We’re Hiring!

Full Time/Salary/Exempt
Salary range: $70 – $75k + bonus eligible

Agency Overview
Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program works to increase the reading achievement of students from communities of concentrated low-income in Washington. A child who is not reading proficiently at the end of third grade is FOUR times more likely to drop-out of school before graduating than one who is. Starting with improving book access in the home, Page Ahead works to break down barriers to achievement and provides reading interventions that support children and families.

The Position
Reporting to and in partnership with the Executive Director (ED), the Development Manager will secure financial support for Page Ahead. Demand for our programs is growing and we need to increase our revenue in order to serve more children and families. If you are excited about the idea of helping all children become strong readers and would enjoy engaging others to support students, Page Ahead’s Development Manager position might be the right fit for you! 

Primary Responsibilities
Persuasive Writing (50%) 

  • Manage Page Ahead’s grant writing process, including: prospect researching, writing LOIs and proposals, maintaining accurate records in our CRM, tracking all deadlines and timelines, and reporting out to those who fund our work.
  • Develop key fundraising appeals, messaging and timeline(s) for individual giving campaigns, paying close attention to target audiences and organizational messaging.
  • Own all aspects of constituent communication overseeing: newsletter, annual report, social media strategy, mar/com collateral, and the Page Ahead website. Work closely with community engagement specialist to design and execute communication strategy.

Donor Cultivation and Experience (30%) 

  • Cultivate and steward relationships with donors and sponsors to maximize philanthropic support for Page Ahead. Identify and pursue opportunities for major gifts, planned giving, and corporate partnerships. 
  • Source and respond to opportunities to share Page Ahead’s mission and values (lunch and learns, presentations to community groups) and professionally represent Page Ahead in the community. 
  • Manage all donor recognition and appreciation, including collecting impact stories and photos. Work with board members, community outreach and program team members to ensure donors feel informed and appreciated. Track all donor relations (visits, emails, calls) in CRM.

Special Events (10%) 

  • Serve as project manager for Page Ahead’s annual luncheon. Responsibilities include Table Captain cultivation, logistics, sponsorship procurement, etc. 
  • Coordinate with team members to execute other fundraising events like Book Drives, and support community members, companies, and others who create events to support Page Ahead’s mission. 

Strategy and Budgeting (10%) 

  • Develop fundraising strategy and set priorities, goals and budgets (currently $1.7M). Implement a coordinated plan to increase annual fundraising revenues.  
  • Track and report on fundraising metrics, including donor contributions, retention rates, and  campaign effectiveness. Provide regular updates to Executive Director and the Board of Directors on development activities and progress towards goals. 

Minimum qualifications 

Knowledge: 

  • Must understand how to utilize data to plan and make decisions 
  • Thorough understanding of the prospecting/cultivation cycle 
  • Knows fundraising best practices and can develop plans and systems to meet fundraising goals
  • Deep knowledge of grant writing, from LOI to final reports 
  • Bachelor’s Degree 
  • Bonus: Knowledge of local or state budget process 

Skills: 

  • Excellent writing and editing skills. Must be able to write quickly and well and enjoy doing so. 
  • Persuasive public speaker/presenter. Must be able to speak convincingly and represent Page Ahead in a professional manner. An ideal candidate will be a great storyteller. 
  • Proficient with donor database software – Bloomerang preferred 
  • Skilled relationship-builder  
  • Cultural competency and demonstrated ability to work with people of diverse races, ages, genders, abilities 
  • Effective with time management 
  • Incredible follow up skills 
  • Highly organized 
  • Understands people and knows how to align their interests 
  • Given Page Ahead’s mission–excellent grammar, spelling, and punctuation are a must! 

Experience: 

  • A good candidate will have at least 3 – 5 years of demonstrated experience successfully approaching corporations, individuals, and/or foundations for financial support. 
  • Current background in planning and executing special event fundraisers 
  • Prior sales experience (in any field) desired
  • Proven experience motivating and training volunteers, ideally in a development capacity
  • Demonstrated successful grant writing experience 

This is a full-time position, and very occasional evening and weekend work is sometimes required. Page Ahead is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. All interested individuals are encouraged to apply, particularly people of color, women, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, and/or intersex. 

