Position : Director, Donor Engagement
Classification : Full-time, Exempt
Reports to : Sr. Vice President, Advancement
Company : DePelchin Family Services
Location : Houston, TX
Position Description :
The Director, Donor Engagement is responsible for developing and executing integrated fundraising and donor engagement strategies to drive new donor acquisition, increase annual fundraising revenue, strengthen donor retention, and grow long-term philanthropic support. The role oversees omnichannel fundraising programs including direct mail, digital appeals, special events, recurring giving, corporate matching gifts, peer-to-peer fundraising, and tribute giving. In addition, the Director provides strategic leadership and oversight to volunteer services staff, ensuring volunteer engagement programs and initiatives align with organizational priorities and advance the mission.
Primary Responsibilities : Provide strategic oversight and direction for all direct response fundraising efforts in coordination with external vendors, including the editorial development, design, production, and distribution of multichannel campaigns across email, mail, SMS, social media, and digital advertising. Collaborate closely with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure consistency with brand standards and alignment with broader organizational messaging, while managing timelines, approvals, and performance outcomes.
Lead the strategic design, planning, and execution of high-profile special events, including major fundraising events, donor cultivation gatherings, and stewardship events. Oversee all aspects of event production by setting clear goals and objectives, developing timelines, managing budgets, and coordinating the efforts of staff, vendors, and volunteers.
Design and lead a comprehensive donor stewardship program that effectively communicates impact and appreciation across all giving levels, with the goal of increasing donor retention and increasing giving levels; provide strategic direction and oversight to the Stewardship Coordinator responsible for the program’s execution and day-to-day operations.
Develop and lead strategies to grow revenue through recurring giving, corporate matching gifts, peer-to-peer fundraising, and tribute giving opportunities. Provide strategic oversight and direction to the Donor Communications Specialist responsible for the execution and day-to-day operations of those strategies.
Cultivate corporate and community partnerships to secure philanthropic support, including event and campaign sponsorships and in-kind contributions. Identify prospects with major giving potential and refer them to the Donor Relations team.
Provide strategic oversight and leadership for the volunteer program, ensuring effective recruitment, management, coordination, and retention of volunteers through direct supervision of the Volunteer Manager, aligning volunteer engagement with organizational goals and compliance standards.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of database operations to drive donor acquisition, retention and engagement through effective utilization of technology, data management, analysis, and prospect research; supervise the Advancement Database Manager to ensure data integrity, informed decision-making through reporting, and implementation of data-driven automation tools and workflows.
Provide required monthly reports that accurately reflect activity and performance.
Participate in regular department and board committee meetings, providing progress updates.
Represent DePelchin in community events pertinent to the promotion and support of DePelchin programs and projects as assigned.
Perform public speaking to promote awareness and support of DePelchin programs as assigned.
Lead tours for individual prospects and/or interested groups.
Required Qualifications : Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, marketing,…