Senior Director, Stewardship and Recognition

Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation (HMHF or the foundation) – the fundraising arm of the number one hospital in Texas and a top national hospital according to U.S. News & World Report– seeks a strategic and innovative senior director, stewardship and recognition (senior director) at an exciting moment of transformation and modernization for its philanthropic enterprise. Reporting to the chief donor relations and stewardship officer early in her tenure and working alongside a dedicated team of development professionals, the senior director will serve as a central leader in shaping and elevating the organization’s donor relations and stewardship program. As Houston Methodist prepares for a groundbreaking comprehensive campaign, the senior director will provide expert leadership over a critical development function, ensuring excellence in donor recognition and stewardship to realize the foundation’s ambitious vision and deepen institutional 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 institution has grown significantly over the last two decades, providing the highest-end care that is unparalleled in terms of safety and quality as well as 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.

The senior director will implement strategic, innovative, and individualized stewardship and recognition practices, tailoring engagement across the full giving continuum and delivering bespoke experiences for the hospital’s most significant benefactors. In partnership with constituents across the HMHF and Houston Methodist, the senior director will integrate stewardship and recognition tactics more fully across the foundation, ensure regular and effective communications regarding the use and impact of gifts, and advance best practices while developing new methods to strengthen relationships with all donor constituencies. With oversight of a team of nine individuals, the senior director will build and maintain a cohesive and positive environment, leading with high emotional intelligence. The senior director will leverage data to guide leadership and fundraisers in shaping donor recognition and engagement experiences, partner with fundraising teams to create aligned reporting frameworks, and champion a culture of gratitude that clearly communicates the impact of donor support.

The successful candidate will possess at least ten years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, and recognition within philanthropy for higher education, healthcare, or a similarly complex nonprofit environment. This individual will be a skilled communicator with the ability to craft effective messaging for diverse audiences. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, along with a proven ability to think strategically, critically, and creatively, are essential. The ideal candidate will possess a demonstrated track record of leading a proactive, integrated, and service-oriented stewardship program in a large, complex, and fast-paced environment. Furthermore, the successful candidate will be an effective and confident leader of team members.

Rachel Ellenport and Nicole Poe are leading this search with Maureen Bogdan and Caroline Corry.

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.