Chief External Relations & Donor Growth

Communities Foundation of Texas; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Communities Foundation Of Texas is seeking a Chief Relationship Officer to advance donor engagement and expand impact. You will report to the President and CEO, leading the Relationships department and shaping strategies that serve donors and fund holders exceptionally well.

The role requires executive leadership, strong relationship-building skills, and extensive experience in philanthropy, donor services, and high-net-worth engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree in business, nonprofit management, philanthropy, public administration, law, finance, or a related field preferred.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in relationship management, donor engagement, fund development, professional services, philanthropy, or a comparable environment.
• Strong understanding of charitable giving vehicles, donor-advised funds, planned giving, and the needs of high-net-worth individuals and families.

Responsibilities

• Lead organization-wide relationship strategy to grow giving, expand donor pipelines, deepen engagement, and increase gifts and grants.
• Build practices for understanding donor goals, family dynamics, philanthropic interests, and long-term intent, including legacy planning and complex gifts.
• Strengthen relationships with attorneys, financial advisors, estate planners, accountants, and other trusted advisors.
• Lead cultivation for high-net-worth individuals and families in collaboration with legal, finance, investment, and program colleagues.
• Connect donors with timely information about community needs, initiatives, and funding opportunities aligned with interests.
• Ensure responsive, high-quality donor services and stewardship with clear standards.
• Support the Center for Business Impact in cultivating companies and business philanthropy opportunities.
• Leverage North Texas Giving Day as a relationship-building platform for donors and partners.
• Coordinate communications with Marketing to reflect CFT’s value proposition.

Skills

Relationship strategy

Donor engagement

Executive leadership

Fund development

Salesforce

Education

Bachelor’s degree required

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Communities Foundation Of Texas is seeking a Chief Relationship Officer to advance donor engagement and expand impact. You will report to the President and CEO, leading the Relationships department and shaping strategies that serve donors and fund holders exceptionally well.

The role requires executive leadership, strong relationship-building skills, and extensive experience in philanthropy, donor services, and high-net-worth engagement.