Director of Philanthropy

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Philanthropy role is both a strategic leader and an active fundraiser, you will personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects while leading and developing a high-performing philanthropy team. Reporting directly to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director of Philanthropy is responsible for the development, execution, and management of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that drives sustainable revenue growth across major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation support, annual giving, campaigns, and special events.

Success in this position requires exceptional relationship-building skills, a proven track record of securing significant philanthropic investments, and the ability to inspire donors, volunteers, staff, and community stakeholders around Ronald McDonald House Central Texas’ mission and impact. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable cultivating a six-figure donor, has experience managing and coaching development team members, while simultaneously presenting to community leaders, and partnering with executive leadership including the Board of Directors to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with organizational priorities and growth initiatives.
• Establish measurable revenue goals and accountability metrics across all fundraising channels.
• Partner with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Development Committee to achieve annual fundraising objectives.
• Monitor fundraising performance through data, metrics, and forecasting to ensure achievement of revenue targets.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen fundraising infrastructure, donor engagement strategies, and stewardship practices.
• Support organizational growth initiatives, campaign planning, and future capital fundraising efforts.

Major Gifts & Portfolio Management

• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of major donors, prospects, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts ranging from $10,000 to $1M+.
• Maintain an active portfolio with demonstrated movement through the donor pipeline.
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned donors.
• Partner with the CEO, board members, and volunteers on major donor engagement and solicitations.
• Lead donor strategy discussions and portfolio reviews to maximize fundraising outcomes.
• Drive donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade strategies.

Team Leadership & Development

• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for the philanthropy team.
• Establish clear goals, expectations, and accountability measures for all development staff.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, donor-centered fundraising, and continuous improvement.
• Support staff development and succession planning within the department.
• Facilitate regular team meetings, fundraising reviews, and strategic planning discussions.
• Ensure fundraising responsibilities are appropriately assigned, prioritized, and aligned with organizational goals.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Oversee the organization's donor engagement and stewardship strategy.
• Ensure donors receive meaningful, timely, and personalized communications and recognition.
• Develop opportunities for donors to experience the mission firsthand through program engagement and storytelling.
• Partner with communications staff to create compelling messaging and impact reports.
• Ensure the donor experience reflects organizational values of hospitality, compassion, and service.

Corporate, Foundation & Community Partnerships

• Expand and strengthen relationships with corporations, foundations, healthcare partners, and community organizations.
• Support corporate sponsorship development and strategic partnership initiatives.
• Guide foundation fundraising strategy, grant planning, and stewardship activities.
• Identify and pursue new philanthropic partnerships throughout Central Texas.
• Represent the organization at community events, networking opportunities, and stakeholder meetings.

Campaigns & Special Events

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for annual fundraising campaigns and signature events.
• Ensure events effectively support donor acquisition, engagement, stewardship, and revenue goals.
• Leverage campaign and event participation to identify and cultivate major gift prospects.
• Support future comprehensive and capital campaign planning initiatives.

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Partner with the CAO to support Development Committee and Board fundraising efforts.
• Equip board members with tools, talking points, and engagement strategies to support philanthropic initiatives.
• Recruit, develop, and engage volunteers who support fundraising activities.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 8-10+ years of progressive fundraising experience in nonprofit development/philanthropy.
• 5-7+ years of experience leading, managing, and developing staff.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding five- and six-figure gifts.
• Proven experience personally managing and owning major gift portfolios.
• Significant experience creating and executing fundraising strategies that achieve measurable revenue growth.
• Strong relationship-building, presentation, and communication skills.
• Experience working with executive leadership, volunteer leaders, and boards of directors.
• Proficiency with donor databases, CRM systems, fundraising analytics, and reporting.

Preferred

• Experience in healthcare, children's services, family services, or mission-driven nonprofit organizations.
• Experience supporting capital campaigns or comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Strong knowledge of the Central Texas philanthropic community.
• CFRE credential.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Achievement of annual fundraising revenue goals.
• Growth of major gift revenue and donor retention.
• Expansion and engagement of the donor pipeline.
• Increased corporate and foundation support.
• Strength and effectiveness of donor stewardship efforts.
• Development and performance of the philanthropy team.
• Board and volunteer participation in fundraising activities.
• Progress toward strategic fundraising and organizational growth objectives.

COMPENSATION

Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience. Medical, dental, vision, dental and other robust benefits offerings. Generous vacation, and sick-leave policies, company sponsored retirement savings plan. 

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Ronald McDonald House Central Texas strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

HIRING PRACTICES

The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position.