Development Director

About Dar-us-Sakina

Dar-us-Sakina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing inclusive opportunities and support to individuals with disabilities and their caregivers within the Muslim community of Houston.

Through our pillars of Education, Support, and Community Awareness, we aim to create a safe space that embraces individuals of all abilities with empathy and respect, while inspiring the wider community to abandon stigmas and foster inclusion.

Job Summary

Dar-us-Sakina seeks a strategic development professional capable of turning organizational data into compelling stories that inspire people to give. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Director is responsible for fundraising strategy, campaign oversight, donor management, and grant writing for a growing nonprofit with a million dollar annual budget. The ideal candidate has 3+ years of prior experience in development and the drive to scale revenue streams. This full time position is open for immediate hire.

Scope of Responsibility

Fundraising Strategy

• Create and execute annual fundraising plans to meet organizational goals
• Assess efficacy of prior fundraising endeavors and existing community trends in order to focus on initiatives with high probability of success
• Diversify revenue through research and pursuit of untapped donor communities, grants, foundations, and corporate giving
• Network to cultivate major donors, building relationships prior to significant asks
• Promote new avenues of giving, including stock donations, donor advised funds, corporate matching, and legacy giving
• Use real, human centered narratives to help donors develop an emotional connection to the cause and an urgency to give
• Share measurable outcomes to build donor trust, increase retention, and secure larger gifts

Campaign Oversight

• Plan and execute fundraising events under the guidance of the Executive Director
• Convey the mission and impact of the organization through public speaking in a well informed, eloquent, and compelling manner
• Design, implement, and manage multi-channel digital fundraising campaigns
• Generate professional print collaterals for soliciting sponsorships and capital giving
• Track donor giving in real time for all campaigns, coordinating participation of the fundraising committee to meet campaign goals
• Prepare quarterly reports for the Board of Directors with progress towards the annual fundraising goal

Donor Management

• Manage CRM and oversee data entry and gift processing
• Analyze and segment donor data by tracking giving histories, personal preferences, and past interactions to strengthen relationships and grow revenue
• Retain first time givers, recapture lapsed donors, and encourage larger gifts over time
• Develop a donor stewardship matrix, ensuring communication style reflects donor giving level and overseeing staff adherence to communication timelines
• Utilize automation to improve efficiency of communication processes
• Design and dispatch donor text messages, emails, mail, and e-newsletters
• Generate compelling content for the annual report

Grant Writing and Management

• Research to identify funders and opportunities with priorities that align with our cause
• Create an annual grant calendar, adhering to timelines for submissions and reporting
• Collaborate with the team to assess needs, determine goals, and ensure feasibility of all applications
• Generate persuasive proposals and accurate budgets, allowing adequate time for executive review
• Develop a process for data collection, ensuring all project requirements are met on schedule
• Track and document all project related expenses for reporting purposes

Knowledge & Skills

• Applied understanding of basic fundraising principles and development best practices
• Proven track record in scaling revenue streams
• Proven track record of securing major gifts
• Ability to develop and implement long-term strategic plans
• Strong understanding of budgets and reporting
• Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent the organization effectively
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading ability
• Exceptional storytelling ability and a data driven approach to tracking campaign success
• Proficiency in CRM software and donor databases required
• Proficiency in G-Suite required
• Strong work ethic and motivational skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders
• Adaptable and willing to embrace change
• A deep commitment to the organization's mission and values

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree in a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of prior experience in development required.
• Prior experience in the disability sector is a plus.

Location and Commitments

• Full time hybrid position with dedicated in-office days
• Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 4:00pm in office
• Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm remote
• Some local travel by car, depending on where meetings and events are being held
• Role reports to the Executive Director

How to Apply

Send your cover letter and CV to admin@dushouston.org with the subject line: Development Director.