Director of Development & External Affairs

AccessHealth•Richmond, TX

11d•Onsite

About The Position

AccessHealth is seeking a senior, externally focused leader to direct philanthropic development, clinical referral and strategic partnerships, and digital marketing. The Director will serve as the organization’s public face and community ambassador, building development capacity and external relationships as AccessHealth grows across Fort Bend and Waller Counties. AccessHealth is a private, not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center serving approximately 20,000 patients annually across 17 locations. It has been a 2025 HRSA National Quality Leader and an NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home. The Director will build and manage fundraising programs, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and signature events; oversee the full development lifecycle from prospecting through stewardship; and provide CRM reporting to the CEO and Board. The role will also build a structured clinical referral network, cultivate government relations, represent AccessHealth in community and healthcare forums, and direct external communications, media relations, impact reporting, and digital strategy, including SEO and AI-driven search optimization. The position is based in Richmond, Texas, is full-time and exempt, has a day shift, and reports to the CEO. No travel is indicated. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and three references. The cover letter must describe a gift, grant, or sponsorship personally closed and a partnership or referral relationship built from scratch.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in nonprofit development, healthcare business development, or comparable external-facing leadership.
A proven record of personally closing gifts, grants, or sponsorships of $25,000 or more.
Experience managing an annual fund of $500,000 or more.
Experience producing fundraising events that generate $100,000 or more in revenue.
Grant writing and management experience involving federal, state, and/or private foundation grants.
Proficiency with CRM or donor software such as Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or an equivalent platform.
Working knowledge of SEO, digital marketing, and social media.
An established network in Greater Houston or Fort Bend County, including foundation contacts, hospital community benefit leaders, and corporate giving relationships.
Genuine commitment to health equity and serving underserved communities.
Bachelor’s degree; the job details list an education level of 4 Year Degree.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public health, business administration, public administration, or healthcare administration, or CFRE certification.
FQHC or safety-net healthcare experience.
AIO/LLM search optimization experience.

Responsibilities

Build AccessHealth’s philanthropic infrastructure for individual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and signature events such as the annual gala and golf tournaments.
Manage the full development lifecycle, from prospecting through donor stewardship.
Staff the Board Development Committee.
Manage the CRM and provide regular reporting to the CEO and Board.
Build and manage a structured referral network involving hospitals, clinics, employers, schools, faith communities, and social service nonprofits.
Cultivate relationships with county, state, and federal officials.
Represent AccessHealth at chambers, coalitions, and healthcare forums.
Serve as AccessHealth’s primary community ambassador.
Direct digital marketing, SEO, and AI-driven search optimization, including for Google AI Overviews, Bing Copilot, Claude, and ChatGPT.
Manage external communications, media relations, and annual impact reports.