Chief Development Officer

About the Greater Cabarrus Foundation

The Greater Cabarrus Foundation is building something rare: a community foundation with genuine momentum. Launched in July 2024, GCF has established itself as a trusted partner for philanthropic investment and nonprofit capacity in Cabarrus County, North Carolina — a community with significant need and significant generosity waiting to be mobilized.

Our mission is to mobilize philanthropy that strengthens nonprofit organizations and drives lasting, positive change across Cabarrus County through strategic fundraising, grantmaking, and collaborative capacity building. Our vision is to be the premier community foundation in North Carolina — and we are building the team and infrastructure to get there.

With a long-term asset growth target of $50 million, a growing portfolio of community investor relationships, and the recent launch of our capacity building division, GCF is at an inflection point. We are hiring our first Chief Development Officer to accelerate that trajectory — and to help shape what this Foundation becomes.

The Opportunity

This is not a typical development role. The Chief Development Officer will serve as the senior leadership partner to the President & CEO with broad authority over fundraising strategy, community investor relationships, and philanthropic brand. The CDO will participate in strategic planning, board relations, and organizational leadership, and will have direct visibility into all dimensions of the Foundation's work.

GCF is intentionally building leadership depth. We are seeking a candidate who brings not only exceptional fundraising credentials, but the executive presence, relationship capital, and strategic vision to grow into broader organizational leadership over time. The right person will help define this Foundation's future — and their own trajectory within it.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a senior member of the executive team, contributing to organizational strategy, culture, and decision-making alongside the President & CEO.
• Partner with the President & CEO on fundraising priorities, major gift cultivation, and philanthropic strategy.
• Represent the Foundation externally as a senior leader, building its reputation and visibility across Cabarrus County and the broader North Carolina philanthropic community.
• Contribute to board development and governance support as needed, helping to cultivate board members as philanthropic ambassadors.

Fundraising & Revenue Generation

• Design, recommend, and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with GCF's mission and long-term financial goals, including the $50M asset growth target.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual community investors, corporate sponsors, and foundation partners across the full gift range — including major and planned gifts.
• Build and lead annual giving campaigns, major gifts programs, planned giving strategies, endowment development, and special fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee grant research, proposal development, and compliance reporting for institutional funders.
• Track fundraising performance and adapt strategies in response to data and changing conditions.

Community Investor Relations & Stewardship

• Build and sustain deep, meaningful relationships with community investors and funding partners as the Foundation's primary relationship officer.
• Develop stewardship plans that ensure community investors feel valued, informed, and connected to the impact of their philanthropy.
• Represent GCF at community events, civic engagements, and philanthropic convenings to strengthen visibility and deepen trust.
• Maintain donor records in the Foundant C-Suite system with timely, personalized acknowledgments and communications.

Collaboration & Team Leadership

• Work in close partnership with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and staff to keep fundraising aligned with organizational priorities.
• Provide leadership in donor communications and marketing materials, ensuring they reflect GCF's brand and voice.
• Mentor and support volunteers and any future development staff, building the capacity of the broader team.
• Cultivate relationships with nonprofit leaders, local businesses, and community organizations to expand collaborative fundraising opportunities.

Data Management & Reporting

• Oversee fundraising data integrity, tracking donor activity, campaign performance, and financial outcomes.
• Prepare regular reports for the President & CEO and Board on fundraising progress, pipeline, and opportunities.
• Ensure full compliance with fundraising regulations, ethical standards, and community foundation best practices.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• A minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a demonstrated track record of building or significantly expanding development programs.
• Proven success cultivating and closing major gifts; experience working with donors at the five- and six-figure level or above.
• Experience working directly with boards and senior leadership as a strategic partner.
• Proficiency in donor management systems and fundraising software.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to make compelling cases for philanthropic investment.
• Executive presence: self-directed, poised under pressure, and capable of representing the Foundation at the highest levels of community leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or CFRE certification strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Cabarrus County, the Charlotte region, and North Carolina's philanthropic landscape.
• Experience building development programs at early-stage or growth-phase organizations.
• Knowledge of planned giving, endowment development, capital campaigns, and digital fundraising.
• Interest in organizational leadership and longer-term executive growth.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: Commensurate with executive-level nonprofit experience; salary range shared with applicants upon initial review.
• Benefits: Retirement plan options, paid time off, and professional development support.
• Work Environment: Primarily onsite in Concord, NC, with flexibility for hybrid arrangements.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following to ***email_hidden*** with the subject line “Chief Development Officer Application” :

• Resume
• Cover letter detailing fundraising experience and philosophy

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by July 15, 2026 . The position will remain open until filled.

The Greater Cabarrus Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.