Director of Development

Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is dedicated to partnering with our community to enhance people’s lives by making our public parks, trails and green spaces better through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy and financial support. A non‑profit established in 1992, APF fills the city’s funding and resource gap needed to develop, maintain and enhance the area’s 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. This role is responsible for growing contributed revenue from individuals by building and managing a robust portfolio of donors and prospects, creating meaningful opportunities for supporters to deepen their connection to APF, and moving relationships forward through thoughtful cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. The Director will spend significant time engaging directly with donors and prospective donors primarily through in‑person meetings, as well as calls, events and other mission‑centered experiences.

The Director oversees key individual giving programs and fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, Groundbreakers (APF’s leadership donors), and leadership of individual giving connected to Party for the Parks and other APF events. The Director also manages and develops two direct reports—the Database Manager and Development Manager—aligning their work with a coordinated strategy for donor engagement, data integrity, fundraising growth and strong development operations.

Working closely with the CDMO, CEO and colleagues across APF, the Director will help expand the organization’s philanthropic reach and secure the resources needed to support Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces.

• Individual Giving & Revenue Growth
  • Develop and lead a comprehensive individual giving strategy that grows revenue year after year, strengthens the donor pipeline and deepens individual donor relationships.
  • Manage an active portfolio of major donors and qualified prospects, with clear goals for personal visits, meaningful touchpoints, solicitations and revenue growth.
  • Proactively schedule and conduct face‑to‑face donor and prospect meetings, connecting donor interests with APF’s impact, priorities and opportunities for greater engagement and investment.
  • Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors at all levels, creating thoughtful pathways for supporters to grow their giving and involvement over time.
  • Lead individual giving strategy for major gifts, restricted park projects, Groundbreakers (APF’s leadership donors) and priority capital initiatives, including the All Abilities Playground.
  • Partner with the CDMO and CEO to develop donor strategies and solicitations for priority initiatives, special projects and emerging fundraising opportunities, including identifying and cultivating relationships with private and family foundations.
  • Develop compelling major gift proposals and individualized solicitation and engagement strategies that connect donor passions with APF’s mission, funding priorities and opportunities for transformational impact.
  • Identify opportunities to secure significant philanthropic investments through donor‑advised funds (DAFs), planned and legacy giving, private family foundations and other charitable giving vehicles.
  • Establish and monitor annual revenue, activity and engagement goals; evaluate results and adjust strategies to achieve or exceed targets.
  • Maintain timely, accurate CRM records of donor interactions, including…