Advancement & Communications Director

Organization Description

The Garden is a 53,000-square-foot youth center in Sharpstown/Gulfton in Houston, TX. The facility is owned by St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and is located on the St. Luke’s Gethsemane campus. The Garden opened in June 2024 and is dedicated to fostering curiosity, growth, and well-being among young people. The Garden offers workshops, events, and programming for youth ages 11-24. Programming primarily focuses on health and wholeness, knowledge and skills, and art and expression.

Position Summary

• Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive fundraising plan that advances the mission of The Garden
• Develop and execute fundraising initiatives that support The Garden's annual operating budget and long-term financial sustainability
• Serve as a strategic partner in driving revenue growth through major gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, events, and grant funding
• Lead the organization's communications strategy, including external messaging, donor and stakeholder communications, and brand marketing to elevate The Garden's visibility and deepen community engagement

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Planning

Develop and execute comprehensive short- and long-term development plans that meet the organization's annual and multi-year fundraising goals. This includes cultivating a diverse portfolio of revenue streams, including:

• Individual major gifts and annual giving campaigns
• Corporate and foundation partnerships and sponsorships
• Endowment gifts and planned giving initiatives
• Identification and implementation of new and innovative fundraising approaches
• Lead prospect research and build a structured donor cultivation pipeline

Donor Relations & Database Management

Oversee and grow the organization's donor database, ensuring data integrity, accurate record-keeping, and effective use of the system. Provide regular reporting to the Executive Director and Board, including:

• Monthly development activity reports
• Annual giving analysis and donor trends
• Revenue projections to support the annual budget process

Stewardship

Develop and manage an annual communications calendar that strategically positions fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship touchpoints, and development opportunities. Lead efforts to ensure that all donor-facing communications reflect the organization's voice, values, and impact, including:

• Stewardship reports and impact updates
• Sponsorship packages and proposals
• Donor appeal letters and year-end campaigns
• Cultivation and stewardship donor packets and presentations
• Ensure fundraising materials and messaging is aligned with the broader organizational communications framework

Communications Leadership & Storytelling 

The Communications Director will lead all communications efforts for the organization, partnering with the Executive Director and key stakeholders to ensure that strategy and messaging are grounded in organizational vision and priorities. Key responsibilities include:

• Connecting donors, partners, and community members to the mission in meaningful ways through strategic and intentional communication
• Developing and maintaining a proactive content calendar that aligns storytelling with organizational goals, campaigns, and key events
• Sourcing and producing compelling impact stories, testimonials, and data-driven narratives from across programs and services
• Distributing content through newsletters, website updates, social media platforms, press releases, and other relevant channels
• Ensuring brand consistency, voice, and messaging across all external-facing communications materials
• Tracking engagement metrics and using data insights to continuously refine communication strategies

Event Planning & Management

Co-develop and lead the planning and execution of fundraising events in partnership with internal staff and volunteers. Ensure events are designed to maximize donor engagement, revenue generation, and community visibility, while maintaining a high-quality experience for all attendees.

Grant Writing & Management

Proactively identify local, regional, and national grant opportunities aligned with the organization's programs and priorities. Lead the preparation, submission, and follow-up of grant applications, and maintain a tracking system for deadlines, reporting requirements, and funder relationships.

Board & Leadership Engagement

Meet regularly with the Executive Director to align development activities with organizational goals, strategic priorities, and financial needs. Serve as a key resource to the Board, providing updates on development performance and equipping board members with the tools and confidence to engage in fundraising activities on behalf of the organization.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business, or a related field

Experience

• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants
• Experience managing donor databases (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge)
• Familiarity with the following programs preferred: Box.com, Salesforce, Survey Monkey, and an email marketing platform like MailChimp

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong grant writing ability
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling donor relationships
• Strong problem-solver with excellent follow-up and attention to detail; ability to retain and recall information quickly
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of a team on multiple initiatives at the same time; excellent analytical and project management skills
• Passionate, energetic, relationship-driven, results-oriented leader