Director of Philanthropy

Austin Pets Alive!

Job Description

BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW:
The Director of Philanthropy works under the direction of the Sr. Director of Philanthropy & Communications to help fuel a dynamic and growing non-profit with revenues now approaching $20 million annually and with national renown. This proven leader with experience in raising donations through individual giving at all levels, high-level corporate giving and partnerships, and grant funding is an individual with an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to think creatively to solve problems and embrace challenges as they arise.

The Director of Philanthropy will learn Austin Pets Alive!’s fundraising model, rapidly taking on leadership in overseeing and guiding fundraising activities through the year for local, regional, and national operations. Above all, this powerhouse development professional is an outstanding manager of teams who values communication, collaboration, innovation, and teamwork, and who can pivot on a dime as changes arise.

APA!’s operations are on the leading edge of innovation in animal welfare and has a powerful commitment to responding to the frequent crises that threaten animals’ lives. This requires that the Director of Philanthropy bring an ability to apply creative critical thinking and to step outside traditional fundraising practices to provide the means for responding to crises and opportunities for innovation as the norm rather than the exception. APA!’s greatest source of support is from individual giving, and this role must be able to activate philanthropic investment and galvanize public support at all donor levels to meet these challenges. The Director of Philanthropy thrives in a collaborative, growth-oriented atmosphere and will put to use exceptional relationship-building and communications skills toward creating a better world for animals and the people who love them.

The Director of Philanthropy leads and oversees the strategic direction, growth, and daily operations of APA!’s Philanthropy Team. This role ensures alignment with APA!’s broader mission to increase the live release rate across Texas, while building a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for philanthropy.

The Director of Philanthropy is responsible for managing daily workflows, supervising staff, and setting clear, mission-aligned goals. This includes creating structured plans, tracking progress toward outcomes, and ensuring accountability and follow-through on team priorities. The role uses data to guide decisions and helps keep the team focused on consistent, measurable impact. This is a leadership role rooted in empowerment, facilitation, and values-driven oversight.

Rather than working independently, the Director of Philanthropy sets the tone that APA! is a volunteer-powered organization—every staff member is expected to work collaboratively with volunteers and to help create meaningful opportunities for them to lead and contribute. This includes pairing with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, modeling strong partnership, and developing a culture of shared effort and team accountability.

This position requires a high level of responsiveness and availability. The work is often fast-paced and dynamic, with weekend or shift flexibility expected. While APA! strongly encourages work-life balance, during on-duty shifts, the Director of Philanthropy is expected to be highly present, solutions-oriented, and ready to support the team with real-time problem-solving.

Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.

This is a full time job