Director, Gifts and Endowment
Raleigh, NC | Hybrid | Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director | Member, Senior Management Team
Salary Range: $118-$120K
Strong advocacy requires strong and sustainable resources. At the North Carolina Justice Center, the Director, Gifts and Endowment leads the fundraising strategy and Development operations that help make our work possible.
Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on the Senior Management Team, the Director develops and oversees NCJC's annual fundraising plan across individual giving, endowment, grants, events and other philanthropic revenue. The Director supervises the Development team, partners with the Executive Director to identify revenue opportunities aligned with organizational priorities, coordinates closely with project directors and Finance, and helps build the relationships and systems necessary to sustain NCJC's work over the long term.
This role requires a strategic fundraising leader who can move comfortably between organizational planning, donor engagement, grant oversight, staff supervision, event leadership and the day-to-day management necessary to execute a successful Development program.
What You'll Lead
• Annual fundraising strategy and execution. Develop, manage and execute NCJC's annual Development plan, including goals and strategies for individual giving, endowment, grants, fundraising events, sponsorships and other philanthropic revenue. Monitor progress throughout the year and adjust strategies as needed to meet organizational revenue goals.
• Individual giving and donor engagement. Oversee annual giving, donor cultivation, stewardship, renewal and communications strategies. Identify opportunities to deepen donor relationships and coordinate meetings and engagement opportunities between the Executive Director and high-net-worth donors and prospective supporters.
• Endowment and long-term sustainability. Lead strategies to grow NCJC's endowment and encourage planned and legacy giving, including donor cultivation, communications, stewardship and special campaigns that strengthen the organization's long-term financial sustainability.
• Grants strategy and coordination. Oversee NCJC's grants program in partnership with the Grants Manager, Executive Director, project directors and Finance. Help identify funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities; coordinate the grant pipeline and application process; support project directors with proposals and budgets; and ensure appropriate tracking, reporting and stewardship of institutional funders.
• Defenders of Justice Gala and regional events. Lead the planning and execution of NCJC's annual Defenders of Justice Awards Gala, an approximately 400-person fundraising and stewardship event, as well as three regional donor and community engagement events each year. Coordinate sponsorships, donor engagement, program development, logistics and staff participation.
• Development team leadership. Supervise a two-person Development team, establish priorities and responsibilities, coach and develop staff, monitor performance and workload, and ensure strong execution of fundraising, grants, donor stewardship, events and Development operations.
• Executive and Board partnership. Partner with the Executive Director on fundraising strategy, donor cultivation and identification of new revenue streams that align with NCJC's strategic goals. Support meaningful Board participation in fundraising, donor stewardship, introductions and relationship-building.
• Fundraising communications and stewardship. Work collaboratively with Communications to develop donor-facing messaging, appeals, impact communications, campaign materials and other content that connects supporters with the impact of NCJC's work.
• Financial planning and accountability. Work closely with Finance, the Executive Director and program leadership to establish fundraising goals, develop revenue projections, monitor progress against budget, reconcile grant and fundraising information, and ensure responsible stewardship of restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Development systems and operations. Ensure effective use of donor and grants-management systems, accurate records, gift acknowledgement, prospect and grant tracking, reporting, compliance, and Development policies and procedures.
Who You Are
You understand how strong fundraising programs are built: through relationships, strategy, disciplined execution, collaboration and trust. You can translate complex advocacy, litigation and policy work into compelling reasons for people and institutions to invest in NCJC's mission.
You are equally comfortable developing a fundraising plan, meeting with a donor, reviewing a grant opportunity, helping staff solve a problem, preparing the Executive Director for a donor meeting, working through revenue projections with Finance, or managing the many moving pieces of a major fundraising event.
You build trust across differences, exercise sound judgment, and bring credibility to conversations with donors, Board members, funders, colleagues and community partners. Your leadership combines strategic thinking with the willingness to ensure that the details necessary for successful execution are completed well.
What You'll Bring
• A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, public administration, communications, business or a related field.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible major fundraising, development or nonprofit advancement experience required, including five of those years in senior leadership or executive level fundraising management of multiple areas of development and supervision.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing fundraising plans involving individual giving, institutional funding, donor stewardship, events and other revenue strategies.
• Experience managing or providing significant oversight of grants, including prospect identification, applications, budgets, reporting, tracking and funder stewardship.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, foundations, Board members, organizational leadership and community partners.
• Experience planning and executing fundraising events and donor engagement opportunities involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience supervising, coaching and developing staff and managing competing priorities, deadlines and organizational needs.
• Strong knowledge of donor databases, CRM and grants-management systems, fundraising analytics, gift administration and nonprofit fundraising practices.
• Exceptional writing, communication, relationship-building, organizational and project-management skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial and economic justice and to inclusive leadership, equitable decision-making and staff development.
Preferred: CFRE or relevant advanced training; experience with endowment or planned giving; and experience in nonprofit advocacy, legal, policy or other mission-driven organizations.
Why This Role Matters
Justice requires sustained investment. The Director, Gifts and Endowment helps ensure that NCJC has the resources, relationships and fundraising infrastructure necessary to respond to immediate needs while building long-term organizational strength.
The Director works across the organization - connecting leadership, programs, Finance, Communications, the Board, donors and institutional funders - to ensure that fundraising supports NCJC's mission and strategic priorities. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director also contributes to broader organizational planning and decision-making.
Benefits
NCJC's published benefits include six weeks of annual paid time off; paid holidays and parental leave; employer-supported 403(b) retirement savings; medical, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage; and flexible spending and health savings account options.
Location and Working Conditions
This Raleigh-based hybrid role requires regular statewide travel and occasional evening and weekend work, particularly in connection with donor meetings and fundraising events. The position includes extended computer work, virtual and off-site meetings and events, and occasional lifting or moving of materials weighing up to 15-20 pounds. NCJC provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process and in performing essential job functions.
If you are ready to lead a comprehensive Development program that helps sustain statewide work for justice, we invite you to apply.
