Development Director

Development Director The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park Houston, TX Job Details Full-time $80,000 - $95,000 a year 15 hours ago Benefits Free parking Paid holidays Paid time off Employee discount Qualifications Professional networking Strategic management Major gifts Policy & process development Sponsorships Data management Calendar management CRM system proficiency Donor and alumni database management

Full Job Description Job Summary:

Development Director Location:

Downtown Houston, TX Reports to: Executive Director About the Role The Heritage Society, Houston's history museum, is seeking a strategic, relationship‑driven Development Director to lead all contributed revenue efforts. This is a hands‑on, high‑ownership role. You will manage donor relationships, lead major gifts, grow events and sponsorships, strengthen grants, and build the systems and structure of a modern development department. As revenue grows, this position will evolve into Chief Development Officer. Please resume to . Fundraising & Donor Relations (Primary Focus) Lead major donor strategy , including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship Build and manage donor pipelines with clear revenue targets Conduct donor meetings, prepare proposals, and manage follow‑up Strengthen donor retention and stewardship systems Maintain accurate, actionable donor data in DonorView Events & Sponsorships Lead all fundraising events from concept to execution Grow event revenue, attendance, and sponsorships year over year Develop sponsorship packages and renewals Coordinate with vendors, volunteers, and museum leadership Strategic Planning & Revenue Management Track revenue, KPIs, and donor activity using DonorView Partner with the Executive Director and Board Development Committee on strategy Improve donor communications (appeals, updates, acknowledgments) Build the infrastructure for a scalable development department Grants & Institutional Giving Manage the grants calendar, deadlines, and reporting Coordinate information, write, and submit grant applications Identify new funding opportunities and maintain foundation relationships Future Department Leadership Recommend developmentstaffing structure as revenue grows Establish development policies, processes, and performance standards Serve as the organization's lead fundraising strategist What We're Looking For 5+ years of progressive fundraising experience in a management or leadership role. Demonstrated success with major gifts, sponsorships, and donor stewardship Experience building or scaling a development program Strong communication and relationship‑building skills CRM proficiency (DonorView preferred) Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑moving environment Museum or cultural nonprofit experience strongly preferred What Success Looks Like in Year One A clear, board‑aligned fundraising plan with milestones Growth in major gifts, sponsorships, and event revenue Strengthened donor relationships and stewardship systems A clean, optimized DonorView database A functioning grants pipeline with predictable deadlines A documented vision for the future development department Compensation $80,000 - 95,000 salary Performance incentives tied to revenue goals This position is salaried, exempt.

Paid Time Off, Paid Company Holidays, Free Parking, Employee Discount Pay:

$80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Employee discount Paid time off

Work Location:

In person