Director of Donor Engagement

Director, Donor Engagement

Houston, TX

Our client, a deeply established Houston community nonprofit organization, is seeking a Director, Donor Engagement who will be responsible for strategically increasing new donor base and annual revenue streams through direct mail, online appeals, phone solicitation and special events. This Director is responsible for keeping donors and volunteers informed of agency activities and client impact while furthering the fundraising efforts of the agency through direct response, events and stewardship initiatives. This position carries out duties in a manner that promotes teamwork between all departmental staff and other agency staff while supporting the agency’s philosophy, policy and procedures.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide strategic oversight and direction for all direct response fundraising efforts in coordination with external vendors, including the editorial development, design, production, and distribution of multichannel campaigns across email, mail, SMS, social media, and digital advertising. Collaborate closely with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure consistency with brand standards and alignment with broader organizational messaging, while managing timelines, approvals, and performance outcomes.
• Lead the strategic design, planning, and execution of high-profile special events, including major fundraising events, donor cultivation gatherings, and stewardship events. Oversee all aspects of event production by setting clear goals and objectives, developing timelines, managing budgets, and coordinating the efforts of staff, vendors, and volunteers.
• Design and lead a comprehensive donor stewardship program that effectively communicates impact and appreciation across all giving levels, with the goal of increasing donor retention and increasing giving levels; provide strategic direction and oversight to the Stewardship Coordinator responsible for the program’s execution and day-to-day operations.
• Develop and lead strategies to grow revenue through recurring giving, corporate matching gifts, peer-to-peer fundraising, and in honor/in memoriam giving opportunities. Provide strategic oversight and direction to the Donor Communication responsible for the execution and day-to-day operations of those strategies.
• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for the volunteer program, ensuring effective recruitment, management, coordination, and retention of volunteers through direct supervision of the Volunteer Manager, aligning volunteer engagement with organizational goals and compliance standards.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of database operations to drive donor acquisition and engagement through effective utilization of technology, data management, analysis, and prospect research; supervise the Database Manager to ensure data integrity, informed decision-making through reporting, and implementation of data-driven automation tools and workflows.
• Provide required monthly reports that accurately reflect activity and performance. Participates in regular department and board meetings, providing progress updates. Represent the agency in community events pertinent to the promotion and support of programs and projects as assigned.
• Perform public speaking to promote awareness and support of programs as assigned.
• Lead tours for individual prospects and/or interested groups.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree, required
• CFRE certification is a plus
• Five years of experience in a non-profit, fundraising environment
• Management or supervisory experience, required
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Familiarity with donor software is a plus