Position: Senior Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships

Full time| Memphis, TN

Salary Range: Starting at $95,000

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis seeks an accomplished, strategic, and relationship-driven fundraising professional to serve as its Senior Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, this executive leadership position will provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and accountability for the organization’s individual giving, corporate and community partnerships, and related philanthropic initiatives.

The Senior Director will play a central role in strengthening Memphis Habitat’s fundraising infrastructure, expanding philanthropic relationships, developing new revenue sources, and ensuring the successful execution of fundraising strategies across multiple giving programs. The position will also serve as a key strategic partner to the President & CEO in advancing the organization’s $62 million Framing the Future comprehensive campaign. With the campaign entering its final two years, the Senior Director will help accelerate fundraising progress through prospect research, donor cultivation strategies, campaign coordination, solicitation preparation, and disciplined follow-through.

The President & CEO will continue to lead the organization’s most significant philanthropic relationships and campaign solicitations. The Senior Director will provide the strategy, preparation, coordination, and execution necessary to maximize these opportunities while independently advancing other fundraising priorities. The successful candidate will be a confident fundraising professional and effective people leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution, sound judgment, strong relationship-management skills, and a demonstrated commitment to measurable results.

Roles & Responsibilities

1. Fundraising Strategy, Leadership & Accountability
Develop and implement an integrated fundraising strategy encompassing individual giving, major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, faith-based giving, and community fundraising initiatives.
Provide direct leadership and accountability for fundraising functions assigned to the position.
Translate organizational fundraising priorities into actionable plans with clear revenue goals, performance indicators, timelines, and staff responsibilities.
Establish consistent fundraising management practices, including pipeline reviews, revenue forecasting, performance dashboards, and regular progress reporting.
Identify opportunities to strengthen existing fundraising programs and develop new revenue sources.
Evaluate fundraising performance and recommend adjustments to improve results.
Promote collaboration across fundraising teams while maintaining clear ownership of responsibilities and outcomes.
Ensure fundraising operations are proactive, efficient, donor-centered, and aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities.
2. Executive Philanthropy & Major Gift Strategy
Serve as the President & CEO’s principal strategic partner in advancing significant philanthropic opportunities.

Develop and maintain a prioritized portfolio of high-potential philanthropic prospects and relationships involving the CEO.
Lead prospect research and analysis to identify donor interests, philanthropic priorities, giving potential, relationship history, and strategic connections.
Prepare comprehensive cultivation and solicitation strategies tailored to individual donors and funding opportunities.
Develop executive donor briefings, meeting preparation materials, personalized proposals, and recommended engagement approaches.
Coordinate donor meetings, cultivation activities, solicitation preparation, and timely follow-up.
Maintain a disciplined moves-management process to ensure significant opportunities advance consistently toward commitments.
Work closely with the CEO to align donor interests with campaign priorities and organizational funding needs.
Provide strategic recommendations regarding gift structures, multiyear commitments, donor recognition, and stewardship opportunities.
Coordinate internal resources necessary to support significant philanthropic conversations and proposals.
Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of major donor activities, proposals, commitments, and next steps.
Independently cultivate, solicit, and steward an assigned portfolio of donors while supporting CEO-led relationships and solicitations.
The Senior Director will be expected to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and initiative in managing high-level philanthropic opportunities while recognizing the CEO’s continued leadership in the organization’s most significant donor relationship

3. Individual Giving & Donor Development
Provide direct leadership and oversight of the Individual Giving Team, strengthening the organization’s ability to cultivate, solicit, retain, and steward individual supporters.

