Senior Director of Development

Dress for Success Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization in Houston is seeking a Senior Director of Development to advance its fundraising strategies. This role involves leadership in major gifts, corporate partnerships, and managing donor relationships. The ideal candidate will have over seven years of nonprofit fundraising experience and will oversee a team while enhancing revenue growth. Compensation is competitive, with a salary range of $150,000–$170,000 and benefits.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, or institutional giving.
• Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic support.
• Experience managing teams and collaborating across departments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement annual and multi-year fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Direct efforts to grow and diversify philanthropic revenue from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Oversee development operations, including donor stewardship, grants, and reporting.

Skills

Nonprofit fundraising experience

Donor cultivation skills

Relationship-building

Experience with Salesforce

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Dress for Success Houston (DFSH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence through support, professional attire, and development tools. Since its inception in 1998, DFSH has served more than 48,000 women across the Greater Houston region through career services, education, and professional development programs.

Under the leadership of its President since 2019, DFSH has expanded its reach and impact through strategic investments in technology, the rapid deployment of virtual programming, and the continued evolution of its workforce development offerings. With the current operating budget at approximately $5 million, the organization is now entering a new phase of growth, with plans to significantly scale its development program—from $3–3.5 million annually today to as much as $6–7 million over the next five years.

The Development Department plays a vital role in advancing DFSH’s mission by generating the philanthropic support necessary to sustain and expand its programs. Revenue is derived from a diverse mix of individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and a robust calendar of fundraising events. DFSH benefits from an engaged Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and Corporate Guild, all of which contribute to fundraising efforts and community visibility.

Position Overview

Reporting to the President and working closely with the Board of Directors and senior leadership team, the Senior Director of Development will advance a comprehensive and scalable philanthropic development program to support DFSH’s near‑ and long‑term goals. Currently reporting directly to this position are the Development Manager, Events and Development Manager, Development Coordinator, and Marketing and Communications contract support.

As a member of the leadership team, this individual will provide strategic direction and hands‑on leadership across all areas of fundraising, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation support, and events. The Senior Director will be responsible for driving revenue growth, strengthening donor engagement, and building the internal capacity necessary to support the organization’s continued expansion.

This individual will also play a key role in strengthening the internal development infrastructure—enhancing systems, processes, and team coordination to ensure the organization is well‑positioned to support its continued growth.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of DFSH’s fundraising strategy, partner closely with an engaged President and Board, and build a high‑performing development function that advances economic opportunity for women across the Houston region.

Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership

• Develop and implement annual and multi‑year fundraising strategies aligned with DFSH’s growth trajectory and strategic priorities.
• Partner closely with the President to align development initiatives with organizational goals and mission impact.
• Partner closely with the President on key donor relationships while helping to expand broader team capacity for sustained donor engagement.
• Provide leadership in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding philanthropic support.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a development team of four, with responsibility for building additional capacity over time.

Fund Development and Revenue Growth

• Direct efforts to grow and diversify philanthropic revenue from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and corporate partners, focusing on securing transformational gifts.
• Expand individual giving as a key area of opportunity, building on the organization’s strong base of corporate and foundation support.
• Strengthen corporate partnerships and sponsorship strategies.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities that support DFSH’s mission and long‑term sustainability.

Event Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight of DFSH’s extensive calendar of 30+ annual events, including approximately 10 major fundraising events.
• Ensure that events effectively support revenue generation, donor cultivation, and mission visibility.
• Ensure events are aligned with broader fundraising strategy and contribute to long‑term donor engagement and relationship development.
• Partner with volunteer leaders, event chairs, and sponsors to enhance engagement and fundraising outcomes.
• Develop meaningful donor experiences that strengthen long‑term relationships.

Board and Volunteer Engagement

• Support the Board of Directors and Advisory Council in their fundraising and ambassador roles.
• Equip board members with the tools and strategies needed to cultivate and solicit donors.
• Leverage DFSH’s Corporate Guild and volunteer network to expand reach and engagement.
• Participate in board meetings and provide regular updates on fundraising performance and strategy.

Development Operations and Infrastructure

• Oversee development operations, including donor stewardship, grants, and reporting.
• Utilize Salesforce and other tools to track performance, manage donor pipelines, and inform strategy.
• Manage the development budget and ensure strong return on investment across initiatives.
• Build systems, processes, and reporting capabilities that support scalability and long‑term growth.

Essential Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate will be an experienced development professional with a strong track record of fundraising success and the ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships.

• Seven or more years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including major gifts, corporate partnerships, or institutional giving.
• Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic support.
• Experience with fundraising campaigns or organizational growth initiatives preferred.
• Strong relationship‑building and donor cultivation skills.
• Experience managing teams and collaborating across departments.
• Experience working with boards and volunteer leadership.
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems.

Desired Personal Attributes

• Visionary and strategic thinker with the ability to translate ideas into actionable plans.
• Highly relational, with strong emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders.
• Collaborative leader who thrives in a team‑oriented, highly relational, mission‑driven environment where success is achieved through shared ownership and partnership.
• Entrepreneurial and growth‑oriented, with the ability to scale programs and infrastructure.
• Hands‑on and adaptable, comfortable operating in both strategic and executional capacities.
• Deeply committed to DFSH’s mission and the women it serves.

Compensation

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, with an anticipated salary range of $150,000–$170,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package.