Chief Donor Relations and Stewardship Officer

Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation (HMHF or the foundation) – the fundraising arm of the number one hospital in Texas and a member of U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious Honor Roll for best hospitals – seeks an enterprising and strategic chief donor relations and stewardship officer (CDRSO) to design, implement, and elevate the foundation’s donor recognition and stewardship programs to even greater success. The creation of this senior leadership position follows significant investment in and growth of both Houston Methodist and the foundation. Reporting to the president and CEO of HMHF, Dr. Flynn Andrizzi, early in his tenure, the CDRSO serves as a member of the foundation’s senior leadership team and is presented with a unique building opportunity to grow and elevate the donor relations and stewardship team, both in size and sophistication. As Houston Methodist prepares for a groundbreaking comprehensive campaign for which excellence in donor recognition and stewardship will be essential, the CDRSO will expertly advance and oversee a critical function of the development operation to realize the foundation’s ambitious goals and aspirations in order to advance Houston Methodist’s mission and impact. 

Founded in 1919, Houston Methodist exists today as an independent academic medical center and market leader in Houston, the state of Texas, and beyond. The last 20 years have seen unprecedented growth for the institution. In addition to providing highest-end care that is unparalleled in terms of safety and quality, Houston Methodist also boasts robust teaching and research initiatives, which are further strengthened by affiliations with Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Texas A&M University, Rice University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, among others. As clinical care, education, and research continue to grow across Houston Methodist, philanthropy will fuel the institution’s remarkable trajectory of success in becoming one of the highest ranking academic medical centers in the country. 

Building upon existing momentum, the CDRSO is responsible for the vision, strategy, and successful leadership of HMHF’s donor relations program which includes communications, stewardship, events, donor recognition, and physician and faculty engagement. Utilizing best practices and leveraging the latest technologies, the CDRSO will build and operate a sophisticated donor relations and stewardship program that promotes a donor-centric approach to further engage Houston Methodist’s supporters at all giving levels. This individual will also introduce strategies around innovative and personalized stewardship, especially for the hospital’s highest-level benefactors. Working with key partners within HMHF and across Houston Methodist, the CDRSO will further integrate the donor relations program across the foundation; provide regular and consistent communications with donors on the use and impact of their gifts; and introduce best practices while simultaneously conceiving new and innovative ways to foster deeper relationships between Houston Methodist and its constituents, both internal and external. The CDRSO will expertly lead, mentor, and develop a team of 30 dedicated professionals, when fully staffed, and play a significant role in recruiting a significant portion of the donor relations and stewardship team. In making these key hires, the CDRSO will successfully attract and retain staff members who are eager to shape the future of donor relations and stewardship strategy on behalf of the foundation. 

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned, sophisticated, and experienced team leader adept at maximizing and facilitating team success. The selected candidate will possess superior communications skills with the ability to formulate effective messaging for a variety of audiences. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as a proven ability to think strategically, critically, and creatively, are required. The ideal candidate will possess a demonstrated track record of leading a proactive, integrated, and service-oriented donor relations and stewardship program in a large, complex, and fast-paced environment. This position offers an outstanding building opportunity for an inventive leader to showcase excellent collaboration, leadership, and project management skills while demonstrating consistent professional judgment and possessing a high degree of emotional intelligence.

Rachel Ellenport is leading this search with Nicole Poe and Lisa Clayton. 

Houston Methodist Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. HMH will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist Hospital on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law.