Director of Development

Austin Parks Foundation•Austin, TX

5d•$90,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is a nonprofit established in 1992 that partners with the community to improve public parks, trails and green spaces through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy and financial support. APF helps address funding and resource gaps affecting nearly 400 parks, trails and green spaces. The Director of Development provides strategic leadership for APF’s individual giving program and donor relationship-building efforts. The role grows individual contributed revenue by managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, creating opportunities for supporters to deepen their connection to APF, and moving relationships forward through cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The Director engages directly with donors and prospective donors, primarily through in-person meetings, as well as calls, events and other mission-centered experiences. The Director oversees major gifts, Groundbreakers (APF’s leadership donors), and individual giving connected to Party for the Parks and other APF events. The role also manages and develops two direct reports—the Database Manager and Development Manager—and aligns their work with coordinated donor engagement, data integrity, fundraising growth and development operations. Working with the Chief Development & Marketing Officer (CDMO), CEO and colleagues across APF, the Director helps expand the organization’s philanthropic reach and secure resources for Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces. This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Chief Development & Marketing Officer. The position is hybrid, with exceptions for donor meetings, tabling and special events, and requires multiple evening and weekend commitments. The date available is January 2027. Physical demands are minimal and typical of similar roles, though the position may require moving event materials weighing up to 40 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least six years of progressively responsible development experience, with a strong emphasis on individual giving and major gifts.
Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting and securing individual gifts, including gifts of $5,000 or more, and building a sustainable major donor pipeline.
Proven ability to meet or exceed fundraising goals and develop strategies that grow contributed revenue.
Experience managing a donor and prospect portfolio, planning and conducting face-to-face donor visits, and making direct, meaningful solicitations.
Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust, listen actively, connect donor interests to organizational priorities and inspire philanthropic investment.
Experience supervising, coaching or managing staff, including setting expectations, developing talent and fostering a collaborative team environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including developing persuasive proposals, donor correspondence and presentations.
Experience with donor databases or CRMs and the ability to use data, reporting and analysis to inform fundraising decisions.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines and taking projects from concept through completion.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, take initiative and adapt in a changing environment.
Flexible, resourceful and solutions-oriented, with a positive attitude and warm, professional demeanor.
Demonstrated passion for the outdoors, particularly Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces.
Ability to work multiple evenings and weekends.
May be required to move event materials weighing up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

CFRE credential or other relevant fundraising certification.
Experience leading or significantly growing a major gifts program, annual giving program or comprehensive individual giving strategy.
Experience planning and executing fundraising campaigns, including direct mail, digital appeals, monthly giving and leadership giving programs.
Experience with fundraising events and event-based giving, including auctions, paddle raises, sponsorship engagement or peer-to-peer fundraising.
Experience with donor moves management, prospect research, wealth screening, donor segmentation and portfolio strategy.
Experience with Little Green Light (LGL) or other nonprofit CRM platforms, and familiarity with tools supporting online giving, email marketing and donor engagement.
Experience in a nonprofit organization, preferably in parks, conservation, public spaces, community development or a related mission area.
Knowledge of and experience with planned giving, including bequests, estate gifts and other legacy giving opportunities, donor-advised funds and other charitable giving vehicles.
Knowledge of Austin’s philanthropic community and experience building relationships with local donors, businesses and community leaders.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead an individual giving strategy to grow revenue, strengthen the donor pipeline and deepen donor relationships.
Manage a portfolio of major donors and qualified prospects, setting goals for personal visits, engagement, solicitations and revenue growth.
Schedule and conduct face-to-face donor and prospect meetings, connecting donor interests with APF’s impact and priorities.
Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors at all levels.
Lead individual giving strategy for major gifts, restricted park projects, Groundbreakers and priority capital initiatives, including the All Abilities Playground.
Partner with the CDMO and CEO on donor strategies and solicitations for priority initiatives, special projects and emerging fundraising opportunities, including relationships with private and family foundations.
Develop major gift proposals and individualized solicitation and engagement strategies.
Identify opportunities for philanthropic investments through donor-advised funds, planned and legacy giving, private family foundations and other charitable giving vehicles.
Set and monitor annual revenue, activity and engagement goals; evaluate results and adjust strategies.
Maintain accurate and timely CRM records of donor interactions, interests, giving history, meeting notes and relationship strategies.
Provide strategic oversight of the Development Manager’s grassroots and mid-level giving portfolio, including direct mail and digital appeals, acquisition and retention campaigns, monthly giving through Perennial Partners, and other targeted initiatives.
Guide direct-response and special fundraising campaigns using donor segmentation and performance results.
Oversee employee and workplace giving programs, including corporate employee campaigns, workplace giving fairs and partnerships such as EarthShare.
Provide strategic direction for special individual giving campaigns, including Zilker Train and All Abilities Playground family-focused campaigns.
Set and monitor revenue, acquisition, retention and engagement goals across grassroots, mid-level and special giving programs.
Lead a year-round donor engagement and stewardship strategy.
Plan and lead donor visits, cultivation opportunities, briefings, tours, small gatherings and other experiences.
Oversee timely donor and funder stewardship across annual and special campaigns with relevant APF colleagues.
Maintain an annual stewardship calendar, including Thank-a-Thon and holiday cards.
Collaborate with the CDMO and VP of Marketing & Communications on donor communications, appeals, acknowledgment language, impact stories and fundraising materials.
Coordinate donor and funder recognition, stewardship and engagement opportunities with the Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving.
Connect donors with relevant APF programs, park projects, volunteer opportunities, advocacy and other mission experiences.
Develop stewardship scripts, templates and resources, and equip staff and board members to participate in donor engagement.
Lead individual giving and fundraising strategy for Party for the Parks in collaboration with the CDMO, CEO and Sr. Manager, Events & Partnerships.
Lead donor cultivation and solicitation strategies for Party for the Parks, including sponsorships, tables and tickets, auctions and paddle raises.
Personally engage and solicit donors and prospects before and during the event, and oversee post-event stewardship and follow-up.
Partner with the Sr. Manager, Events & Partnerships to create an event experience that supports fundraising and donor engagement goals.
Use APF events, volunteer opportunities and community engagement experiences as opportunities for donor cultivation and stewardship.
Provide strategic oversight of APF’s development database and CRM with the Database Manager, ensuring donor information is accurate, consistent and actionable.
Oversee database policies, procedures, reporting, dashboards, user access and training.
Use donor data, giving trends, segmentation and performance reports to inform fundraising strategy, prospect development, engagement and revenue forecasting.
Ensure consistent documentation of donor activity, solicitations, gifts and stewardship.
Establish goals and priorities with the Database Manager to strengthen development operations.
Align individual giving strategies with APF’s organizational priorities and contributed revenue goals in collaboration with the CDMO, CEO and Development & Marketing leadership.
Foster a culture of philanthropy by helping team members recognize donor interests, identify fundraising opportunities and build donor relationships.
Collaborate across departments to engage donors in APF programs, park projects, volunteerism, advocacy and community initiatives.
Serve as an organizational leader and role model through professionalism, accountability, collaboration and a positive, solutions-oriented approach.
Represent APF at donor meetings, community events and other external engagements.
Attend and support APF programs and events as needed and perform other duties as assigned.
Supervise, coach and support the Database Manager and Development Manager, setting clear goals, priorities and accountability.
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to provide feedback, set priorities, assess workload and support professional growth.
Lead annual and quarterly performance reviews and check-ins using the CEO-S performance management system.