Senior Development Officer, Special Events

HumanePro; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and benefits package

Flexible work hours

Tuition reimbursement

Pet-friendly office

Employee recognition program

Job summary

SPCA of Texas is seeking a highly organized Senior Development Officer, Special Events to lead major donor cultivation and engagement for signature events. Reporting to the VP of Development, the role focuses on building and managing donor relationships for events such as Fur Ball, Paws Cause and Strut Your Mutt.

You will design donor cultivation plans, oversee sponsorships, and coordinate volunteers with event staff, contractors, and vendors to maximize fundraising impact for the SPCA of Texas.

Qualifications

• Must demonstrate the Core Values of the SPCA of Texas and the development team both on and off the job.
• 5+ years of major gift fundraising and campaign experience
• Comfort interacting with high net-worth individuals and families
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain knowledge about the importance and impact of animal welfare policies and programs locally and nationally, being able to speak compellingly and urgently about the SPCA of Texas' mission and work.
• Help identify, recruit, and work alongside high-profile civic and community leaders/ volunteers to support and execute the SPCA of Texas' mission and signature events
• Maintain, strengthen and build the SPCA's portfolio of signature fundraising events, ensuring donors, sponsors, and volunteers have meaningful and powerful experiences that connect them personally to the SPCA's mission and work.
• Manage a portfolio of high net worth major donors, sponsors, and volunteers, with specific solicitation and revenue goals
• Develop and maintain donor cultivation plans, incorporating a moves management structure, as well as donor motivation and donor readiness frameworks
• Collaborate with the entire development team to ensure that our donors' experiences are consistent across all levels of giving
• Support a culture of collaboration, learning, mutual support, and respect
• Support highly engaged advisory committees as needed

Skills

Donor relationship building

Major gift fundraising

Event coordination

Communication skills

Job description

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Founded in 1938, the SPCA of Texas is the most comprehensive and longest-serving animal welfare agency in North Texas. Our mission is to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home. To accomplish this, we focus on five key pillars to achieve the vision of our strategic plan: 1. Prevent and Prosecute Cruelty; 2. Care for Rescued Animals; 3. Keep Animals in Homes; 4. Invest in our People; 5. Strengthen our Operations.

To help bring our mission and strategic plan to life, the SPCA of Texas is seeking a highly organized full-time Senior Development Officer, Special Events. Reporting to the VP of Development, the Senior Development Officer will serve in a leadership role at the SPCA of Texas both externally and internally. In close partnership with the VP of Development, this position is responsible for crafting, managing, and executing the organization's major giving and leadership volunteer relationships for the SPCA's signature events.

The SPCA's signature events include the annual Fur Ball gala, Paws Cause, Strut Your Mutt, along with supporting events such as cocktail receptions, patron parties, underwriting letter signing events, among others. The Senior Development Officer's responsibilities will focus on developing major donor, sponsorship, and volunteer relationships that welcome people to the SPCA's mission through exciting and compelling events and activities. The Senior Development Officer will be supported by SPCA event planning and communication staff, contractors, and vendors so that the Senior Development Officer has the time to focus on fundraising relationships.

Successful people in this role will be collaborative, have a growth mindset, demonstrate integrity in all donor communications and interactions, and able to balance both strategic thinking and build meaningful and transformative relationships on behalf of the SPCA of Texas. Candidates should have demonstrated signature fundraising event experience as well as successfully managing and building a portfolio of major gift donors. They should have strong internal and external communication skills and be able to represent the mission of the SPCA of Texas in a professional, enthusiastic manner.

Summary of Essential Responsibilities

• Build and maintain knowledge about the importance and impact of animal welfare policies and programs locally and nationally, being able to speak compellingly and urgently about the SPCA of Texas' mission and work
• Help identify, recruit, and work alongside high-profile civic and community leaders/ volunteers to support and execute the SPCA of Texas' mission and signature events
• Maintain, strengthen and build the SPCA's portfolio of signature fundraising events, ensuring donors, sponsors, and volunteers have meaningful and powerful experiences that connect them personally to the SPCA's mission and work.
• Manage a portfolio of high net worth major donors, sponsors, and volunteers, with specific solicitation and revenue goals
• Develop and maintain donor cultivation plans, incorporating a moves management structure, as well as donor motivation and donor readiness frameworks
• Collaborate with the entire development team to ensure that our donors' experiences are consistent across all levels of giving
• Support a culture of collaboration, learning, mutual support, and respect
• Support highly engaged advisory committees as needed

Knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the Essential functions

• Must demonstrate the Core Values of the SPCA of Texas and the development team both on and off the job
• 5+ years of major gift fundraising and campaign experience
• Comfort interacting with high net-worth individuals and families
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Abilities Required

• Static Strength: the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects up to 40 pounds.
• Judgment and Decision Making: the ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Oral and Written Expression: the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Monitoring: the ability to monitor and assess performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Emotional and Mental Requirements: the ability to work effectively under stressful conditions. Ability to rapidly and accurately process information.

Perks and Benefits

• Generous PTO and benefits package, including domestic partner benefits
• Flexible work hours and schedule
• Tuition reimbursement
• Pet-friendly office
• Employee recognition program

Applicant Information

• The individual performing this job may be required to work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.
• A minimum of (4) days a week in the office provide the ideal combination of in-person collaboration and career development opportunities while still providing flexibility and a work-life balance.
• Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm - Occasional event hours required

Closing Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026