Page Ahead offers a competitive benefits package that includes: health/dental/vision insurance, retirement matching, vacation/sick leave, and 12 paid holidays. From our book-filled, accessible office in the Crown Hill neighborhood of Seattle, we serve all of Washington state. Some local travel will be expected, and access to a vehicle will be necessary. 

As part of our partnership agreement with schools, employment with Page Ahead will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Page Ahead is a scent-free office. 

To Apply 

Email your resume AND cover letter to jobs@pageahead.org.

Please no phone calls.

We’re Hiring!

Full Time/Salary/Non-Exempt
Salary range: $58 – 61k

Agency Overview
Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program works to increase the reading achievement of students from low-income communities in Washington. A child who is not reading proficiently at the end of third grade is FOUR times more likely to drop-out of school before graduating than one who is. Starting with improving book access in the home, Page Ahead works to break down barriers to achievement and provides reading interventions that support children and families.

The Position
Do you love the idea of helping children become strong readers? Have you ever been complimented on your organization skills? Do you have a heart for people and enjoy providing great customer service? If so, Page Ahead’s Community Outreach Specialist position might be the right fit for you!
The Community Outreach Specialist is the glue that binds the Page Ahead team together. The position works with every member of the team, as well as all of our volunteers, board members, supporters and school partners. You will enjoy this position the most if you are the kind of person who likes being in the center of everything.
Primary Responsibilities
Volunteer Coordination (40%)

  • Work with program and development managers to determine current needs, then manage all aspects of volunteer recruitment, from creating posts and marketing on social media to running background checks on new volunteers
  • Utilize our database to identify and schedule volunteers for office, event and/or program activities
  • Provide training, encouragement and abundant appreciation. Plan volunteer appreciation party, recognize birthdays and milestones, etc
  • Manage all volunteer communication, including producing the quarterly volunteer newsletter
  • Work with corporate groups to support team volunteering. Prepare materials and provide instructions, share the ‘why’ what they are doing is important, and recognize achievement in person and in public (via social media)
  • Greet and welcome all volunteers, book drive coordinators/donors, and visitors
    Development Support (40%)
  • Assist in planning and overseeing fundraising activities and events
  • Utilize design software to create flyers, sponsorship packets, invitations, postcards, etc
  • Responsible for all aspects of the donor acknowledgement experience, from opening the mail to recording donations in our database, to generating thank you letters. Works with board members to recognize supporters as appropriate.
  • Run reports in database to support development manager in planning and tracking results from fundraising events and campaigns
  • Order print materials, t-shirts and supplies for events, appeals and book drives
    Program Coordination (10%)
  • Support our school partners by verifying volunteer needs and creating/posting volunteer shifts online
  • Order all supplies and materials (book bags, labels, etc)
  • Manage the packing and shipping process for all programs – including packing and scheduling UPS shipments, providing tracking information to school partners, etc
  • Communicate program activities through social media, Page Ahead newsletter, and website
  • Create and update program documents, forms and spreadsheets
  • Coordinate closely with program manager to ensure each program’s volunteer needs are met
    Administrative/Communication Tasks (10%)
  • Update website content on monthly basis
  • Manage Page Ahead’s social media accounts
  • Provide bookkeeping support: batch and prepare invoices for payment, prepare cash receipts for deposit, etc.
  • Assume primary responsibility for maintaining office and printer networks, office machines and phones. Troubleshoot problems and provide support and training to other staff. Coordinate with IT vendor to solve problems/schedule maintenance.
  • Assist Executive Director with board administration, including assembling board packets, and coordinating communication and calendars
    Minimum Qualifications
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to organize and share complex information clearly and concisely. (We are a literacy organization after all!)
  • Related employment or educational experience, which may include customer service, data entry, relationship management, and public outreach.
  • You must be detail-oriented and have strong organizational skills to manage a high volume of volunteer/donor interactions and accurate database entry. Experience managing ongoing customer relationships and/or accounts preferred.
  • Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and social justice
  • Strong customer service orientation, and passion for direct engagement with donors, volunteers and our school partners.
  • Competency or willingness to learn WordPress, Google Suite, Bloomerang (or another customer relationship management platform).
  • Competency in and/or a willingness to learn Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar creative products.
  • Desirable Qualifications
  • Previous experience working with volunteers
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Ability to connect with a diverse group of people
  • Ability to successfully prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and reach goals
  • Experience developing visuals, marketing collateral, etc
  • Effective at working on a small, collaborative team as well as independently
  • Ability to organize others and contribute to team’s ability to stay on track
    This is a 40 hour per week position, and very occasional evening and weekend work is sometimes required. Page Ahead is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. All interested individuals are encouraged to apply, particularly people of color, women, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, and/or intersex.
    Page Ahead offers a competitive benefits package that includes: health/dental/vision insurance, retirement matching, vacation/sick leave, and 12 paid holidays. From our book-filled, accessible office in the Crown Hill neighborhood of Seattle, we serve all of Washington state. Some local travel will be expected.
    As part of our partnership agreement with schools, employment with Page Ahead will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Page Ahead is a scent-free office.

