Director of Development

Director of Development (Houston-based candidates only)

Position Overview:

Houston Broadway Theatre seeks a bold, relationship-driven, and community-centered Director of Development to lead our fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This hybrid role is ideal for a high-energy self-starter who understands that success in development is as much about building relationships as it is about meeting financial targets.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives on being out in the community—at events, networking functions, and donor meet-ups—and who can convert visibility into financial impact. They will blend strategic fundraising execution with proactive community engagement and marketing collaboration to build a sustainable and growing base of individual and institutional support.

About Us:

Houston Broadway Theatre is a young, nonprofit theatre company delivering high-quality, emotionally resonant musical theatre to the Houston community. We value originality, artistic excellence, and community connection. As a small and agile team, we welcome collaborators who are ready to make bold ideas happen and help us shape the future of theatre in Houston.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising & Donor Development

• Design and lead execution of an annual fundraising strategy to meet a $750,000 goal.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a growing pipeline of individual donors, business sponsors, and foundation supporters.
• Help build and evolve donor levels, sponsorship tiers, and giving pathways aligned with organizational growth.
• Develop and execute unique donor experiences, like behind-the-scenes events, open rehearsals, and VIP nights.
• Develop and execute various fundraising events throughout the year to build engagement and drive fundraising goals
• Maintain accurate records of donor activity, CRM data, and financial projections.

Community Visibility & Engagement

• Be a daily ambassador for the organization—actively attending community events, networking functions, galas, and arts gatherings on behalf of HBT.
• Strategically identify and pursue opportunities to introduce new people to HBT—whether through coffees, special invitations to rehearsals, or cross-promotional events.
• Collaborate with the artistic and marketing teams to bring key prospects into the room and spark organic donor cultivation moments.
• Lead planning and execution of HBT-hosted community engagement and fundraising events.

Marketing-Focused Fundraising & Sponsorships

• Partner with the marketing team to position the organization’s brand compellingly for donors, sponsors, and corporate partners.
• Drive the creation of sponsor packages, donor-facing collateral, and campaigns that tell our story in visually and emotionally impactful ways.
• Collaborate on sponsorship activations that align with our productions, brand identity, and public presence.
• Help shape the narrative of our development efforts with strong storytelling and donor-centered language.

Cold Outreach & Data-Driven Prospecting

• Utilize donor CRMs and research tools to identify, track, and prioritize prospects.
• Confidently engage in cold outreach, donor follow-up, and customized proposal writing.
• Continuously assess donor engagement metrics and refine strategies based on performance and opportunity.
• Identify and apply for available grants at local, state and national levels, gathering all necessary data for a successful application

Team Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with the President and Board of Directors to align fundraising strategy with the organization’s overall vision.
• Regularly track and report on fundraising performance, donor retention, and progress toward development goals.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure consistency in messaging, timing, and audience strategy.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or community engagement.
• Strong knowledge of the Houston philanthropic, business, and arts community.
• Proven ability to connect authentically with people and build lasting relationships.
• Experience in cold calling, CRM prospecting, and donor research.
• Confident public presence and willingness to represent the organization daily at in-person events.
• Collaborative mindset, with an eagerness to work across departments on branding and campaign strategy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including donor correspondence and sponsorship proposals.
• Self starter, comfortable working independently, managing their own calendar and other administrative tasks.
• Knowledge of performing arts, or passion for theatre, is strongly preferred.

Position Details:

• Type: Hybrid (remote in-person community presence required)
• Schedule: Full-time; requires flexible availability for events, evenings, and weekends
• Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000 (depending on experience)
• Reports To: President, Houston Broadway Theatre