, higher education, or complex institution/sector such as healthcare.
Knowledge of Tacoma/South Sound community.
Experience working with boards and volunteers.
Active volunteer and/or community leadership.

Key Performance Indicators:

Annual dollars raised
Number of solicitations and closed gifts
Portfolio movement and pipeline growth
Donor retention and upgrade rates
Internal giving participation

The Successful Candidate will Demonstrate:

Strong relationship-building skills with staff, alumni, donors, and community partners
Excellent written and verbal communication, including public speaking
Knowledge of the community and ability to engage diverse audiences
Leadership, sound judgment, and ethical conduct in all aspects of work and fundraising
Organizational skills to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the TCCF mission
Understanding of and adherence to ethical fundraising practices and IRS regulations
Professionalism, flexibility, and the ability to collaborate across diverse groups

Duties of the position require the knowledge, skills, and abilities identified above. In addition to those requirements, the successful candidate will also possess and demonstrate the following personal attributes:

Authentic
Charismatic
Values and respects input and differences of opinion
Professional integrity
High vitality and energy
Passion and enthusiasm for TCCF’s mission
Inspired by service, not by power
Self-starter
Multi-cultural competency
Strong professional presence in groups
High emotional intelligence
Politically astute/savvy
Desire to deliver exponential revenue growth
Good sense of humor
Humble and also appropriately assertive
Strategic with follow-through
Share credit for achievements with the internal team and external volunteers.
Expert social and interpersonal skills
Understanding and strategic use of social media and communications technologies
Commitment to lifelong learning and professional development
Chooses, develops, deploys, and rewards staff members appropriately

Conditions of Employment:

The finalist for this position will be subject to a criminal background check prior to the start of employment. Information from the background check will not necessarily prevent employment, but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by HR staff.
Tacoma Community College has no responsibility or obligation to sponsor an H-1B visa. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire.
Ability to work evening and weekend hours, as necessary.
Frequent local travel expected.

Application Process

Complete application packages must include the following:

Tacoma Community College application
Resume and cover letter. In your cover letter indicate how your background and experience meets the qualifications for this position.
UNOFFICIAL Copies of transcripts for all colleges and universities attended (official transcripts will be required for the successful candidate).
Diversity Statement: Tacoma Community College is committed to creating and supporting a multicultural climate that welcomes, fosters, respects, and celebrates diversity. Please attach a statement (maximum two pages) describing your experiences with other cultures and communities, your level of cultural self-awareness, and how you have integrated both experience and self-awareness into your living/working environment.

Terms of Employment
This is a full-time professional position contracted on an annual basis. The salary for this position is $95,000-$115,000 annually. Possibility for hybrid work (on-campus and remote) schedule to be approved by the College Administration. Flexibility in scheduling is required to meet the department's needs. Occasional evenings night, or weekend work may be required. Summer schedule may consist of four 10-hour days. Tacoma Community College offers a comprehensive healthcare benefits package for you and your dependents including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Life and long-term disability insurance plans; vacation, sick, and personal leave; and retirement benefits are also provided. For more information, please visit our employment page/employment benefits: https://www.tacomacc.edu/about/employment/. Degrees must be from accredited colleges or universities recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and verified by the National Student Clearinghouse. International degrees must be evaluated by a credential evaluation service.

Tacoma Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. Tacoma Community College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types). Provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Patricia McCray Roberts, Title VII and Title IX, Building 14, 253-566-5051; Kathryn Held, Section 504 Officer, Building 7, 253-566-5328. Tacoma Community College is a smoke-free/drug free environment. This recruitment announcement does not reflect the entire job description and can be changed and or modified without notice.

Tacoma Community College

Human Resources

6501 S 19th St Bldg. 14, Tacoma WA 98466

www.tacomacc.edu/about/employment

Tacoma Community College

New Jobs

Director of Philanthropy