Manager of Major Gifts & Partnerships

Girlstart – Manager of Major Gifts & Partnerships

The opportunity

Girlstart turns 30 in November 2027, and you will build the leadership giving program at the center of that anniversary.

Our current individual giving program (STEM Society) starts at $500. The 30 for the 30th Founders Circle, 30 households each giving $10,000 or more, adds the leadership tier above it. As our Manager of Major Gifts and Partnerships, you will lead it from the first conversation to the final thank-you, grow our major donor base in Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston, and partner with our board on a 30-company Corporate Champions program.

• Reports to: Executive Director
• Location: Dallas–Fort Worth or Houston, TX; hybrid, with donor travel across Texas
• Type: Full-time, exempt; individual contributor
• Salary: 75,000–80,000, plus benefits
• Target start: By December 31, 2026

Why this role

• You build the tier, not maintain it. The Founders Circle is new, with a $300,000 goal and a clear finish line: commitments close October 31, 2027, with 75% in hand before our November 4 anniversary luncheon.
• Your time stays on donors. A contracted Anniversary Campaign Manager runs both anniversary events, campaign marketing, and the storytelling series.
• You won't open doors alone. Our Executive Director joins you on lead asks, and an Anniversary Working Group of board members, a Girlstart alumna, and a founding-era donor makes introductions.
• Strong benefits and flexibility. Hybrid work, 17 paid holidays, and employer-covered health, dental, and vision (details below).

What you'll do

Most of your time goes to the Founders Circle and your wider major gifts portfolio, with the rest split between corporate partnerships and the reporting that keeps the campaign honest.

Lead the 30 for 30 Founders Circle and major gifts (roughly 70%)

• Own strategy, pipeline, solicitation, and stewardship for 30 households giving $10,000 or more, payable over up to three years: $300,000 goal, asks from January to October 2027, commitments closed by October 31, 2027.
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects through every stage: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Find new individual philanthropists, family foundations, and community leaders in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, alongside the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
• Plan and make lead asks and donor visits with the Executive Director, and use the Anniversary Working Group for introductions.
• Steward every Founders Circle household through the anniversary year and beyond.

Partner on Corporate Champions (roughly 15%)

• Work with our board corporate lead to close 30 companies across four tiers ($50,000, $25,000, $10,000, and $4,000), sold from January through September 2027.
• Support our North Texas board lead in turning the April 22, 2027 Dallas Anniversary Reception into new corporate relationships, with a goal of 8 new North Texas prospects.
• Connect corporate partners with sponsorship, engagement, and employee volunteer opportunities, working with program staff.

Track, report, and align (roughly 15%)

• Keep donor and pledge records current in Salesforce and DonorPerfect, and collect pledge payments on schedule.
• Report monthly on one dashboard that separates campaign giving (net-new donors, increases over FY2026 giving, new or larger corporate support, event revenue above baseline) from annual fund giving, so the Executive Director and board see any overlap early. Prepare benchmark reports and income projections for the Executive Director, board, and Development Committee.
• Work with the Development Operations Manager on data and appeals, and with the Grants Director so foundation asks and individual asks are sequenced together.
• Coach board members to open doors, make introductions, and serve as Girlstart ambassadors.

Who you'll work with

You are the donor-facing lead on a small team, backed by a contracted campaign manager, engaged board members, and colleagues who own grants and data.

Who	What they own	How you work together
Executive Director	Girlstart's vision and top donor relationships	Your manager; joins you on lead asks, donor visits, and board giving strategy
Anniversary Campaign Manager (contract)	Both anniversary events, marketing, and the 30 Stories series	Handles production and storytelling so you stay on donors; you supply donor and sponsor details
Anniversary Working Group	Board members, an alumna, and a founding-era donor	Make introductions, help select honorees, and support Champion asks
Board corporate lead and North Texas lead	Corporate Champion asks; the Dallas host company and venue	Your partners in closing the corporate program and opening the second hub
Chief Program Officer and program staff	Programs, plus the stories and photos captured in them	Share program impact for donor conversations; you do not staff programs
Grants Director	Foundation and corporate grant pipeline	Sequence foundation asks with your individual and corporate asks
Development Operations Manager	Database health and annual giving appeals	Keep campaign and annual fund records and appeals aligned

What you bring

You have asked for $10,000-plus gifts before; you can build a pipeline from relationships rather than from a handed-over list, and you like working beside an Executive Director and a board.

• 5+ years of progressive nonprofit fundraising, with a track record of major gift solicitations of $10,000 or more.
• Corporate partnership experience, such as securing sponsorships, is a strong plus.
• Donor relationships in Dallas–Fort Worth or Houston, or the ability to build them quickly. You must live in one of those metro areas.
• Poise and authenticity with individual philanthropists, corporate executives, and community leaders, and excellent written and verbal communication.
• Self-direction. You prioritize high-return activities, keep your pipeline moving without daily oversight, and ask the Executive Director and board for help when it matters.
• Comfort with donor databases and Google Workspace. We use Salesforce and DonorPerfect; experience with either is fine.
• Travel: about 2–3 days per quarter for donor visits, plus all-team staff workshops in Austin and major fundraising events, including the Dallas reception on April 22, 2027 and the Austin luncheon on November 4, 2027.

Pay and benefits

The salary range is 75,000–80,000, based on experience, with hybrid work and a benefits package that is strong for a nonprofit.

• Health: 97% of employee coverage paid by Girlstart.
• Dental and vision: 100% of employee coverage paid by Girlstart (basic plan).
• Employer-paid protection: $25,000 life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan options.
• Time off: 17 paid holidays, including an extended break in late December and alignment with school calendar breaks; 12 vacation days, 12 sick days (both accrued monthly); and 3 floating holidays each year.
• Flexibility and tools: Hybrid work, plus an employer-provided laptop and technology package.

About Girlstart

Girlstart empowers girls through STEM, and has done so since 1997 through After School, Summer Camp, and Community STEM programs. We envision a future where all who identify as girls believe they have the potential to change their world through STEM. Our values are Diversity, Resilience, Curiosity, Learning, and Joy, and we hope you will bring energy, warmth, and authenticity to every donor relationship.

In 2025, Girlstart reached 11,435 girls and community members. That included more than 2,300 youth in After School across 24 school districts, 759 youth at 41 summer camps across 22 locations, and 8,363 people at 80 Community STEM events. 94% of girls participated at no cost to them, and 66% said Girlstart is the only STEM program they take part in. 852 volunteers gave 3,244 hours, and Girlstart won the inaugural US F1® Allwyn Global Community Award.

Girlstart is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.