Director of Development

Cotton Charitable Foundation; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Incentive plan available

Job summary

Cotton Charitable Foundation is seeking a Director of Development to lead fundraising, marketing, and communications. This hands-on leader will cultivate major gifts, develop a diversified revenue strategy, and strengthen the organization’s visibility.

The role requires building relationships with donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations while guiding volunteers and staff. It includes expanding events, stewardship, and impactful storytelling to grow Taylor's Place’s mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5-7+ years fundraising experience.
• Proven success securing major gifts, corporate support, grants, sponsorships.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteers.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year development strategy.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, revenue projections, and KPIs.
• Diversify fundraising portfolio to reduce reliance on any single source.
• Identify new sources of philanthropic support and donor expansion.
• Manage major gifts portfolio and donor cultivation plans.
• Oversee corporate & foundation relations and grant proposals.
• Lead events strategy to maximize revenue and donor engagement.
• Create donor stewardship programs and compelling communications.
• Develop marketing & communications to support fundraising and visibility.
• Maintain donor records and CRM usage; produce fundraising reports.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Nonprofit governance

Grants & sponsorships

Communications

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Director of Development will lead all aspects of fundraising, development, marketing, and communications for the Cotton Charitable Foundation. This is a hands-on leadership position for an experienced fundraiser who can develop strategy while actively cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.

The Director will be responsible for generating revenue through a diversified portfolio of individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation support, special events, and other philanthropic opportunities. In addition to growing philanthropic revenue, the Director will strengthen Taylor's Place's visibility and brand through strategic communications, digital engagement, social media, website management, print materials, and compelling storytelling. The Director will ensure that the organization’s external presence effectively communicates its mission, impact, and opportunities for philanthropic support.

A key priority will be growing the organization beyond its existing fundraising model. The Foundation currently hosts one primary fundraising event, and the Director will evaluate and develop additional events and engagement opportunities that generate revenue while introducing new families, donors, corporations, and community partners to the mission.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable sitting across the table from a major donor, developing a corporate sponsorship proposal, writing a foundation grant, working with volunteers, and creating a compelling fundraising event.

Key Responsibilities

Development Strategy & Revenue Growth

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year development strategy designed to sustain and grow Taylor's Place.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, revenue projections, strategies, and measurable performance indicators.
• Develop a diversified fundraising portfolio that reduces reliance on any single source of revenue.
• Identify new sources of philanthropic support and opportunities to expand the organization’s donor base.
• Create and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective donors, corporate partners, foundations, and sponsors.
• Regularly evaluate fundraising results and adjust strategies to maximize opportunities.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to align fundraising priorities with the organization’s strategic vision.

Major Gifts & Individual Philanthropy

• Develop and manage a portfolio of major-gift prospects and donors.
• Create individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for prospective and current major donors.
• Build relationships with individuals who have the capacity and inclination to make significant investments in Taylor's Place.
• Partner with Foundation leadership, board members, and key volunteers on donor introductions and solicitations.
• Develop opportunities for donors to make transformational gifts to support Taylor's Place and its future growth.
• Strengthen annual giving and identify opportunities to move annual donors into higher levels of engagement and philanthropy.

Corporate & Foundation Relations

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners and sponsors.
• Develop meaningful partnerships with businesses that align with Taylor's Place's mission and values.
• Create compelling sponsorship opportunities that provide meaningful engagement and visibility for corporate partners.
• Research and pursue foundation funding opportunities aligned with Taylor's Place programs and priorities.
• Oversee grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, renewals, and funder communications.
• Develop long-term relationships with corporate and foundation partners rather than focusing solely on individual funding requests.

Events & Special Events Growth

Taylor's Place currently has one established fundraising event. A major responsibility of this position will be to thoughtfully expand the organization’s event strategy.

• Provide strategic leadership for the existing fundraising event, maximizing revenue, sponsorships, attendance, and donor engagement.
• Evaluate the feasibility and potential return on investment of additional fundraising events.
• Develop and implement new events and fundraising experiences that introduce Taylor's Place to new audiences.
• Develop event sponsorship opportunities and secure corporate and individual support.
• Recruit and engage event committees, volunteers, community leaders, and ambassadors.
• Ensure events serve not only as fundraising opportunities but also as vehicles for donor cultivation, community awareness, and long-term relationship building.
• Establish financial and performance metrics for each event and evaluate results annually.

Donor Stewardship & Engagement

• Create a comprehensive donor stewardship program that ensures supporters understand the impact of their generosity.
• Develop personalized communications and engagement strategies for key donors.
• Ensure timely acknowledgments, impact reports, invitations, updates, and other donor communications.
• Work with staff and Foundation leadership to collect and communicate compelling stories that demonstrate the impact of Taylor's Place.
• Create opportunities for donors to experience the mission firsthand, when appropriate.
• Build a culture in which donors feel valued as partners in the organization’s work.

Marketing & Communications

• Develop and implement marketing and communications strategies that support fundraising, events, community awareness, and organizational goals.
• Oversee the Taylor's Place website and develop compelling digital and print content, including brochures, newsletters, presentations, and other marketing materials.
• Manage social media and other digital channels, including content development, event promotion, donor recognition, and mission-focused storytelling.
• Maintain consistent branding and messaging across all communications and coordinate with staff, volunteers, and outside vendors as needed.

Development Operations

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive donor records and prospect information.
• Ensure effective use of the organization’s CRM/database.
• Establish systems for tracking prospects, solicitations, commitments, stewardship, and revenue.
• Develop regular fundraising reports for Foundation leadership and the board.
• Manage the development budget and ensure fundraising activities are financially responsible.
• Establish appropriate policies and procedures for gift acceptance, acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5-7+ years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, corporate support, foundation grants, sponsorships, and/or event revenue.
• Proven ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with donors and community leaders.
• Experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies and annual development plans.
• Experience working with nonprofit boards and volunteers.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project-management abilities.
• Experience with donor databases/CRM systems.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with leadership, staff, board members, volunteers, and external partners.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, discretion, and follow-through.
• Genuine passion for Taylor's Place's mission and the families it serves.

The Cotton Charitable Foundation is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees and candidates. Incentive plan available.