Executive Director, Foundation and Grants

Salary: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 Annually
Location : Wilson, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-15
Division: Foundation
Opening Date: 02/20/2026


Job Summary
The Executive Director of the Foundation and Grants serves as the chief administrative officer for the Wilson Community College Foundation and the College's centralized grants operation. This position provides strategic leadership in fundraising, donor relations, grant development, stewardship, and overall resource advancement in support of Wilson Community College's mission.

In addition, the Executive Director leads special projects assigned by the President's Office, supporting high-level institutional initiatives that advance College priorities and strategic goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Foundation Leadership & Resource Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the Wilson Community College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting students, faculty, programs, and college initiatives through fundraising and stewardship efforts.
• Develop and execute annual and multi-year fundraising plans, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, events, and campaigns.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, alumni, business partners, community leaders, and philanthropic organizations.
• Oversee proper management of Foundation assets, ensuring responsible investment, fiduciary accountability, and alignment with donor intent.
• Prepare and present Foundation reports, financial updates, and strategic recommendations to the President, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Board.

Grants Leadership & Administration

• Lead the College's grants strategy, including prospect identification, proposal development, compliance oversight, and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators to identify funding needs and match them with public and private grant opportunities.
• Ensure that grant-funded programs comply with federal, state, and agency requirements, including timely expenditure of funds and alignment with compliance expectations.
• Maintain centralized documentation, submission timelines, program evaluations, and grant closeout processes.

Special Projects Leadership for the President's Office

• Manage special presidential initiatives, cross-departmental projects, and priority assignments that require high-level coordination, confidentiality, and strategic planning.
• Conduct research, prepare executive summaries, and develop implementation plans to support institutional priorities.
• Represent the President in meetings, community conversations, and project planning sessions as requested.
• Lead or coordinate task forces, committees, and institutional initiatives that support strategic goals, facilities planning, workforce partnerships, or community engagement efforts.

Institutional & Community Engagement

• Serve as an ambassador for the College in the community, strengthening relationships with civic leaders, nonprofit partners, business and industry, government agencies, and public officials.
• Support College marketing, branding, and communication initiatives related to donor engagement, Foundation visibility, and grants success, consistent with institutional advancement priorities noted in the strategic plan.
• Coordinate Foundation and grant-related events, including donor receptions, student scholarship ceremonies, cultivation activities, and community programs.

Operations, Compliance, and Organizational Management

• Oversee daily operations of the Foundation office, including staff supervision, budgeting, resource allocation, and workflow management.
• Ensure accuracy and transparency in donor records, financial documentation, and audit compliance.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to fundraising, grants, stewardship, and donor confidentiality.
• Prepare materials for audits, accreditation files, board reports, and institutional effectiveness documentation.

WCC places a high value on creating an engaged, collaborative campus environment; therefore, employees are required to complete their work hours in person on WCC's campus. By working on campus and in person, employees have greater opportunities to engage with students and co-workers, attend on-site meetings and presentations, recruit students, and support local business and industry partners.

• Communicates clearly and frequently in writing and speaking to ensure consistency of purpose and vision.
• Works collaboratively with all members of the college community.
• Understands and supports the college's mission, vision, and values.
• Remains current on emerging higher education and division-relevant issues.
• Fosters a work environment characterized by transparency, trust, and professionalism.

Education and Experience
Required

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, public administration, communications, education, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor relations, nonprofit administration, grant writing, or institutional advancement.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with ability to lead multi-layered and confidential initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with donors, external partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership experience.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a related field.
• Experience in community college advancement or philanthropy.
• Proven track record in major gifts fundraising.
• Experience supervising staff or managing complex organizational units.
• Experience working with boards, foundations, or nonprofit governance structures.

Unofficial transcripts must be included with your online application before submission or sent directly to Human Resources immediately after applying. Failure to provide transcripts may result in your application not being fully considered.

Wilson Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer . In accordance with the ADA, if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this position, please notify the Human Resources Office.
Why Join Wilson Community College?

At Wilson Community College, we believe in the power of community, education, and excellence. You'll work in a supportive, mission-driven environment that values integrity, innovation, and collaboration. We offer competitive compensation, state benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
LONGEVITY
Longevity is a yearly lump-sum payment you receive after working 10 years:
Years of Service Longevity Rate
Less than 10 0% of Salary
10 but less than 15 1.5% of Salary
15 but less than 20 2.25% of Salary
20 but less than 25 3.25% of Salary
25 or More 4.5% of Salary

ANNUAL LEAVE
Years of Service Hours Earned Mo
Less than 5 9.33 Hours
5 but less than 10 11.33 Hours
10 but less than 15 13.33 Hours
15 but less than 20 15.33 Hours
20 or more years 17.33 Hours

You can carry up to 240 hours over every year. The rollover occurs in June of each year.

SICK LEAVE
You earn 12 days per year (8 hours per month). This leave can accumulate indefinitely. When you retire, available sick hours will convert to creditable service with the Retirement System.

HOLIDAYS
New Years
M.L. King, Jr. Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran's Day (may be taken at Winter Break)
Thanksgiving (2 days)
Winter Break

The sum of all paid holidays will not exceed 12 days. Employees may be required to take paid leave or leave without pay for days other than the 12 specified holidays.

HEALTH INSURANCE
You may join the State Health Plan. There is an employee contribution to the State Health Plan; however, the State pays a portion of the monthly premium as well. Dependents may also be covered. You may elect 70/30 coverage or 80/20 coverage. Upon retirement, coverage may continue; however, it depends on the conditions under which you retire. It should be noted that insurance premiums are expensive, and rates/coverage may change annually. Open enrollment allows for changes to be made to your health coverage, and it is usually conducted in October each year.


RETIREMENT
Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS)

Six percent of your gross salary as pre-taxed dollars goes into your retirement account monthly. A death benefit of one time's your annual salary (minimum $25,000 and maximum $50,000) is provided to you once you have been in the system for one year. Once you have completed five years in the system, you are considered to be vested.

Unreduced Retirement Benefits are available as follow:
Age 65 with 5 years of service
Age 60 with 25 years of service
Any age with 30 years of service

Disability Income Plan:
Is provided through TSERS. The plan provides short-term benefits after one year in the system. After a sixty-day waiting period, the plan pays 50% of
your salary and longevity up to $3,000 per month for one year.
It also provides long-term benefits after you are vested (5 years in the system). The plans pays 65% of your salary and longevity, up to $3900 per month until the disability ends. Long-term benefits include health coverage and the death benefit. Payments will be reduced if you are receiving social security disability benefits or workers compensation benefits.

WORKERS COMPENSATION
Upon an accidental injury on the job, you will be covered by Workers Compensation. You should notify your supervisor and Human Resources immediately when an accident or injury on the job occurs.

OPTIONAL BENEFITS
401(K), 457
529 College Tuition Plan
NC Flex Benefits
Colonial Life


FREE TUITON
Full-time college employees may enroll in one curriculum or continuing education course per semester at the College without tuition or registration fee charges.

PERSONAL OBSERVANCE DAY
Eligible employees may receive 8 hours of paid leave on a single day of personal significance each calendar year. May include days of cultural and/or religious importance, but it is not limited to those. It may be any day that is significant to the eligible employee.

FOUNDATION YMCA OF WILSON
Full-time Wilson Community College employees are eligible for a corporate discount with the Foundation YMCA of Wilson.