Senior Director of Development

Houston, TXFull-time2 hours ago

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POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Director of Development leads all aspects of Yellowstone Schools' fundraising efforts, including annual fundraising, grant writing, special events, major giving, donor stewardship and records, volunteer engagement, and corporate partnerships. Following a recent restructuring of Yellowstone's leadership team, this is now the senior-most advancement role at Yellowstone: the Senior Director reports directly to the Superintendent and partners with the Board's Advancement Committee to set strategy, annual goals, and long-range plans. The Senior Director leads Yellowstone's Advancement team — currently a Communications Manager, Advancement Assistant, and Volunteer Coordinator — and will play a central role in an ambitious $4M+ annual fundraising goal as Yellowstone builds toward long-term, sustainable fundraising.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree required.
5+ years of experience in development, advancement, fundraising, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience coordinating major special events, managing a department or team, and communicating with key stakeholders.
Strong donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, grant-writing, and relationship-management experience.
Comfort operating as the senior advancement leader with direct access to executive leadership and the Board.
Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and donor engagement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development Strategy, Fundraising Leadership & Team Management

Direct development staff and fundraising efforts to ensure Yellowstone achieves its fundraising goals.
Work with the Superintendent, Communications Manager, and Board Advancement Committee to establish fundraising priorities, annual goals and timelines, and long-range plans.
Directly supervise and develop the Advancement team — currently the Communications Manager, Advancement Assistant, and Volunteer Coordinator — as they work toward specific fundraising and engagement goals.
Lead donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, recognition, and retention efforts, including for major donors and prospects.
Personally follow up with donors through phone calls, handwritten notes, donor meetings, and other meaningful touchpoints.
Develop new initiatives to attract and retain donors on an annual basis.
Ensure all grant-writing activity and reporting is accurate, complete, and submitted on time.
Manage donor stewardship systems, including database management, so donors remain engaged, informed, and appreciated.
Oversee preparation of monthly fundraising statements and ensure reconciliation with the Finance Office.
Maintain strong internal communication and processes within the Advancement team so team members remain informed and accountable for shared goals.
Build foundational relationships and cultivate corporate and institutional partners to diversify Yellowstone's funding base.
Meet weekly with the Advancement team and individual team members to monitor progress toward annual department and individual goals.
Monitor monthly fundraising reports and evaluate progress toward annual goals.
Coordinate Advancement Committee meetings and reports and keep the committee chair updated on related matters.
Manage the annual Board fundraising effort, including the Board's “over-and-above” campaign, to achieve 100% Board participation.
Prepare fundraising budgets, forecasts, and progress reports.

Donor Engagement, Events & Partnerships

Serve as the school's lead for fundraising and stewardship events, overseeing content development, venue selection, collateral materials, data management, vendor relations, volunteer coordination, and event-day logistics.
Ensure donor events are high quality, effectively represent Yellowstone, remain within budget, and support established fundraising targets.
Plan and implement donor cultivation and stewardship events that showcase Yellowstone's plans, programs, impact, and long-term fundraising priorities.
Coordinate effective recognition, involvement, and stewardship opportunities for major and special-gift donors across Advancement events.
Build and lead a planned giving program for the school.
Partner with the Volunteer Coordinator to develop and maintain corporate relationships.

COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES

Highly detail-oriented, decisive, analytical, dependable, and organized.
Warm and friendly with excellent interpersonal skills and a high level of professionalism in person and by phone.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong writing, proofreading, and presentation abilities.
Ability to complete projects with limited supervision and maintain high standards for quality.
Strong customer service orientation and relationship-building skills.
Self-motivated, self-directed, adaptable, and a quick learner.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while meeting internal and external deadlines.
Uses sound judgment and demonstrates cultural competency when communicating with diverse audiences.
Collaborates effectively with Advancement team members to achieve shared objectives.

CORE VALUES

Every employee at Yellowstone is committed to our PRIDE values:

Positivity: At Yellowstone, we smile first. We are a positive presence on campus and extend good-natured grace and enthusiasm in all personal interactions.

Responsibility: We follow through on our promises and commitments. We own our actions and will never settle for less than our best effort.

Integrity: We demonstrate integrity in all circumstances and always put the best interests of the broader Yellowstone community first. We walk the talk and lead by example.

Determination: We anticipate and overcome challenges. We are resilient in the face of obstacles and are committed to the success of every member of the Yellowstone community.

Excellence: We hold families, students, and colleagues to the highest standards and continually seek ways to enhance the Yellowstone experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment can be active and may involve a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and professional contacts. The physical demands below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position.

Work is primarily performed in a traditional, climate-controlled office or school environment with a usually moderate noise level.
The employee is regularly required to use hands and to talk or hear; frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach; and occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Required vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
The employee may occasionally work outside in varying weather conditions, including extreme heat or cold, particularly during events.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Yellowstone Schools offers eligible employees a competitive benefits package that includes:

Medical coverage, including an HSA option, plus dental and vision insurance
Retirement savings options
$50,000 in employer-paid life insurance
Supplemental life, short-term disability, cancer, hospital, and accident coverage options
Wellness day and a generous paid-time-off program
Ten weeks of paid parental leave