Develop and execute strategies to increase individual philanthropic revenue.
Strengthen the major gifts pipeline through systematic prospect identification, qualification, cultivation, and stewardship.
Oversee annual giving programs, donor communications, recurring giving, and donor retention strategies.
Lead efforts to engage approximately 1,800 donors associated with Habitat for Humanity International’s Collaborative Operating Model, including a targeted segment of high-capacity donors.
Develop personalized donor engagement strategies that deepen relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
Establish and implement a planned giving program, including legacy giving opportunities, prospect identification, and donor education.
Strengthen the Heart & Hammer monthly giving program.
Oversee donor database management, segmentation, gift tracking, moves management, and fundraising reporting.
Ensure consistent, timely, and meaningful donor acknowledgment and stewardship.
Support the development of individual giving campaigns, cultivation events, and donor engagement initiatives.
Build a sustainable individual giving program that continues to grow beyond the comprehensive campaign.
4. Corporate, Community & Faith Partnerships
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Community Engagement fundraising function, including corporate partnerships, faith-based giving, and community fundraising initiatives.

Support the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate philanthropic partners.
Strengthen relationships with businesses, faith institutions, community organizations, and other funding partners.
Work with the Community Engagement team to achieve established fundraising goals associated with house sponsorships, corporate partnerships, faith-based giving, and community fundraising.
Identify opportunities to expand corporate relationships into multiyear philanthropic partnerships and broader organizational support.
Support fundraising strategies for Women Build, Athletes Build, Heroes Build, Faith Build, and other affinity initiatives.
Help identify corporate executives and community leaders with potential interest in supporting Memphis Habitat personally.
Ensure effective coordination between fundraising, volunteer engagement, and corporate stewardship activities.
Collaborate with other departments to identify partnership opportunities that support homeownership, Aging in Place, neighborhood revitalization, and related initiatives.
Strengthen the organization’s ability to engage partners in multiple aspects of its mission.
5. Comprehensive Campaign Strategy & Execution
Play a central leadership role in advancing and completing Memphis Habitat’s $62 million Framing the Future comprehensive campaign.

Partner closely with the CEO to implement strategies designed to achieve remaining campaign fundraising objectives.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive campaign prospect pipeline, including gift opportunities, cultivation stages, solicitation strategies, and anticipated commitments.
Coordinate prospect research, donor preparation, personalized proposals, and follow-up for CEO-led campaign relationships.
Support the launch and execution of the campaign’s individual giving initiatives, including leadership gifts and broader donor engagement.
Identify opportunities to expand participation among individual philanthropists, corporate leaders, and existing Habitat supporters.
Coordinate campaign fundraising activities across Individual Giving and Community Engagement.
Monitor campaign commitments, pledge fulfillment, donor stewardship, and progress toward fundraising goals.
Collaborate with the Vice President of Brand Strategy on campaign communications, donor storytelling, recognition, and engagement opportunities.
Provide regular campaign progress reports, prospect updates, and strategic recommendations to the CEO.
Help position Memphis Habitat for sustained philanthropic growth following the campaign’s completion.
6. Staff Leadership, Development & Performance Management
Provide direct supervision and leadership for the Individual Giving and Community Engagement teams.
Establish clear staff roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and measurable fundraising goals.
Conduct regular individual and team meetings focused on fundraising progress, priorities, challenges, and opportunities.
Provide coaching, professional development, and constructive performance feedback.
Strengthen accountability through consistent performance monitoring and follow-through.
Promote a collaborative, positive, and results-oriented work environment.
Identify opportunities to improve staff effectiveness, workflow efficiency, and coordination.
Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and professional development of fundraising personnel.
Foster a culture of initiative, donor-centered service, and continuous improvement.
7. Donor Stewardship & Philanthropic Engagement
Develop and oversee a coordinated donor stewardship strategy across assigned fundraising functions.
Ensure donors receive meaningful acknowledgment, engagement, and communication regarding the impact of their investments.
Identify opportunities for personalized engagement of major donors and long-standing philanthropic partners.
Coordinate with the CEO and other senior leaders on high-level donor stewardship.
Support donor cultivation gatherings, leadership briefings, campaign events, and other engagement opportunities.
Work with Brand Strategy to develop compelling donor impact stories, communications, and recognition opportunities.
Strengthen donor retention and encourage increased giving through thoughtful relationship management.
8. Organizational Collaboration & Executive Partnership
Serve as a trusted member of the organization’s senior leadership team and strategic adviser to the CEO on philanthropic matters.
Collaborate closely with the Vice-President of Brand Strategy to align fundraising activities with organizational communications, donor storytelling, and campaign messaging.
Support fundraising follow-up, donor stewardship, and philanthropic opportunities associated with CEO Build, while the Vice President of Brand Strategy retains primary leadership of the initiative.
Coordinate with the COO and Associate Director of Grants to align institutional funding opportunities with broader organizational fundraising priorities.
Collaborate with Finance on gift reporting, pledge management, revenue projections, and fundraising accountability.
Support appropriate engagement of board members and volunteer leaders in fundraising and donor stewardship.
Represent Memphis Habitat professionally in meetings with donors, corporate partners, community leaders, and philanthropic organizations.
Required Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, development, or a related field.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing fundraising strategies that produce measurable revenue results.
Experience cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual and institutional donors.
Proven ability to manage, coach, and develop fundraising professionals.
Strong understanding of major gifts, annual giving, corporate philanthropy, and donor stewardship.
Experience with prospect research, donor pipeline management, solicitation planning, and fundraising performance measurement.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor proposals and executive briefing materials.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with executive leadership, board members, and high-level philanthropic supporters.
Proficiency with donor management systems and fundraising reporting tools.
Commitment to the mission and values of Habitat for Humanity.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills

