About Café Momentum
Café Momentum is more than a restaurant —it’s a nationally recognized nonprofit and transformative experience for everyone who walks through the door. Based in Dallas, we provide a 12-month paid internship program for justice-involved youth ages 15-19 that includes culinary, job and life skills training, along with comprehensive wraparound support services.
Our interns also participate in Café Momentum Academy, where they work toward their high school diploma or equivalent and receive dedicated mental health services and case management as part of our trauma informed care model. The goal: to equip our youth with the tools and support they need to break the cycle of incarceration and reach their full potential.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, Café Momentum is embarking on an exciting new phase- including a $10 million capital campaign to build a permanent flagship location in Dallas. At the heart of everything we do is a deep belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to rise, and we are committed to creating a culture of dignity, compassion and excellence.
Position Summary
Café Momentum is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Launch Director to lead the fundraising strategy and execution for our Houston expansion. This role will be responsible for raising $4 million within two years to support the capital buildout and successful launch of Café Momentum Houston.
The Launch Director will work closely with national leadership and local stakeholders to cultivate major donors, corporate partners, and foundations. They will lead coordination of the Houston Launch Committee, build community awareness, and represent the Café Momentum at donor meetings, events, and public forums.
This is a high-autonomy, high-impact leadership role suited for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, has a strong background in fundraising and stakeholder engagement, and is deeply aligned with our mission.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy to meet the $4M campaign goal over two years.
- Identify, cultivate, and steward major donors, corporate sponsors, and institutional funders.
- Grow lead a local Launch Committee, fostering community engagement and donor pipeline development.
- Represent Café Momentum in the Houston community through donor events, presentations, and media opportunities.
- Partner with internal, national team members to support donor communications, campaign collateral, and fundraising events.
- Collaborate with:
- National VP of Development – strategic fundraising, campaign alignment and key donor engagement
- National Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications - marketing and events
- Executive Liaison/Project Manager – Launch Committee coordination and meeting logistics
Qualifications
Required
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit leadership, or external relations
- Proven success in securing major gifts and leading capital or multi-year campaigns
- Strong relationships within the Houston philanthropic or civic community preferred
- Ability to build trust and credibility with donors, stakeholders, and community partners
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
- Self-starter with high initiative and the ability to navigate ambiguity
- Deep alignment with Café Momentum’s mission and values
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $130,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to Commute:
- Houston, TX 77013 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Houston, TX 77013: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
