DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

About the Role

The Development Director provides strategic leadership for all development and fundraising efforts to sustain and grow YFC Houston’s $850,000 annual budget. This leader designs and executes a comprehensive development strategy (major gifts, donor stewardship, grants, events, and campaigns) and serves as a chief storyteller connecting donor investment to the life-changing ministry of Campus Life, Juvenile Justice Ministry, Core, Camp, and other YFC ministries. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Development Director helps shape organizational vision, culture, and strategy while building a strong base of financial partners for both the general fund and strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive annual development plan to fully fund and grow the $850,000 budget through major donors, church partnerships, foundations, businesses, events, campaigns, and planned giving.
• Build, develop, and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, engaging in identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship through meetings, calls, events, and written communication.
• Oversee the strategy and execution of one or more flagship fundraising events (such as galas or campaigns), ensuring clear financial goals, compelling youth-gospel storytelling, and intentional follow-up with attendees.
• Direct donor communications (appeals, newsletters, impact reports, social media, and email campaigns) that highlight stories of young people encountering Christ and growing as disciples through YFC Houston ministries.
• Ensure accurate use of the donor database for tracking giving, moves management, segmentation, acknowledgments, and reporting, and provide regular development reports and dashboards to the Executive Director and Board.
• Lead or support grant research, proposal writing, and reporting to foundations, churches, and other institutional partners.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Executive Leadership Team to align development strategy with organizational vision, ministry growth plans, and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and maintain professional standards by staying abreast of advances in fund development, participating in training for professional growth.
• In partnership with the YFC Houston Ministry Director, strengthen relationships with local churches and ministry partners, inviting them to pray, give, and serve in YFC Houston ministries.
• Coach and support YFC staff, board members, and volunteers in storytelling to reinforce the broader YFC Houston development message and priorities.

Spiritual and Cultural Expectations

• Be a committed follower of Jesus Christ with a mature, growing faith and active participation in a local Christ-centered church, in full agreement with Youth For Christ’s Statement of Faith and YFC Houston’s mission to reach lost youth.
• Embrace and model the 3Story® way of life (God’s Story, my story, young people’s stories) in relationships with staff, donors, volunteers, and young people.
• Demonstrate integrity, humility, and Christlike character; maintain a lifestyle and conduct consistent with the standards of Youth For Christ.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (nonprofit management, business, communications, ministry, etc.) or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of demonstrated nonprofit fundraising experience, including major gifts (preferred) and events; experience in Christian ministry or missions strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with donors, churches, and ministry partners, with comfort in directly inviting financial investment in the mission.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially in telling stories of gospel transformation among youth and presenting to groups (churches, events, small gatherings).
• Strategic thinker with strong planning, organizational, and follow-through skills, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Proficiency with donor management/CRM systems, basic data analysis and reporting, and standard office software.

Role on the Executive Leadership Team

• Contribute as a spiritual and strategic leader in organization-wide visioning, planning, and decision-making.
• Provide the “development lens” in Executive Team conversations, helping ensure that ministry plans are fundable and that donor relationships are honored and stewarded well.
• Champion a culture of prayerful dependence, generosity, gratitude, and testimony throughout YFC Houston, celebrating what God is doing among lost youth and those who partner to make it possible.