Director of Development

The Village Centers; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

The Village Centers is seeking a strategic Development Director to lead fundraising and development efforts, building donor relationships and expanding philanthropic support. You will design and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan, oversee major gifts, grants, and events, and partner with leadership to ensure financial sustainability.

The role requires proactive donor cultivation, coordination with the Executive Director and Finance, and a strong focus on accountability, stewardship, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, or related field preferred.
• Progressive experience in fundraising, development, nonprofit leadership, sales, relationship management, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating donors and making financial asks.
• Experience with major gifts, sponsorships, grants, fundraising campaigns, and special events.
• Strong relationship-building, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to understand fundraising budgets, projections, pipelines, and revenue reports.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an annual development plan aligned with organizational priorities and budget.
• Lead fundraising across individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, events, and recurring giving.
• Develop fundraising projections with ED and Finance.
• Build and maintain a fundraising pipeline with prospects, timelines, and next steps.
• Identify opportunities to diversify contributed revenue and improve performance.
• Regularly evaluate fundraising performance and adjust strategies.

Skills

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Project-management

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, or related field

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Development Director

Location:Kingwood, TX

Organization:The Village Centers

Reports To:Executive Director

Status:Full-Time, Exempt

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off

About The Village Centers

The Village Centers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and supporting them in reaching their full potential. Through our programs, services, and community partnerships, we create opportunities for independence, personal growth, meaningful engagement, and improved quality of life.

Position Summary

The Village Centers is seeking a strategic, relationship-driven, and results-oriented Development Director to lead the organization's fundraising and development efforts.

The Development Director is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that strengthens donor relationships, increases philanthropic support, expands community partnerships, and contributes to the long-term financial sustainability of The Village Centers.

The ideal candidate is proactive, highly organized, comfortable cultivating and soliciting donors, and committed to consistent follow-up, stewardship, accountability, and measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Revenue Development

• Develop and execute an annual development plan aligned with organizational priorities and the approved budget.
• Lead fundraising efforts across individual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grants, special events, recurring giving, and other philanthropic opportunities.
• Develop realistic fundraising projections in collaboration with the Executive Director and Finance team.
• Build and maintain an active fundraising pipeline identifying prospects, opportunities, anticipated support, next steps, and timelines.
• Identify new opportunities to diversify and strengthen contributed revenue.
• Regularly evaluate fundraising performance and recommend strategies when adjustments are needed.

Donor Cultivation & Major Gifts

• Build, manage, and actively cultivate relationships with current and prospective donors.
• Maintain consistent donor and prospect engagement through meetings, calls, events, and other meaningful interactions.
• Personally participate in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify and cultivate prospective major donors and develop strategies to move prospects through the donor cycle.
• Ensure donors receive timely acknowledgments, updates, recognition, and opportunities to remain connected to the mission.
• Re-engage lapsed donors and identify opportunities to deepen relationships with existing supporters.
• Support the Executive Director and Board members with donor introductions, cultivation strategies, and solicitations.

Grants & Institutional Giving

• Identify foundation, corporate, government, and community grant opportunities aligned with the mission and programs of The Village Centers.
• Maintain an organized grant calendar with application deadlines, reporting requirements, renewals, and anticipated decisions.
• Coordinate the preparation and submission of accurate and compelling grant proposals.
• Collaborate with program and finance leadership to ensure grant narratives, budgets, and supporting information are accurate.
• Track grant submissions, awards, restrictions, reporting requirements, and outcomes.
• Ensure required grant reports and follow-up documentation are completed accurately and on time.

Corporate & Community Partnerships

• Develop relationships with corporations, foundations, civic organizations, churches, community groups, and other potential partners.
• Develop opportunities for sponsorships, event partnerships, in-kind contributions, employee engagement, and philanthropic support.
• Represent The Village Centers at community events, networking opportunities, donor meetings, and professional gatherings.
• Identify opportunities to increase community awareness and engagement with The Village Centers.
• Maintain consistent communication and follow-up with corporate and community partners.

Fundraising Events

• Provide fundraising leadership for the organization's Gala and other fundraising events.
• Develop strategies for sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, auctions, and other event-related fundraising opportunities.
• Build and maintain event sponsorship and donor pipelines.
• Actively cultivate and solicit sponsors and event supporters.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, committees, vendors, and community partners to support successful events.
• Monitor fundraising progress and provide regular updates to the Executive Director.
• Maintain accurate records of sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, pledges, and outstanding commitments.
• Ensure appropriate donor acknowledgment and stewardship following events.

Development Operations & Reporting

• Maintain accurate donor, prospect, gift, pledge, sponsorship, grant, and fundraising records.
• Ensure donor interactions and development activities are consistently documented in the organization's donor management system.
• Collaborate with Finance to ensure fundraising records and revenue reporting are accurate.
• Provide regular development reports to the Executive Director regarding fundraising performance, pipeline activity, donor engagement, grants, partnerships, events, and outstanding commitments.
• Provide accurate and timely information for Board and Finance Committee reporting as requested.
• Proactively communicate fundraising challenges, potential revenue shortfalls, or risks and recommend strategies to address them.
• Ensure development deadlines, commitments, and follow-up activities are completed in a timely manner.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a collaborative member of the organization's leadership team.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to establish fundraising priorities and strategies.
• Collaborate with Finance on fundraising projections and revenue reporting.
• Partner with Marketing and program leadership to develop donor communications, appeals, impact stories, and fundraising materials.
• Support Board members with donor cultivation, introductions, solicitation strategies, and stewardship.
• Maintain strong communication across departments regarding fundraising initiatives and organizational priorities.

Performance & Accountability

The Development Director is expected to demonstrate consistent progress toward the organization's fundraising and development objectives. Performance will be evaluated based on fundraising results, donor engagement and stewardship, development of the fundraising pipeline, major-gift activity, grant performance, corporate and community partnerships, fundraising events, accuracy and timeliness of reporting, and consistent follow-through on responsibilities and deadlines.

Specific annual priorities and performance expectations will be established in collaboration with the Executive Director and may be adjusted based on the organization's approved budget, strategic priorities, and evolving needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field preferred.
• Progressive experience in fundraising, development, nonprofit leadership, sales, relationship management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating donors and making financial asks.
• Experience with major gifts, sponsorships, grants, fundraising campaigns, and special events.
• Strong relationship-building, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to understand fundraising budgets, projections, pipelines, and revenue reports.
• Experience with donor-management or CRM systems preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, work independently, and consistently follow through.

Professional Characteristics

The successful candidate will be proactive, accountable, results-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable initiating donor conversations and making financial asks. They will be a collaborative team player who communicates effectively, supports organizational priorities, works well across departments, and contributes positively to the leadership team. They must demonstrate strong professional judgment, consistent follow-through, transparency, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to the mission and success of The Village Centers.

Work Expectations

This is a relationship-driven leadership position requiring regular engagement with donors, community partners, staff, and organizational leadership. Some evening and weekend availability and local travel may be required for fundraising events, donor activities, and community engagement.

The Development Director is expected to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound professional judgment, and represent The Village Centers with professionalism and integrity.

The Village Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.