Description
Chief Development Officer - FeedNC
Are you the kind of leader who sees philanthropy as a partnership built on trust, authentic relationships, and shared purpose?
Do you believe that every donor, volunteer, and community member has the power to transform lives when connected to meaningful opportunities and clear impact?
Do you believe that families deserve access to food, education, and resources and that the community should be inspired and mobilized to help make that possible?
Do you believe that fundraising is not only about raising dollars but about elevating stories, strengthening capacity, and empowering families to build brighter futures?
If so, then you may be Feed NC’s next Chief Development Officer.
At FeedNC, we see our programs and initiatives as investments in the most precious resource of all-our community. We believe in the potential of every individual and family, and our commitment to providing food, education, and resources represents a heartfelt investment in their well-being and future.
By channeling resources into programs that nourish and empower individuals, we believe we are not only addressing immediate hunger but also fostering self-reliance, economic growth, and social well-being.
Driven by our mission to create connections to food, education, and resources as a catalyst for change, FeedNC has proudly served over 54,000 meals in 2025. This impact was made possible through our volunteers and donors.
At FeedNC, dignity is at the heart of everything we do. Each program is thoughtfully crafted to create a safe, welcoming space where individuals feel heard, respected, and valued-because we believe true growth and transformation begin with dignity.
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Position Title: Chief Development Officer (CDO)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Supervises: Supervises FeedNC’s Development Team
Position Summary
FeedNC seeks an experienced, strategic, and relationship-centered Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead fundraising, donor relations, and community engagement efforts, ensuring consistent, mission-centered communications that support organizational visibility and impact. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and a trusted partner to the CEO, the CDO will shape and drive a unified development strategy that strengthens organizational visibility, deepens donor engagement, and fuels the growth of FeedNC’s mission.
The CDO will steward and expand a diversified revenue portfolio of approximately $4–6 million annually, working closely with the CEO to cultivate major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation support, and community giving. This leader will oversee a high-performing Development Team—providing mentorship, clear direction, and accountability across individual giving, corporate relations, grants, campaigns, and storytelling.
The ideal candidate is both a strategist and a builder: someone who can design multi-year revenue plans, elevate FeedNC’s brand and narrative, and foster a strong culture of philanthropy among staff, volunteers, and board members. This role requires exceptional communication skills, a collaborative leadership style, and a deep commitment to community-centered, mission-driven partnership.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
Develop and lead a multi-year development strategy that advances FeedNC’s vision, supports organizational growth, and ensures long-term financial sustainability.
Drive revenue forecasting and portfolio diversification, using data and trends to guide annual planning and long-range financial modeling.
Collaborate across programs and operations to create compelling cases for support and donor-facing materials that elevate FeedNC’s impact and priorities.
Serve as the CEO’s strategic partner on revenue strategy, donor communications, philanthropic trends, and key external engagements.
Provide regular, proactive updates to the Board and leadership team on fundraising performance, opportunities, risks, and strategic adjustments.
Development and Fundraising Leadership
Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy including annual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, capital campaigns, planned giving, and special initiatives.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, ensuring personalized engagement and long-term partnerships.
Build a robust pipeline of individual, corporate, and institutional supporters.
Lead planning and execution of capital campaigns when applicable, including case development, prospect strategy, and campaign communications.
Oversee development operations, including data integrity, donor research, database strategy, gift processing, reporting, and compliance.
Ensure timely and accurate acknowledgment of all gifts and donations.
Demonstrated ability to connect donor engagement strategy with organizational financial health, including revenue forecasting, budget alignment, and partnership with Finance to ensure long-term sustainability.
Team Leadership and Talent Development
Lead, mentor, and coach the FeedNC’s growing Development Team.
Build a culture of accountability, trust, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Establish clear goals, professional development plans, and performance expectations aligned with FeedNC’s strategic priorities.
Strengthen internal communication and cross-departmental coordination to ensure integration of development and program storytelling.
Marketing, Communications, and Brand Elevation
Oversee creation of FeedNC mission-centered messaging, fundraising collateral, impact reports, digital communications, and storytelling strategies.
Provide regular, proactive updates to the CEO and Board of Directors on progress toward fundraising goals, opportunities, risks, and team performance.
Drive media engagement, digital presence, social media strategy, and brand consistency.
Ensure clear, compelling, and emotionally resonant communication across all donor and community touchpoints.
Data, Analytics, and Reporting
Oversee donor database strategy (Little Green Light), ensuring accuracy, segmentation, and strategic use of data.
Develop dashboards, forecasts, and analytic reports to inform strategic decisions and improve fundraising outcomes.
Translate data insights into compelling narratives that demonstrate FeedNC’s community impact.
Leadership Presence and External Representation
Serve as a visible ambassador for FeedNC in the community.
Strengthen relationships with civic groups, elected officials, corporate partners, foundations, and key stakeholders.
Represent FeedNC at events, public speaking engagements, fundraising activities, and donor meetings.
Oversee the planning and execution of key mission driven and annual fundraising events
Qualifications
Required
Deep commitment to FeedNC’s mission, values and community impact
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Minimum 5 to 7 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising or development leadership experience, including supervision of staff.
Demonstrated success building and leading a high-performing team.
Strong experience cultivating and soliciting major donors.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to represent the organization with professionalism and warmth.
Advanced proficiency with donor databases (Little Green Light preferred), Microsoft Office, and data analysis tools (Excel required).
Experience developing and executing strategic fundraising plans and campaigns.
Preferred
Strong knowledge of the local nonprofit and philanthropic landscape.
CFRE or other recognized fundraising certifications are preferred.
Experience with capital campaigns.
Experience in brand management, marketing strategy, or communications leadership.
Knowledge of online giving trends, digital engagement, and modern fundraising tools.
Leadership Attributes
Executive presence with strong relationship-building skills.
Strategic thinker who balances vision with operational excellence.
Collaborative partner who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
Skilled communicator who shares information proactively and transparently
Creative problem solver with strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities.
Passion for FeedNC’s mission and a commitment to serving every neighbor with dignity.
Experience collaborating and working effectively with a high-performance, innovative leadership team.
Working Conditions
Frequent interaction with donors, partners, volunteers, staff, and external stakeholders.
Flexibility in schedule as needed for events and donor engagements, including nights and weekends.
Regular Local travel required.
