Director of Development - YMCA of Greater Houston

About the Role

Serves as a frontline fundraiser on the Philanthropy Team, responsible for directly engaging, cultivating, and soliciting donors and prospects to drive philanthropic growth. This role leads community-focused fundraising efforts by building strong relationships, expanding networks, and increasing awareness of the YMCA of Greater Houston’s impact. The Director actively manages a portfolio, identifying, qualifying, educating, and stewarding donors to secure and grow financial support for key programs and initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an active frontline fundraiser, advancing a donor-centered philanthropy model through direct engagement with donors and prospects.
• Build, manage, and grow a portfolio of 80–120 donors and prospects, with responsibility for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts across annual, capital, and special initiatives; annual goal of $1MM.
• Identify, qualify, educate, and move prospects through the donor pipeline to expand philanthropic support and deepen community awareness of the YMCA’s impact.
• Conduct consistent, strategic donor outreach and relationship management, including in-person meetings, proposals, and follow-up to drive results.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, including moves management, meeting reports, and key insights in Blackbaud NXT.
• Clearly and compellingly communicate the YMCA of Greater Houston’s mission, programs, and impact to inspire giving and long-term engagement.
• Build and leverage relationships across the community to expand the YMCA’s visibility, partnerships, and funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal leadership and advisory board members to activate networks, support fundraising strategies, and advance donor engagement.
• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with community organizations, including opportunities for joint funding requests when aligned.
• Represent the YMCA in community collaborations, events, and external engagements to strengthen presence and influence.

YMCA Culture & Cause Expectations

Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. It’s who we are, who we aspire to be, and how we show up every day. As a cause-driven leader, you are expected to be:

• Welcoming – Accept neighbors eagerly, warmly, hospitably, and as equal participants.
• Nurturing – Care for, support, and help develop through encouragement.
• Hopeful – Take an optimistic or positive view of future outcomes.
• Determined – Devote full strength and concentrated attention to the cause.
• Genuine – Be honest and open in relationships with others.

YMCA Competencies (Team Leader)

• Mission Advancement: Models and teaches the Y’s values. Ensures a high level of service with a commitment to changing lives. Provides volunteers with orientation, training, development, and recognition. Cultivates relationships to support fundraising.
• Collaboration: Champions inclusion activities, strategies, and initiatives. Builds relationships to create small communities. Empathetically listens and communicates for understanding when negotiating and dealing with conflict. Effectively tailors communications to the appropriate audience. Provides staff with feedback, coaching, guidance, and support.
• Operational Effectiveness: Provides others with frameworks for making decisions. Conducts prototypes to support the launching of programs and activities. Develops plans and manages best practices through engagement of the team. Effectively creates and manages budgets. Holds staff accountable for high-quality results using a formal process to measure progress.
• Personal Growth: Shares new insights. Facilitates change; models adaptability and an awareness of the impact of change. Utilizes non-threatening methods to address sensitive issues and inappropriate behavior or performance. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent.
• Three to five years of professional experience with fundraising, including annual campaigns and major gifts.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborations within a community as well as relate well to community leaders.
• Ability to multi-task and problem-solve.
• Demonstrated fundraising strategy development.
• Working knowledge of giving and charitable vehicles.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.