Senior Development Director

Texas Freedom Network (TFN) seeks a full-time Senior Development Director based in Austin, Texas. TFN is a statewide non-partisan, grassroots organization building an informed and effective movement working toward equality and social justice.

About the role

The Senior Development Director leads the execution and management of Texas Freedom Network’s $5 million fundraising program, translating organizational strategy into coordinated, high-performing revenue streams for both our 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities. This role operationalizes a multi-channel fundraising approach—including institutional giving, individual donors, grassroots engagement, and events—while building the internal systems, team capacity, and cross-functional alignment needed to sustain and grow revenue. The Director serves as a key implementation partner to the President and Executive Team, ensuring fundraising strategy is actionable, measurable, and aligned with TFN’s programmatic priorities and role in the broader progressive ecosystem.

Reports to: President/Executive Director

Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy Implementation & Revenue Management
  • Lead execution of TFN’s annual and multi-year fundraising plans, aligned with organizational priorities supporting both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities
  • Manage a diversified revenue portfolio, including:
    • Institutional philanthropy (grants and foundations)
    • Major donors and mid-level giving
    • Grassroots and digital fundraising
    • Events and campaigns
    • Rapid-response fundraising tied to political moments, legislative fights, and breaking news
  • Translate high-level goals into clear revenue targets, pipelines, and work plans
  • Monitor performance and adjust tactics to meet revenue goals
• Systems & Pipeline Management
  • Build and maintain functional fundraising systems, including:
    • Donor pipeline tracking (prospect → cultivation → solicitation → stewardship)
    • CRM management and data integrity
    • Revenue tracking and forecasting
  • Develop dashboards and reporting tools to support decision-making and accountability
  • Partner with Finance to ensure alignment between revenue tracking, budgeting, and reporting
  • Strengthen internal processes for consistency, clarity, and sustainability
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Supervise and support development staff across key functions:
    • Institutional giving
    • Individual giving
    • Events and digital engagement
  • Establish clear goals, roles, and performance expectations
  • Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development
  • Build a collaborative, accountable, and sustainable team culture
• Donor & Funder Engagement
  • Manage a portfolio of institutional funders and individual donors
  • Support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
  • Partner with the President and senior leadership on major donor strategy and key relationships
  • Identify and pursue new funding opportunities aligned with TFN’s priorities
• Cross-Functional Alignment
  • Collaborate with Programs, Communications, and Finance to ensure:
    • Strong alignment between fundraising and programmatic outcomes
    • Clear and compelling narratives for funders
    • Accurate and timely reporting
  • Ensure development efforts reflect and reinforce TFN’s strategic priorities and campaigns
• Board & Organizational Support
  • Support Board engagement in fundraising efforts
  • Prepare materials, reports, and tools to strengthen Board participation
  • Contribute to building a culture of fundraising across the organization
• External Representation
  • Represent TFN in funder meetings, community events, and partner spaces as needed
  • Support positioning of TFN within aligned funding and movement networks
  • Align fundraising strategies with broader progressive movement goals and coalition partners
  • Partner with Communications to ensure consistency in external messaging

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in nonprofit development or fundraising
• Demonstrated success managing fundraising programs across multiple revenue streams
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Experience supervising staff and managing team performance
• Strong understanding of donor pipelines, CRM systems, and fundraising operations
• Ability to translate strategy into execution and measurable outcomes
• Ability to navigate both advocacy and electoral work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the progressive movement landscape in Texas and/or nationally
• Experience in issue areas such as democracy, public education, or civic engagement
• Experience managing foundation grants and donor portfolios
• Experience building or improving fundraising systems and processes
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving organizational environment
• Familiarity with the compliance of fundraising for both a 501(c)3 and 501(c)4
• Experience with electoral fundraising

Key Competencies

• Executional leadership and accountability
• Systems thinking and operational rigor
• Relationship management and donor engagement
• Data-informed decision-making
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Commitment to equity, justice, and power-building

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) savings plan with employer contribution
• Paid vacation, personal, sick, and parental leave

Pay

$95,000 - $115,000 (depending on experience)