Advanced degree or Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation.
Experience supporting a comprehensive or capital campaign.
Experience developing or managing planned giving programs.
Experience overseeing multiple fundraising functions or revenue streams.
Familiarity with corporate sponsorships, volunteer engagement, and affinity-based fundraising.
Experience strengthening fundraising systems, team accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
Knowledge of the Memphis philanthropic, corporate, and nonprofit communities.
Key Leadership Competencies
Strategic Thinking: Ability to identify philanthropic opportunities, develop effective fundraising strategies, and connect donor interests to organizational priorities.

Execution & Accountability: Strong commitment to results, consistent follow-through, and effective management of fundraising activities.

Relationship Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to build trust with donors, colleagues, and community leaders.

Executive Partnership: Ability to anticipate the needs of senior leadership, prepare effectively for high-level donor engagement, and exercise sound judgment and discretion.

People Leadership: Demonstrated ability to coach, motivate, develop, and hold teams accountable.

Initiative & Problem-Solving: A proactive, solutions-oriented approach to advancing fundraising priorities.

Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across organizational functions while maintaining clear accountability.

Mission Commitment: Genuine passion for affordable housing, community development, and expanding opportunities for families.

Performance Expectations & Measures of Success

The Senior Director performance will be evaluated through a combination of fundraising results, team effectiveness, strategic execution, and organizational impact.

Key measures will include:

Achievement of established fundraising revenue goals across assigned functions.
Growth in individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, and recurring philanthropic support.
Development and advancement of a strong, measurable major donor pipeline.
Successful prepare, coordinate, and advancement of CEO-led philanthropic initiatives
Meaningful progress toward comprehensive campaign objectives.
Successful launch and growth of the organization’s planned giving program.
Increased donor retention, engagement, and stewardship effectiveness.
Improved fundraising reporting, forecasting, and moves-management practices.
Effective leadership, development, and accountability of assigned staff.
Development of sustainable fundraising strategies that position Memphis Habitat for continued growth beyond the comprehensive campaign.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, based on the needs of the business. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

How to Apply

Applicants should send a resume and cover letter outlining how they meet the specific requirements of the position to habitathr@memphishabitat.com. Make sure to include the position title in the subject line of the email. No Phone calls please. While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please note the selected candidate will be required to meet employment verification requirements, pass pre-employment screenings, background checks, and sex offender registry checks.

About Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis

Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live, and since 1983, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis has been working to realize that vision in Shelby County. Memphis Habitat partners with people in our community to help them build or improve places they can call home through new home construction, rehabilitation work and Aging in Place home modifications for seniors. Our employees enjoy a relaxed work environment and a real opportunity to make a difference in our community.