Director of Development

Job Summary

Provides leadership for Houston City College Foundation fundraising operations by directing systemwide development strategy and managing the Development Director team. Responsible for advancing major, leadership, and principal gift fundraising aligned with institutional priorities established by the HCC Chancellor, HCCs Leadership Team, and the HCC Foundation Board. Serves as a key strategic partner to HCC leadership, ensuring consistent fundraising standards, accountability, and donor stewardship across the college system.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, and performance management for Development Directors; establish expectations, metrics, and accountability to ensure consistent fundraising performance and donor experience.
• Lead the development and execution of coordinated, systemwide fundraising strategies supporting HCC priorities, including student success, workforce development, facilities, and innovation initiatives.
• Manage a personal portfolio of high-capacity individual, corporate, and foundation prospects with emphasis on six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and leadership gift donors; design solicitation strategies aligned with donor interests and institutional needs.
• Develop and present major gift proposals and donor communications in collaboration with HCC and HCC Foundation stakeholders.
• Partner with the President, Houston City College Foundation to set fundraising priorities, develop major gift strategies, and support executive-level donor engagement.
• Collaborate with Advancement Services, Finance/Accounting, Scholarships, and Board Services to ensure accurate gift processing, reporting, stewardship, and recognition.
• Coordinate with college presidents, deans, and district leadership to align fundraising strategy, schedule donor engagement, and prepare leaders for major donor interactions.
• Establish and monitor fundraising performance metrics, including activity, pipeline development, solicitation, and revenue; provide regular progress reports and forecasts.
• Support fundraising training and engagement for HCC leadership and the HCC Foundation Board; prepare briefing materials and donor strategies.
• Represent the Houston City College Foundation at fundraising, donor, and community events as appropriate.
• Stay informed on best practices in major gift fundraising, donor stewardship, volunteer engagement, and advancement operations.
• Perform other duties, tasks and assignments as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelors degree required; masters degree preferred
• Five (5) or more years of fundraising experience required in an institution of higher education, preferably a community college.
• Demonstrated success securing significant gifts, including six- and seven-figure outcomes

Licensing & Certification

• Valid Texas Driver License
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) required

Special Skills

• MS Office Programs
• Information Management Systems
• Budget Management
• Donor Management Systems

Competencies

• Delivering High Quality Work
• Accepting Responsibility
• Serving Customers
• Supporting Organizational Goals
• Driving Continuous Improvement
• Acting with Integrity
• Thinking Critically
• Managing Change
• Communicating Effectively

Working Conditions

General Office. Must be able to perform all job requirements with or without reasonable accommodations; remain in a stationary position during shift; move items weighing up to 25 pounds; position self to operate job equipment; apply established protocols in a timely manner. Must access, input and retrieve information from technology devices; communicate with others to accomplish job requirements. May be required to work after hours to include weekends and holidays.

SECURITY SENSITIVE: This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215