    To Apply
    Email your resume AND cover letter to: jobs@pageahead.org

    Please no phone calls.

Ballard Gives Back at Secret Garden Books

November 24 – 26, you can visit our friends at Secret Garden Books in Ballard and get great deals on books and gifts for all ages.  Secret Garden is generously donating a portion of their sales from Friday through Sunday to Page Ahead, and they are accepting books and gift certificates purchased on Page Ahead’s behalf as well. Stop by to say hi, shop local, and give!

Holiday Book Shopping

During this giving season, we are delighted our friends at Barnes & Noble are making it extra easy for everyone to get books for everyone on their list AND for the kids Page Ahead serves!

Holiday book drives are on from November 1 to December 8 at multiple Barnes & Nobles around Washington: 

Kars4Kids features Page Ahead

Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program is doing something novel, so to speak, to further literacy in underserved Seattle neighborhoods. They have created little “book nooks” for children where they can discover the joy of holding a book; look at the pictures; and if all goes well, eventually read the book to completion. It’s one new way to get books into the hands of those who need them the most.

Read more at Kars4Kids.

With the Mariners in the playoffs, Seattle nonprofits win too

Successful sports teams bring money into their hometowns, but not just for T-shirts, beer and ball caps. Seattle nonprofits (including Page Ahead!) say they too are getting a windfall from the Mariners’ winning season.

Read more at Crosscut.

Literacy Nonprofit Marks Major Milestone at Concord International Elementary

Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program, the leading provider of books and literacy services for children in need in Washington, celebrated a major milestone. The organization distributed its 4-millionth book to Concord International Elementary on June 3.

Read more in the Seattle Public Schools newsletter.

Empowering little learners with little libraries

Neighborhood preschoolers are the inaugural browsers at a North Seattle Book Oasis

“Have you ever come across a Little Free Library? Opening the doors is like discovering a hidden treasure filled with stories to read and new worlds to explore. Page Ahead is helping children experience these joys right in their own neighborhood. Through its Book Oasis project, this literacy organization is building Little Free Libraries just for kids, with a focus on underresourced communities. In doing so, they are working to ensure that all kids, regardless of socioeconomic barriers, have access to books and the opportunity to fall in love with reading at a young age.”

Read more on the Compendium blog.

Setting sights on summer learning

Ashley Starck, associate marketing manager for Follett eFairs, selects and packs books for summer reading programs
Ashley Starck, associate marketing manager for Follett eFairs, selects and packs books for summer reading programs like Book Up Summer

“Typically, as the school year comes to a close, many educators’ and parents’ thoughts turn to how they can stem summer slide, or the learning loss associated with students’ being away from school—a key access point for books—during summer vacation. But in the wake of all the disruptions that school districts nationwide have experienced during the Covid-19 crisis, concerns about students’ pandemic learning loss and students’ and educators’ social-emotional well-being have also mounted. As educators, students, and parents gear up to meet these challenges, many publishers, ed tech companies, libraries, and nonprofits are expanding their traditional summer reading offerings and/or creating new tools to help.”

Read more at Publishers Weekly.

Book Oasis: Kids’ Little Free Libraries

A visitor to a Book Oasis in Broadview

“Award-winning local children’s literacy organization Page Ahead announces “Book Oasis—a new campaign to build, stock, and maintain Little Free Libraries for kids living in book deserts in the Seattle area. Each Oasis may be located in front of a private home or business—but the books inside belong to everyone.”

Read more at Pinehurst Seattle.