Director of Leadership Gifts

We are seeking a full-time Director of Leadership Gifts to develop and manage relationships with individuals, families, and institutions with high capacity and likelihood to support Space Center Houston’s mission, with a focus on fundraising for capital campaigns and specially targeted efforts and also including the annual campaign. The Director of Leadership Gifts will collaborate closely with the CEO, CDO, Board of Directors and various internal and external stakeholders to ensure the success of long-term funding initiatives. The Director will play a critical role in advancing the mission and strategic growth of Space Center Houston by leading efforts to secure significant philanthropic investments in the organization’s programs and facilities. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 60+ major donors/prospects with capacity for leadership-level gifts to a capital campaign.
• Manage execution of capital and special campaign-specific initiatives, including events, communications plans, and recognition programs.
• Supervise staff in the cultivation and solicitation of their assigned portfolios and responsibilities to advance major gifts fundraising.
• Support executive leadership and board directors in strengthening external relationships, identifying key opportunities to leverage organizational relationships to achieve fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with fundraising counsel and other consultants to develop materials and timelines for capital and special campaign initiatives.
• Create and present regular updates to executive leadership, board, and staff on assigned portfolios and related program progress and results.
• Prepare proposals, presentations, and reports that illustrate a compelling case for supporting the Space Center Houston mission.
• Collaborate with CDO and Development Manager to cultivate support from corporate philanthropy and foundations.
• Ensure accurate and timely donor record-keeping and campaign reporting within the organization’s CRM database and related systems.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (nonprofit management, fundraising, business, or communications).
• Five or more years of experience in major gift fundraising, capital campaigns, or nonprofit development.
• Proven success in securing leadership-level gifts.
• Proven ability to apply working knowledge and principles of the donor cycle, donor stewardship, and/or fundraising ethics and best practice.
• Experience in fundraising program design and management. 
• Superb relationship building, communication, and presentation skills. 
• Ability to collaborate and inspire stakeholders toward a shared vision.
• Proficiency in software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; CRM database systems; Donor/prospect research software.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced office environment with some interruptions.

This position is time-limited, not to exceed five years.