About WA-BLOC
WA-BLOC (launched in 2016) is a majority Black women-led grassroots organization based in southeast Seattle with a mission to build and nurture intergenerational leaders through transformative education and revolutionary social action. WA-BLOC’s programming is designed to build strong, literate, and empowered scholars prepared to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, the nation and world. WA-BLOC partners with local public schools, community partners, students, and families to create a collective vision for equitable education that is culturally-responsive, trauma-informed, and restorative. Learn more about WA-BLOC programming here.
WA-BLOC’s mission is to build and nurture intergenerational leaders through transformative education and revolutionary social action.
WA-BLOC’s vision is for South Seattle to be an epicenter where Black and brown folx thrive. We achieve this vision through year-round educational programming that re-engages students in school, dismantles systemic racism, and disrupts the school-to-prison pipeline for Black and brown youth in South Seattle.
About the Opportunity
Background: WA-BLOC’s current operating budget is ~750K; funding is a combination of local government contracts and grants, foundation funding, and individual donors. WA-BLOC has several large multi-year investments (both government and foundation funding) that has ended/is ending this upcoming fiscal year and also a decrease in individual giving due to the ongoing pandemic and inflation. With these trends in mind, the organization wants to establish a midterm fundraising strategy and plan for the next 1-5 years. WA-BLOC has a healthy cash reserve (over 1 year of operating costs) and growing opportunities to grow our school-based contracts.
The organization’s fiscal year is from July 1-June 30. Its team collectively creates and approves the organization’s budget Feb-April of each year. WA-BLOC is a small team that devotes most of their time towards our programming. Currently, WA-BLOC has one staff person who does the majority of contract/grant writing and foundation engagement. Most individual donor engagement occurs through monthly newsletters and social media. While WA-BLOC wants to grow its fundraising capacity, they want it to be in alignment with our organizational mission and priorities.
Approach: Work remotely with WA-BLOC Finance/Development Director (and possibly other WA-BLOC staff on occasion) as a thought partner and collaborator to develop a midterm (1-5 years) fundraising strategy and plan for organizational sustainability and growth. This will include reviewing current funding streams and methods, providing general strengthening of fundraising approach and processes, and identification and strategy development for new revenue streams that are mission and values aligned.
Skillset/Experience Needed from SVP skilled volunteer:
- Strong understanding of regional education/social justice nonprofit funding landscape, including government, foundation, and individual funding
- Experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies for small/mid-size (<1 million) companies or nonprofits
- Demonstrated financial and business acumen
- Innovative and adaptive thinker; strong communicator and collaborator
- Alignment with values of WA-BLOC and interest in the intersection of education and social justice
Time Commitment (estimated and flexible):
- 10-15 hours over an 8-10 week period; up to 2-4 hours per week. Targeting completion by July 1.
Potential Deliverable:
- Short development strategy document (2-3 pages), including:
- Directional clarity on how to manage and build staff development capacity over time
- Foundation and grant ecosystem map and engagement strategy
- Strategy to grow a monthly donor base
