Job Description

Company Description

Since 1989, SEARCH has been  providing hope, creating opportunity, and transforming lives for thousands of men, women, and children who are trying to break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness. As we work to make homelessness  rare, brief,  and nonrecurring,  our ultimate vision is of a Houston without homelessness.

Position Summary:

The Development Manager  is a key contributor to the organization’s fundraising strategy, responsible for securing major gifts, expanding donor engagement, and supporting the operations of the Development team. This position combines donor relationship management, campaign leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and team supervision. The  Development Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the organization meets its ambitious private fundraising goals and upholds a strong donor stewardship program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 100+ individual donors and prospects.
• Conduct regular donor outreach, including cultivation meetings, solicitations, and personalized stewardship.
• Design and implement targeted fundraising campaigns and donor affinity groups (e.g., Emerging Leaders, recurring donors).
• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure cohesive donor communications and an integrated fundraising approach.
• Execute peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives and support signature events aligned with annual development goals.
• Collaborate closely with the Vice President of Development to align strategy, maximize fundraising impact, and ensure consistency across all development efforts.

Strategic Fund Development Planning

• Help develop and implement the annual fundraising and stewardship plan.
• Assist in cascading fundraising strategies across the department and promoting alignment between team objectives and broader organizational goals.
• Collaborate with team and leadership to ensure strategy alignment and campaign consistency.

Marketing, Communications, and External Relations

• Oversee the development and ongoing enhancement of digital fundraising platforms, including the organization’s website and social media.
• Develop content strategies that increase visibility, drive engagement, and support fundraising campaigns.
• Work with media partners to develop content that drives donations and brand engagement.
• Analyze digital engagement data to inform future outreach strategies.

Supervision and Departmental Operations

• Provide supervision, coaching, and performance management for direct reports (e.g., Events Coordinator, Database Specialist).
• Monitor day-to-day operations of the Development Department including gift processing, acknowledgments, data integrity, and finance reconciliations.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the Development team.
• Model effective donor relationship management and coach staff on cultivation and solicitation best practices.

Required Competencies

• Relationship Building: Ability to foster and sustain meaningful connections with donors, stakeholders, and team members.
• Strategic Thinking: Skill in aligning development activities with organizational priorities and long-term vision.
• Communication Proficiency: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple campaigns, projects, and deliverables with attention to detail.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to supervise and motivate a diverse team with clarity, empathy, and accountability.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in fundraising systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge), Microsoft Office, and digital fundraising tools.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3 years of progressive fundraising experience. (Preferred)
• Prior experience supervising staff or cross-functional project teams.
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing annual fundraising strategies and donor campaigns.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Fundraising: 3 years (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Houston, TX 77002 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Houston, TX 77002: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)
• Work Location: In person

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