Development Director: Growth, Partnerships & Impact

McDowell LFAC; Marion (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Three weeks paid vacation after 90-day

Eleven paid holidays

Five paid self-care days

Vision, dental, life, and disability保险

Job summary

McDowell Local Food Advisory Council (LFAC) is seeking a Development Director in Marion, North Carolina, to lead fundraising, communications, and external engagement for a growing nonprofit focused on expanding access to local food and sustaining community health.

The role works closely with the Executive Director to build systems, partnerships, and long-term sustainability, advancing philanthropy, brand visibility, and community engagement across the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, communications, business development, relationship management, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating relationships and securing financial support.
• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills.
• Experience developing strategic plans and executing complex projects.
• Familiarity with donor databases/CRM systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and common communications platforms.
• Experience with grant writing is preferred.
• Knowledge of agriculture, local food systems, rural communities, or community health is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the organization's leadership team.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director on organizational strategy and long-term sustainability.
• Help identify opportunities for organizational growth, partnerships, and revenue diversification.
• Contribute ideas, expertise, and thoughtful perspective to organizational planning and decision-making.
• Help establish systems that strengthen organizational capacity for years to come.
• Develop and implement an annual fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director.
• Lead individual giving initiatives, donor cultivation, stewardship, and annual campaigns.
• Build recurring giving, major donor, and planned giving opportunities.
• Develop sponsorship opportunities for programs, events, and organizational initiatives.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with foundations, businesses, community leaders, and philanthropic partners.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on grant strategy, proposal development, grant research, and reporting, with responsibilities shared based on organizational priorities and staff capacity.
• Track fundraising progress and recommend adjustments throughout the year.
• Provide strategic leadership for McDowell LFAC's communications while collaborating with staff and contractors on implementation.
• Developing annual communications and storytelling strategies.
• Guiding organizational messaging and brand consistency.
• Growing public awareness of McDowell LFAC's mission and impact.
• Supporting marketing strategies that increase participation in programs, grow storefront customers, and strengthen community engagement.
• Overseeing newsletters, website content, media relations, and digital communications.
• Working collaboratively with staff to highlight farmers, partners, volunteers, and community impact.
• Develop and strengthen meaningful relationships that advance McDowell LFAC's mission.
• The Development Director will work closely with the Executive Director to determine how relationships are cultivated and stewarded, recognizing that successful organizational partnerships are shared across the leadership team.
• Serve as the primary administrator for the organization's CRM (MonkeyPod).
• Maintain systems that support donor stewardship and relationship management.
• Support communications systems including mailing lists, newsletters, and campaign tracking.
• Provide light administration of Microsoft 365 systems, SharePoint, and organizational information management.
• Coordinate with outside IT support for advanced technical issues.
• Success in this newly created leadership position will be measured not only by fundraising outcomes, but also by the systems, relationships, and organizational capacity established for long-term growth.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Job description

McDowell Local Food Advisory Council (LFAC) is seeking a Development Director in Marion, North Carolina, to lead fundraising, communications, and external engagement for a growing nonprofit focused on expanding access to local food and sustaining community health.

The role works closely with the Executive Director to build systems, partnerships, and long-term sustainability, advancing philanthropy, brand visibility, and community engagement across the region.