Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts

Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts

Houston, TX

We are hiring an Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts for our client, a large, mission‑driven nonprofit serving the Greater Houston region
, focused on strengthening community well‑being through strategic investment, community partnerships, and impact‑driven programs.

This AVP provides leadership in identifying, attracting, cultivating, and soliciting and stewarding principal gifts and pipeline donors to support the fundraising efforts. This role's responsibilities are twofold; (1), leading and further developing a strategic and comprehensive program to identify prospects and present strategies to cultivate and increase giving in the areas of assigned responsibility while securing new donors and meeting growth goals;

and (2) leading the effort in conducting prospect research using financial data, information from multiple news sources and wealth screening services to increase the donor base among corporate donors and high‑level donors outside the workplace.

The position requires the coordination and support of high‑level volunteers, development and execution of a year‑round communication and engagement program, moves management strategy, building relationships with donors and prospects, extensive research on donors and prospects, and assisting with coordination of cultivation events. Reporting to the Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer and leading a team of professional staff, this Assistant Vice President must work collaboratively with the entire Advancement team, corporate donors, key volunteers, and individual donors.

A key responsibility of this position is the ability to listen well and possess strong interpersonal skills to perceive and react sensitively to the needs and interests of potential donors. The incumbent will be flexible, self‑motivated, accurate, professional, and detail oriented. Adeptness in conveying the story of the organization to a diverse group of donors and prospects for their cultivation is paramount.

• Lead a comprehensive principal gifts program.
• Drive year‑round engagement strategies that increase giving and expand the major donor base.

• Oversee prospect identification and wealth analytics.
• Interpret financial and market data and build strategies that grow high‑level donor participation.

• Manage and develop a team of fundraising professionals.
• Collaborate on annual budgets, work plans, and campaign reporting.
• Ensure alignment across Advancement functions.
• Partner closely with executive volunteers, corporate leaders, and key stakeholders.
• Support cultivation events and high‑impact donor experiences.

• Work closely with Advancement, Marketing, Finance, and organizational leadership to support strategic priorities and donor stewardship.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management or related field from an accredited university
• 10 to 15 years of experience in fundraising
• Minimum of 7 years in fundraising leadership, managing a team to achieve desired results
• Successful track record in relationship development and management, extensive fundraising, and community engagement activities with individuals and the community in a major metropolitan area;
  deep familiarity with the Houston area philanthropic landscape and its major donor community strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success in leading non‑profit fundraising campaigns
• Knowledge and appreciation of digital engagement and its use in the integration of technology platforms and social media used into the overall fundraising strategy which includes attracting new donors, improving donor…