Associate Director for Philanthropy

NC State University

Raleigh (NC)

Hybrid

USD 90,000 - 130,000

Full time

35 hours ago

Be an early applicant

A complete application in a minute

Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare benefits

Wellness & Recreation Membership

Wellness Programs

Job summary

NC State University is seeking an Associate Director for Philanthropy to advance private philanthropic support for the university. You will collaborate with advancement staff, faculty and volunteers to identify, qualify and develop relationships with alumni and donors, with a focus on securing gifts for university priorities.

You will lead donor engagements, coordinate campus visits, and contribute to the stewardship and recognition of major gifts while working within the University Development

Qualifications

Requires Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of fundraising experience.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build relationships across diverse groups.
Experience with donor cultivation, proposals, and private philanthropic gifts.

Responsibilities

Build and manage a pipeline of individual, corporate and foundation prospects with capacity to give at the assigned levels.
Meet fundraising goals, document activities, and participate in annual solicitations.
Develop strategies for cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and recognition of donors.

Education

Bachelor’s degree

3+ years of fundraising experience

Job description

Associate Director for Philanthropy

Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate with experience and education

Work Schedule Monday - Friday; 8a - 5p and other hours as needed to fulfill the duties of this position; flexible work arrangement available.

Department University Development

About the Department

North Carolina State University was founded in 1887 with the purpose of creating economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. Today, NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 40,500 high-performing students, more than 10,000 preeminent faculty and staff and more than 310,000 dedicated alumni. NC State is a Research One (R1) university known for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We’re also at the forefront of teaching and discovery in agriculture, business, design, education, humanities and social sciences, natural resources, textiles and veterinary medicine. NC State is consistently named as one of the best values in higher education, and many of our programs are ranked at the top of their respective disciplines. We take a great deal of pride in our collaborative, supportive and collegial team culture. All staff are provided opportunities for training and professional development, with an eye to personalized career growth.

The mission of University Advancement at NC State is to amplify the university’s local and global impact by nurturing lifelong relationships, championing philanthropy and strengthening the Wolfpack community. The division is composed of six teams — Advancement Services; Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving; Finance, Administration and Talent Management; Principal Gifts Program; University Development; and University Special Events and Experiences — that build relationships across the university and beyond to ensure a best-in-class experience for alumni, friends and donors.

University Development raises philanthropic support for university goals and priorities that benefit NC State’s students, faculty, campus and, ultimately, the state of North Carolina by working closely and strategically with teams throughout University Advancement and within the university’s colleges, units and programs. The department includes the offices of Central Major Gifts, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Development Communications and Stewardship, Gift Planning and Prospect Development.

North Carolina depends on its educators, and their leadership deserves serious, sustained investment. Since 2000, the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at NC State has treated teacher professional learning as a statewide priority. We place teachers inside the industries and communities shaping their regions and surround them with a statewide network of peers who keep learning together long after their program ends. Teachers bring that experience home, and students see career pathways close to where they live. Philanthropic support fuels immersive professional learning and statewide networks that elevate education across North Carolina, an investment with long-term impact for our state and its continued vitality. As our advancement officer, you’ll help donors and partners see themselves in that story and grow the investment behind it.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Reporting to the Executive Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations in University Development, the Associate Director of Philanthropy will serve as a member of the corporate and foundation relations team, supporting all areas of the university and specifically the Kenan Fellows Program as the assigned portfolio. The position will collaborate closely with program leaders, NC State advancement staff and volunteers in identifying, qualifying, and developing relationships with alumni and donors to solicit and secure private philanthropic support for the university.

Duties and Responsibilities

Through strategic identification, qualification and cultivation, build and manage a pipeline and portfolio of individual, corporate and foundation prospects with the capacity and inclination to make current-use gifts of $25,000–$99,999 or more to the university and assigned college(s)/unit(s).
Consistently meet individual discovery, contact and fundraising goals, including monthly meetings and participation in annual solicitations; document all development activities in a timely manner.
Focus on creating a productive portfolio of donors by managing and moving efficiently through the discovery and qualification process.
Assist the assigned college/unit’s leadership in developing and implementing strategies for cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and recognition, ensuring that prospects are advanced through the pipeline in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.
Coordinate and host campus visits by donors, and participate in donor recognition.
Develop strategic relationships among faculty, alumni, friends and campus colleagues that result in effective partnerships and increased philanthropic funding.
Represent college(s) at universitywide donor events.

Other Responsibilities

Perform other duties as required or assigned.
Attend a variety of events throughout the year.
Regular travel and occasional night and weekend work are required.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

Requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of three (3) years or greater of relevant experience.

Other Required Qualifications

Knowledge of principles, practices, and ethics of fundraising
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; outstanding interpersonal skills
Proven experience with cold calling, negotiating, and closing business deals / gifts
Ability to build trust-based, respectful and effective relationships in a large, complex organization
Commitment to a collegial and collaborative team approach to fundraising
Strong organizational skills with a high attention to detail; ability to manage multiple and competing priorities
Self-motivated and self-starting
Unquestioned integrity
Optimism, perseverance, and a positive attitude
Computer literacy and competency

Preferred Qualifications

Personal belief in mission, goals, and objectives of public higher education
Experience in higher education institutional advancement
An understanding of the land grant, research Tier One university environment
Grant writing experience.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

A valid North Carolina Driver’s License is required within 60 days of start date. Must be maintained as a condition of employment.

Valid NC Driver's License required

Valid NC Driver's License required Yes

Commercial Driver's License required

Commercial Driver's License required No

Recruitment Dates

Job Open Date 11/09/2026

Position Number

Position Number 00103242

Position Type

Position Type Exempt Professional Staff

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.0

Appointment

Appointment 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID

Department ID 082001 - University Development

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Supplemental Questions

* How did you learn of this opportunity?
- NCSU Website
- Job Alert (automated email from our system)
- NCSU Executive Search Services
- Monster.com
- CareerBuilder.com
- InsideHigherEd.com
- HigherEdJobs.com
- Other Online Job Board
- Carolina Job Finder / Employment Guide
- Job / Career Fair
- The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Professional Journal
- Print Advertisement (Newspaper / Periodical)
- Radio / Television Advertisement
- Professional Organization
- Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC)
- Direct Contact from NCSU HR Representative / Recruiter
- NCSU Employee Referral
- Social Media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Other)
- Other
If you learned about this vacancy from "other source" or "other website", please provide the source. (Open Ended Question)
* Please highlight your recent fundraising / sales results. Specifically, include details such as amounts raised, volume of gifts /sales closed and results in each of the past two or three fiscal years. Feel free to highlight a significant gift(s) or equivalent business transaction(s). (250 words or less). (Open Ended Question)
* Can you share an example of a grant proposal or funding request you developed that was particularly successful? What was your role and what do you believe made the proposal successful? (250 words or less). (Open Ended Question)