Senior Director of Development

Breakthrough is the leading college access and success non profit in Central Texas. For more than 20 years, we have partnered with thousands of middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate with a degree or certificate. We make a radical, long‑term commitment to students, to and through college, unlocking the power of education and a lifetime of opportunity.

We support the whole student with personalized services, work closely with community partners, campuses, and employers, and advocate for our students with lawmakers. Breakthrough students attend 60+ public schools and persist at nearly 100 colleges and universities. The result is that nearly 60% of Breakthrough students graduate from college, compared to 15% of low‑income students in our region. Our work has resulted in more than 350 college graduates, with nearly 3,500 on their way, positively impacting families for generations, our region’s educational access, and the Central Texas economy.

Why Work at Breakthrough Central Texas
By working for Breakthrough Central Texas, you will help hundreds of students achieve their dreams of success and receive the high‑quality education they deserve. Breakthrough is an organization committed to its students and recognizes that our greatest resource to support them is our dedicated and talented staff. If you believe all young people deserve the opportunity to achieve postsecondary success and you desire to work at an organization committed to its employees and building the strongest team culture anywhere, then join us!

The Senior Director of Development is a senior leader on the Development & Communications team, responsible for the strategic direction and execution of Breakthrough’s individual and foundation giving programs, including annual appeals, major gifts, giving communities, grant programs, fundraising events, and development operations. As a result, the Senior Director plays a critical role in the growth and sustainability of Breakthrough’s philanthropic programs, in delivering meaningful year‑round giving and engagement opportunities, and in building operational infrastructure for a high‑functioning development team.

Reporting to the Chief Development & Communications Officer (CDCO), this role oversees a talented team and collaborates closely with fellow department and organizational leadership, board members, and volunteers to collectively raise $12M in total annual revenue, with anticipated growth to $15M in the next 3‑4 years, and support the successful completion of the $30M Pathways to Opportunity Campaign, now in its public phase.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership of Individual Giving

• Set vision and strategy for a comprehensive individual giving program that fuels organizational priorities, aligns with community‑centric values, prioritizes donor retention and lifetime value, and drives sustained growth in both revenue and donors.
• Prepare and execute annual development plan, guiding individual giving team in design and implementation of meaningful, mission‑centric giving and engagement opportunities for individual donors of all levels to achieve current $5M annual individual goal with anticipated year‑over‑year growth.
• Provide strategic direction and support to the Development Manager to lead integrated annual campaigns (e.g. Amplify Austin, seasonal campaigns, recurring giving, Honor Roll giving community) and donor stewardship strategy, including compelling, strength‑based content, segmentation, multi‑channel tactics, budget management, and coordination with major gifts.
• Partner closely with the Director of Philanthropy to lead identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for $5,000–$1M+ gifts; support select priority solicitations and completion of Pathways to Opportunity Campaign, now in its public phase.
• Lead and refine moves management systems, including standards of service, qualification and portfolio review practices that foster collaboration and alignment across the individual giving team.
• Cultivate and steward a portfolio of 25-50 key donors and prospects…