Director of Advancement (Research Philanthropy)

Key Responsibilities

Advancement & Fundraising Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive fundraising strategies supporting the institutional advancement goals of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) and Texas Children’s Research Institute (TCRI).
• Oversee principal and major gift initiatives while managing and developing a high-performing advancement team.
• Maintain an active portfolio of key donor relationships and lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for high-value prospects and donors.
• Establish performance metrics, fundraising benchmarks, and accountability measures to drive team success and philanthropic growth.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to maximize donor engagement through events, stewardship initiatives, marketing efforts, and frontline fundraising activities.

Campaign & Priority Fundraising Leadership

• Collaborate with research and philanthropy executives, faculty leaders, and volunteer leadership to establish fundraising priorities and campaign strategies.
• Identify opportunities to align donor interests with institutional priorities in partnership with frontline fundraising teams.
• Develop measurable fundraising goals and provide ongoing reporting and analysis related to campaign performance and donor activity.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key volunteer leaders, advisory councils, and philanthropic stakeholders.

Advancement Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Foster strong partnerships across philanthropy, marketing, communications, public relations, and operational teams to advance fundraising objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and performance management to advancement team members, ensuring achievement of annual fundraising goals.
• Promote efficient, cost-effective fundraising practices that strengthen donor relationships and maximize philanthropic impact.
• Champion a collaborative, transparent, and mission-driven culture that reflects Texas Children’s values.

Philanthropic Communications & Storytelling

• Develop and execute strategic communications initiatives that elevate awareness and visibility of the NRI and TCRI mission, leadership, and research impact.
• Engage internal and external stakeholders in communicating the vision, priorities, and philanthropic opportunities supporting research innovation.
• Oversee the development of donor-facing proposals, case studies, publications, digital content, and multimedia storytelling in partnership with Texas Children’s creative and marketing teams.
• Communicate the impact of philanthropy through compelling narratives that inspire donor engagement and investment.

Donor Development & National Growth

• Expand the philanthropic footprint of the NRI and TCRI by cultivating new donor relationships locally, nationally, and globally.
• Partner with marketing and public relations teams to leverage research discoveries, institutional achievements, and thought leadership opportunities to enhance donor engagement.
• Manage a portfolio of qualified major gift prospects and donors, developing and executing tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Build meaningful engagement opportunities for fundraising volunteers and advocates to advance philanthropic support and long-term donor relationships.

Donor Data Management & Performance Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of donor and prospect interactions within fundraising technology platforms.
• Utilize donor data, analytics, and reporting tools to measure fundraising effectiveness, track performance metrics, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Maintain the integrity and quality of donor records, portfolio management practices, and fundraising data systems.
• Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership regarding fundraising outcomes, pipeline development, and donor engagement activity.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree
• 8+ years of fundraising experience
• 5+ years of leadership and people management experience

Preferred

• Major gift fundraising experience

About Texas Children’s

Since 1954, Texas Children’s has been leading the charge in patient care, education and research to accelerate health care for children and women around the world. When you love what you do, it truly shows in the smiles of our patient families, employees and our numerous accolades such as being consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report as well as recognition from Houston Business Journal as one of this city’s Best Places to Work for ten consecutive years. 

Texas Children’s comprehensive health care network includes our primary hospital in the Texas Medical Center with expertise in over 40 pediatric subspecialties; the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI); the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children’s care for communities north of Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin, the new state-of-the-art facility providing world-class pediatric and maternal care to Austin and Central Texas families. We have also created Texas Children’s Health Plan, the nation’s first HMO focused on children; Texas Children’s Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children’s Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after-hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the largest, most diverse and successful pediatric programs in the nation. 

 To join our community of 15,000+ dedicated team members, visit texaschildrenspeople.org for career opportunities.

 Texas Children’s is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants and employees are considered and evaluated for positions at Texas Children's without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.