Senior Philanthropy Officer - Major Gifts

Location: Austin, TX

Job :1436

# of Openings:1

ABOUT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE! (APA!):
Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at‑risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals.

The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non‑traditional, community‑based animal rescue work.

The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both.

The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community‑based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service.

The Senior Philanthropy Officer - Major Gifts plays a pivotal role in driving APA!’s mission forward by securing major financial support for our lifesaving programs. Working in close collaboration with the CEO, the Sr. Director of Advancement, and the broader Advancement team, this leader manages a robust portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, building meaningful, lasting relationships that elevate our philanthropic impact.

As an integral ambassador for APA!, the Senior Philanthropy Officer identifies, qualifies, solicits, and stewards major gift supporters. This role blends strategic vision with proactive execution—using donor insights, CRM tools (such as Virtuous), moves management strategies, and creative outreach to inspire investment in APA!’s vision.

At APA!, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. The Senior Philanthropy Officer actively champions a collaborative, inclusive culture, partnering with volunteers and staff alike to achieve shared fundraising and community engagement goals.

This position requires a high level of responsiveness and availability. The work is often fast‑paced and dynamic, with weekend or shift flexibility expected. While APA! strongly encourages work‑life balance, during on‑duty shifts, the Senior Philanthropy Officer is expected to be highly present, solutions‑oriented, and ready to support the team with real‑time problem‑solving.

Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day‑to‑day workflow.

• Drive major gift revenue growth to support current programs and expand future capacity.
• Partner with the CEO, Sr. Director of Advancement, and the Advancement team to design and execute comprehensive donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Manage and steward a portfolio of 75+ major donors while proactively cultivating prospective supporters.
• Develop compelling proposal materials, case statements, and personalized impact reports for major donors.
• Ma…