Sr. Director II of Development

• Develop and   execute a comprehensive annual development strategy that aligns with the   organization's strategic plan, mission, and fundraising priorities.
• Establish   annual fundraising goals and revenue targets, monitor progress, and implement   strategies to achieve or exceed financial objectives.
• Lead all   fundraising initiatives, including annual giving, major gifts, planned   giving, capital campaigns, corporate sponsorships, special events, online   giving, and donor engagement programs.
• Identify,   cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, corporations,   government agencies, and community partners to increase philanthropic   support.
• Build and   maintain a robust donor pipeline utilizing moves management strategies to   strengthen donor relationships and increase giving levels.
• Develop and   implement comprehensive donor stewardship and recognition programs that   encourage donor retention and long-term engagement.
• Oversee the   organization's grant development program, including funding research,   proposal development, grant writing, submission, award acceptance,   compliance, reporting, and stewardship.
• Collaborate   with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, program leadership, and finance   staff to identify funding opportunities that align with organizational   priorities.
• Ensure timely   submission of competitive grant proposals and accurate completion of grant   reports and required documentation.
• Monitor grant   compliance requirements and work collaboratively with program and finance   staff to ensure funding requirements and reporting deadlines are met.
• Develop and   maintain strong relationships with foundation representatives, government   agencies, corporate partners, and other funding organizations.
• Represent the   organization at community meetings, networking events, donor functions,   conferences, and public engagements to strengthen visibility and community   partnerships.
• Partner with   the Executive Director and Advisory Board to identify, cultivate, and engage   prospective major donors and community stakeholders.
• Prepare   fundraising presentations, donor proposals, campaign materials, and executive   briefing documents.
• Develop and   manage the annual development department budget and ensure responsible   stewardship of development resources.
• Analyze   fundraising performance metrics, donor trends, campaign outcomes, and return   on investment to guide strategic decision-making.
• Oversee the   organization's donor and constituent relationship management (CRM) system   (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, or similar   platforms), ensuring data integrity, accurate reporting, effective donor   tracking, and the utilization of data to support fundraising strategy and   donor engagement. Implement best practices for donor data management, gift   processing, acknowledgment, and recordkeeping.
• Provide   leadership, coaching, supervision, and performance management for development   staff, consultants, interns, and volunteers.
• Foster a   collaborative, high-performing development team focused on innovation,   accountability, continuous improvement, and exceptional donor service.
• Collaborate   with marketing and communications staff to develop fundraising campaigns,   donor communications, annual reports, social media initiatives, and   promotional materials.
• Support   organizational strategic planning efforts by identifying opportunities to   diversify funding sources and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
• Maintain   knowledge of current trends, best practices, and regulations affecting   nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, grant administration, and donor   engagement.
• Ensure   compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and nonprofit   fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and organizational policies.
• Prepare regular   reports and presentations for the Executive Director, Advisory Board, and   leadership team regarding fundraising performance, grant activity, donor   engagement, and development initiatives.
• Serve as a   member of the executive leadership team, contributing to organizational   planning, cross-department collaboration, and agency-wide initiatives.
• Perform other  duties as assigned to support the mission, strategic objectives, and  operational success of the organization.

 Education

• Bachelor's degree required in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field. 
• Master's degree preferred (MBA, MPA, MNPM, or related field). 
• CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential strongly preferred  

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising and nonprofit leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role. 
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, government funding, and individual donor support. 
• Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies resulting in measurable revenue growth. 
• Experience managing annual fundraising goals of 3 million dollars or more (or comparable organizational fundraising portfolio). 
• Experience supervising development professionals and leading high-performing teams. 
• Extensive experience working directly with an Executive Director/CEO, Board of Directors, and board committees. 
• Proven success recruiting, engaging, and supporting volunteer leadership, campaign committees, and fundraising      ambassadors. 
• Experience planning and executing major fundraising events, donor cultivation activities, and stewardship initiatives. 
• Strong grant development and grants management experience, including proposal development, reporting, and compliance. 
• Experience developing and managing fundraising budgets, forecasts, and performance metrics. 
• Demonstrated experience utilizing departments, including finance, communications, marketing, and program operations. 
• Experience serving as a member of a senior leadership or executive management team and contributing to organizational strategic planning. 

Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills with donors, foundations, corporations, elected officials, and community leaders. 
• Strong understanding of nonprofit governance and the respective roles of the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and board committees. 
• Ability to inspire philanthropic investment through compelling storytelling and donor engagement. 
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills. 
• High level of political acumen, diplomacy, and professionalism. 
• Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to interpret fundraising data and make strategic recommendations. 
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment. 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive fundraising practices. 
• Strong organizational, project management, and strategic planning skills. 

Leadership Competencies

The Senior Director of Development should demonstrate:

• Executive leadership and strategic thinking. 
• Visionary planning and innovation. 
• Results-oriented fundraising leadership. 
• Collaborative leadership across departments. 
• Ability to coach and mentor staff. 
• Strong accountability and performance management. 
• Ability to represent the organization at the highest levels within the community. 
• Commitment to cultivating a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with early childhood education, family services, or human services organizations. 
• Knowledge of federal, state, and private foundation funding opportunities. 
• Existing relationships with philanthropic leaders, foundations, and corporate partners in the Houston region. 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.   

Why Join AVANCE-Houston?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of one of Houston's premier nonprofit organizations by partnering with executive leadership and an engaged Advisory Board to expand philanthropy, diversify revenue, and strengthen services for thousands of children and families each year.

Benefits

AVANCE offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support the health, financial well-being, and work-life balance of our employees, including:

• Competitive salary
• Company-paid medical insurance
• Company-paid telemedicine services
• Company-paid basic life insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
• 28 paid holidays annually
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) each year
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth