Senior Director, Development

The Senior Director, Development provides leadership and strategic direction for the Development Department, ensuring alignment of departmental goals with the organization’s overall mission and strategic plan. Leads a high-performing team through effective goal setting, planning, and performance management to drive excellence and accountability. Fosters a collaborative and mission-driven culture focused on achieving measurable fundraising and engagement outcomes. Directs fundraising for divisions including Workforce Advancement, Goodwill Career & Technical Academy, The Excel Center, Exploration Center, and other programs within Goodwill Central Texas. Responsible for leading philanthropic programs through foundation relations and grants, major gifts and campaign fundraising, annual gala and events, annual fundraising campaigns, and other fundraising-related activities. Drives best practices through design and implementation of strategy. Responsible for department reporting, budgeting, and forecasting. Directs management of the CRM database. Follows and promotes the ethical guidelines set forth by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and the AFP Donor Bill of Rights.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Executive benefits package designed to empower you both professionally and personally.

• Management Incentive Plan (MIP): The Senior Director, Development is eligible to participate in Goodwill’s Management Incentive Plan, with a target bonus opportunity of 15% of eligible base salary, rewarding performance and impact.
• Executive Plan – Unlimited Paid Time Off: We trust our leaders to manage their time responsibly. Take the time you need to recharge and perform at your best.
• Company-Paid Short-Term Disability: Financial protection and peace of mind when you need it most.
• Company-Paid Long-Term Disability: Extended coverage to safeguard your income and future.
• Competitive Compensation Package: Designed to attract and retain top-tier leadership talent.
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits: Supporting your physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
• Retirement Savings Opportunities: Helping you plan confidently for the future.
• A Collaborative, Forward-Thinking Culture: Join a mission-driven organization committed to innovation, impact, and community transformation.

Role and Responsibilities

Department Management

• Oversight of the Development team including Director of Development, Manager of Annual Giving, and Donor Relations Manager.
• Lead the Development Department in establishing and executing strategic goals aligned with the organization’s mission and growth objectives.
• Develop and implement annual departmental plans, budgets, and performance metrics to ensure accountability and progress toward key milestones.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Development team, ensuring effective coordination across fundraising, donor relations, grants, and communications functions.
• Provide strong leadership and mentorship to department staff, fostering professional growth, collaboration, and a culture of excellence.
• Set clear individual and team performance objectives; regularly evaluate progress through data-driven performance reviews and feedback sessions.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to identify funding priorities, develop strategic initiatives, and align development efforts with organizational goals.
• Manage departmental resources efficiently, ensuring optimal allocation of staff, time, and budget to meet fundraising and engagement targets.
• Oversee systems and processes to track progress, measure outcomes, and continuously improve departmental effectiveness and efficiency.
• Represent the Development Department in cross-functional planning meetings, contributing to organizational strategy and long-term sustainability.
• Ensure compliance with all organizational policies, ethical fundraising standards, and relevant regulations.

Philanthropic Programs Management 

• Direct foundation relations and grants management.
• Research, monitor, and pursue grant opportunities that working with teams from Workforce Advancement, Goodwill Career & Technical Academy, The Excel Center, Exploration Center, and other programs within Goodwill Central Texas.
• Maintain and develop a robust calendar of grant submissions in alignment with our fundraising priorities and goals, including all application and reporting deadlines.
• Write, compile, and submit all grant applications and materials according to the requirements of the grant solicitation, best practices, and ethical guidelines.
• Cultivation and stewardship of institutional stakeholders and funders.
• Lead major gifts and campaign planning.
• Build and manage major gifts and campaign plans.
• Oversee development of case statements and related collateral.
• Create major donor prospect pipeline.
• Participate in major gifts and campaign fundraising.
• Work with professional consultants as needed for campaigns and special projects.
• Maintain Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and other public profiles.
• Maintain departmental fundraising and gift management policies.
• Provide writing and editorial support for stewardship and donor communications efforts, such as gift agreements, gift renewal letters, special communications, and stewardship plans and letters.
• Support other fundraising strategies as part of the development team on an as-needed basis, such as annual gala, direct mail campaigns, and donor stewardship activities
• Carry out and oversee other fundraising projects as directed.

Strategic Planning and Reporting

• Working with the Development Team, develop annual and long-range plans including the annual philanthropy plan and calendar, and ongoing strategies to optimize fundraising efforts.
• Ongoing data analysis to support data informed strategy and tactics.
• Develop metrics and corresponding dashboards for Development team and others as needed.
• Provide Balanced and Divisional Scorecard reporting data.
• Monitor and update annual plan and report progress. Develop and manage operational metrics and reporting throughout the department to ensure disciplined approach to goals.
• Work with professional consultants as needed.
• Research best practices with Goodwill and fundraising professional peers and recommend implementation as appropriate.

Finance and Operations Management

• Manage processes with FP&A including:
• Annual budget
• Monthly forecasting and review of actuals
• Monthly reconciliation of accounting reports
• Partner with Finance department on reconciliation procedures and reporting.
• Review and approve invoices for Development team.
• Provide any reports needed for items detailed above, and any additional reporting needed, including reports to GII and Finance reporting for 990 preparation and audit requests.

CRM Management 

• Oversee Donor Relations Manager.
• Oversee and drive best practices for the department CRM system that provides management and coordination of all development activities and information related to gift and donor records, research, gift accounting, moves management, stewardship, report management, and quality controls.
• Oversee planning and evaluation of technology infrastructure necessary to promote and sustain advancement and engagement activities, including Raiser’s Edge CRM and other platforms/ software purchased for use by Development department. Serve as a liaison with vendors.
• Oversee creation of policies and procedures involving gift processing, biographical and financial records maintenance and reconciliations, donor relations and stewardship, data oversight, quality control, and strategic reporting.
• Supervise timely and accurate processing/data entry of gifts and/or biographic information, including gift coding, to ensure operational activities are in compliance with IRS regulations of gift substantiation and Goodwill Central Texas policies. 
• Oversee, train, encourage, and implement use of technological platforms, tools, and metrics to maximize efficiency and accountability across the Development team. 
• Lead donor privacy best practices for the department.

Moves Management

• Develop and actively maintain the pipeline for major gifts fundraising through prospect research.
• Work with the Development team and external and internal leadership on lead generation.
• Manage the moves management process utilizing the current CRM, Raiser’s Edge.
• Work with Development staff and others as needed to actively utilize the Raiser’s Edge dashboard and other tools to support their daily work.
• Lead team meetings to review prospect pipelines.
• Provide advanced research as needed. Train Development team to utilize research tools available, currently including ResearchPoint.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has supervisory responsibilities over the Director of Development, Donor & Community Relations and Donor Relations Manager.

.

Required Skills & Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 7-10 years of nonprofit development experience
• 5-7 years of experience with fundraising CRM Raiser’s Edge
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising and best practices
• Corporate and foundation relations
• Annual, major gifts, and campaign fundraising
• Special events
• Demonstrated success at developing and preparing proposals, securing commitments, and reporting
• Experience with major gifts and capital campaign management
• Proficiency in fundraising analysis and reporting, budget development and management, and financial reporting and forecasting
• Experience training and supervising fundraising staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a ‘zero-defect’ standard
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Ability to work well in a nimble, fast paced, team-oriented environment
• Ability and comfort collaborating with staff and volunteers at all levels of the organization and from all backgrounds
• Willingness and availability to work a flexible schedule, including nights and weekends.
• Demonstrates organizational and divisional values
• Must possess a maturity of practice commensurate with being an organizational leader.
• Follows and promotes the ethical guidelines set forth by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Principles and Standards and the AFP Donor Bill of Rights.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) recommended but not required

Physical Requirements 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk or hear.
• The ability to cope with and tolerate moderate levels of stress is also a necessity. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• Ability to use hands and fingers to operate a telephone and keyboard.
• Must be able to work in a non-climate-controlled environment.
• Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds on a regular basis with or without reasonable accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Goodwill Central Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Background Check Requirement:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. This may include verification of employment history, education, criminal background, and other information relevant to the position.