SARRC is seeking a Director of Philanthropy who can drive sustainable revenue growth and foster meaningful relationships with donors. This role requires a proven track record of fundraising success, exceptional relationship management skills, and strategic leadership.

Our Story
Established in 1997, the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to autism research, education, evidence-based treatment, and community outreach. We are one of the only autism organizations in the world that provides a lifetime of services for individuals and their families while also conducting cutting edge research. 


What You'll Do

Fundraising Leadership & Revenue Accountability

• Responsible for meeting or exceeding annual fundraising goals for all areas under individual giving, major gifts, and donor stewardship.
• Develops and executes multi-year fundraising strategies aligned with SARRC’s budget and growth plan.
• Manages a personal portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts $10,000+.
• Partners with the Chief Development Officer to set quarterly and annual revenue goals and track progress against targets.
• Oversees pipeline development and forecasting to ensure consistent, predictable philanthropic growth.
• Prepares regular fundraising reports for leadership and board review, analyzing donor trends, conversion rates, and retention performance.

Team Supervision & Collaboration

• Establishes clear performance metrics for individual and team success, including revenue goals, donor moves, and stewardship activity.
• Partners with Marketing & Communications Team to align donor messaging, campaigns, and storytelling with fundraising priorities.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Provides strategic oversight for all donor-focused events, ensuring that each supports relationship-building and revenue objectives.
• Models best practices in donor communication, stewardship follow-up, and relationship management.

Strategic Planning & Reporting

• Contributes to the annual budgeting and forecasting process for the Development Department.
• Partners with leadership to set and evaluate KPIs for donor engagement, gift closure rates, and event ROI.

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelors’ degree with a business-related and/or social services specialization from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of (7) years of experience with progressive fundraising and management, including major gifts.
• Experience working with donor databases, CRM systems, and fundraising analytics.

 Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification preferred.
• Knowledge or interest in neurodiversity, autism, or nonprofit healthcare/education preferred.

How to Apply

Please submit your application using one of the following ways:

• Apply directly through our Careers Page - https://autismcenter.org/careers/
• Email your resume to our Talent Acquisition Manager, Bernadette Villaverde, at [email protected].