Princess Zambrano
Princess Zambrano is a dedicated nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience in creating meaningful impact through community service and fundraising. Currently serving as Development Manager at Houston Habitat for Humanity, she leads initiatives to cultivate individual donors, organize engagement events, and expand programs such as the organization’s first Global Village to extend Habitat’s mission internationally. Her approach emphasizes connecting people to the tangible outcomes of their contributions, ensuring donors and volunteers alike feel the direct impact of their support.
Princess’s career in the nonprofit sector began in 2010, including significant roles with the Girl Scouts of the San Jacinto Council, where she managed events, alumnae relations, and fundraising campaigns. She also gained early experience overseeing child-care facility food programs, conducting audits, and supporting access to state and federal funding. This foundation allowed her to transition into development and fundraising, where she has consistently demonstrated skill in strategic planning, donor engagement, and event management.
Beyond her professional achievements, Princess is deeply committed to community service and mentorship. She actively volunteers with organizations such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Astros Foundation and contributes to international initiatives through Houston Habitat for Humanity. With a strong focus on fostering human connection and empowering women, she combines leadership, strategic insight, and a results-oriented mindset to create programs that strengthen communities and provide opportunities for growth and stability.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (in progress)
• The University of Texas-Pan American
• Association of Fundraising Professionals
• Delta Zeta Sorority (Alumni)
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (VIP Tours)
• FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston
• Kids Meals
• Women's Shelter
• Domestic Abuse Prevention Organizations
• Infinite Life Church
• People of Peru Project
• Houston Astros Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the mentors who have championed me throughout my career. Beth Shea, my first Chief Marketing Development Officer, really helped me get fully confident in my skills and did a great job of championing me to become not only a better person, but also a better professional. Another dear friend, Nicole Godbler, who's currently at the Texas-Louisiana Make-A-Wish, entered into our careers around the same time. She's always been really great at helping me build up my skills, connecting me to the right people, and introducing me to the right people. My direct supervisor at my previous position was also instrumental, bringing me into the folds to help me understand what fundraising looks like from the beginning stages and helping me align the work we do day in and day out for fundraising into the larger picture.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say find what you're passionate about, and the work, the ideas, the innovations will come with that. I've always worked in nonprofits, and sometimes a nonprofit can be a little hard because it's not a career where we look to make lucrative money. It's a career that's definitely driven by a passion for helping others or helping an organization. It comes from being passionate about what that cause is. And once you find that cause, the amount of time that you love your job will definitely surpass the amount of it being work out of necessity. If you find something you're passionate about, every morning you will be refueled, and that gives you the affirmation that you're doing the right thing every day. So look for that.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in the nonprofit sector is that roles often rely more on passion than financial reward, making sustainability difficult for staff. Key opportunities include expanding donor engagement through strategic events, launching global initiatives like Global Village, and advancing housing-related programs that create lasting community impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is creating connection and community. I'm passionate about connecting people and creating an environment that's welcoming, where supporters, donors, and volunteers can connect on a deeper level. Being able to implement donor stewardship events that create engagement opportunities is what I'm most proud of, because we're able to tie in the experience of the donor themselves and help them see what their support looks like. For me, it's always been very important to tie it back to the donor and why they give, helping create and facilitate events that bring the mission forward to them as an experience. I've always enjoyed the life of service and being a servant leader. When it comes to empowering women specifically, I believe representation is so important. My favorite thing has been connecting women executives with young ladies in university, facilitating mentorship where they can ask about different jobs, work-life balance, and career paths. Every woman is in a position that helps bring in another woman and empowers another woman, and that's one of the most beautiful things I can ever think of.