Development Officer - Major Gifts

About the Role

In collaboration with the Chief Advancement and Public Strategies Officer (CAPSO) and the Director of Development (DOD), the Development Officer, Major Gifts (DOMG) provides strategic leadership for HAWC’s comprehensive advancement efforts. This position is essential to the growth and sustainability of HAWC, as it involves building the donor base, securing funding, and increasing community visibility to advance the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability. The primary focus of the DOMG is to identify, qualify, cultivate, and solicit prospects and donors for gifts of $10,000 or more.

Responsibilities

• Donor Cultivation, Solicitation, and Stewardship
  • Under the guidance of the DOD, conduct frequent site visits, meetings, and meaningful contacts to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of assigned donors and prospects with a minimum giving capacity of $10,000 or more.
  • Serve as a frontline ambassador for HAWC by responding to the needs and interests of major donors and members of philanthropic groups, strengthening relationships and encouraging continued investment in the mission.
  • Serve as the key point of contact and relationship manager for the Monthly Giving Program.
• Fundraising Strategy and Performance
  • Achieve annual fundraising and performance goals as established by the CAPSO and the DOD, including dollars raised, donor contacts, solicitations, and other key performance metrics.
  • Work with the DOD and CAPSO to identify and prioritize annual fundraising initiatives, creating strategies, timelines, and resources to support measurable outcomes.
  • With guidance from the DOD and CAPSO, oversee and support annual giving strategies across multiple revenue streams, including major gifts, online giving, direct mail, special events, planned giving, and recurring gifts.
• Donor Communications and Proposal Development
  • In collaboration with the DOD and CAPSO, develop tailored, donor-centric proposals and reports.
  • Assist in drafting, editing, and reviewing acknowledgments, fundraising materials, and other donor communications.
• Reporting, Data Management, and Governance Support
  • Under the direction of the DOD and CAPSO, prepare materials and reports for presentation to the Board of Directors and relevant Board committees.
  • Serve as the lead on maintaining data integrity within the Raiser’s Edge donor database.
  • Ensure accurate and timely documentation of all donor interactions, proposals, and gifts within Raiser’s Edge.
• Collaboration and Organizational Support
  • Collaborate with the Advancement and Public Strategies team on special events and campaigns throughout the year, including public speaking and donor engagement activities as needed.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of the Advancement and Public Strategies team and the organization.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of five years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, and/or advancement.
  • A minimum of 5 years of experience working with a direct service agency.
  • Solid knowledge and understanding of Houston’s philanthropic community, including individuals and foundations.
  • A strong working knowledge of the major gift area, including securing multi-year commitments; capital campaign experience is highly desirable.

Skills

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams).
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to prioritize tasks to meet individual and team deadlines.
• Texas driver’s license with a good driving record; reliable transportation; ability to travel to off-site locations utilizing personal transportation, if applicable.
• CFRE preferred.

Schedule

• Full Time
• Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Weekends as needed
• Work Model: Hybrid
• Local Travel: 25% - 35% (donor meetings, special events, and various meetings)

Pay

Annual Compensation: $95K based on relevant experience.

Pay Schedule: Semi-monthly

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability Insurance
• Time Away From Work Program
  • Vacation Leave based on relevant professional experience (15–30 days annually for full-time employees; prorated for eligible part-time employees)
  • Sick Leave (112 hours annually for full-time employees; prorated for eligible part-time employees)
  • Eleven (11) Paid Agency Holidays for eligible employees who are regularly scheduled to work on the observed holiday
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a 125% employer match on employee contributions up to 4% of annual earnings for eligible full-time employees after one year of service

Vacation and sick leave eligibility, accruals, usage, rollover limits, holiday eligibility, and all benefit programs are administered in accordance with HAWC policies and applicable plan documents.