Director of Philanthropic Engagement

North Carolina State University; North Carolina; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Flexible Spending Account

Retirement Programs

Disability Plans

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

12 Holidays

Tuition Assistance

Job summary

North Carolina State University seeks a Director of Philanthropic Engagement to lead the program strategy, staff development and frontline fundraising for Caldwell Fellows. The role guides emergent philanthropy initiatives, leveraging data, technology and cross‑campus collaboration to grow donor relationships and philanthropic impact.

The position emphasizes leading a teams‑oriented, coaching‑driven culture with a focus on scalable fundraising outcomes and strategic partnership across AEAG and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of five (5) years or greater of experience including 3 years of progressive advancement experience.
• All degrees must be from appropriately accredited institutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, implementation and continuous improvement of NC State’s Philanthropic Engagement program.
• Develop portfolio strategies to identify constituents with emergent philanthropy potential.
• Manage frontline fundraising for Caldwell Fellows and steward prospects and donors.
• Collaborate across campus to connect constituent interests with university priorities and resources.

Skills

Relationship building

Strategic fundraising

Staff leadership

Data-driven strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Posting Details

Posting Information

Posting Number PG195038EP

Internal Recruitment No

Working Title Director of Philanthropic Engagement

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.

Job Location Raleigh, NC

Department Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving

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.

Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving (AEAG)

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.

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.

What we offer:

• Medical , Dental , and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

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.

Essential Job Duties

The Director of Philanthropic Engagement leads NC State’s strategy for emergent philanthropy and develops frontline fundraising talent. NC State defines emerging philanthropy as engagement with constituents who give or have the potential to give $1,000‑$25,000 in a fiscal year.

Through a player‑coach model, the Director leads and develops a team of early‑career professionals and lateral movers while maintaining an active frontline fundraising portfolio. The Director serves as a frontline fundraiser for the Caldwell Fellows program, developing relationships and pursuing philanthropy opportunities in support of the program.

The Philanthropic Engagement program uses giving, volunteerism, capacity, interests and other engagement signals to dynamically identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward constituents whose relationships with NC State can deepen over time, with particular emphasis on the volunteer‑to‑donor pipeline.

The Director will build and continuously improve a more formal approach to developing fundraising talent through coaching, mentoring, experiential learning and exposure to advancement work across NC State. The Director will also be a technology‑forward advancement leader who uses emerging technologies, automation, data and digital tools to improve fundraising strategy, staff effectiveness and efficiency.

Duties And Responsibilities

Philanthropic Engagement Strategy

• Lead the strategy, implementation and continuous improvement of NC State’s Philanthropic Engagement program.
• Develop portfolio strategies that use giving, volunteerism, capacity, interests and other engagement signals to identify constituents with emergent philanthropy potential.
• Establish program goals and evaluate performance across fundraising, donor retention and upgrades, engagement, qualification and movement of relationships, when appropriate.
• Partner with college, unit and central development colleagues to determine relationship and prospect strategies as opportunities develop, including collaborative cultivation, solicitation, continued management or transition.

Staff Leadership and Talent Development

• Recruit, lead, coach and develop a team of early‑career professionals.
• Design and implement a structured talent‑development approach that strengthens fundraising competencies, professional skills and effectiveness in current roles.
• Provide hands‑on coaching through prospect strategy, donor meetings, solicitations and portfolio management, including joint visits and modeling effective fundraising practices.
• Create meaningful opportunities for staff to work alongside and learn from college and unit development teams, major gifts, gift planning, advancement research, stewardship, annual giving and alumni engagement.
• Build relationships with development leaders across campus to strengthen collaboration and increase awareness of developing fundraising talent.

Frontline Fundraising

• Manage a strategic portfolio concentrated at the upper end of emergent philanthropy and selected opportunities.
• Serve as the primary frontline fundraiser for Caldwell Fellows, identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding prospects and donors, and partnering with other college/units as necessary.

Technology, Data and Innovation

• Use technology, data, automation and emerging tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Philanthropic Engagement team.
• Identify and implement opportunities to streamline the team’s work, reduce administrative burden and increase time spent building constituent relationships.
• Experiment with and adopt new tools and approaches that help the team better identify, prioritize and engage constituents.
• Build a team culture that is curious about technology and continually seeks better ways to work.

Campus Partnership

• Serve as a collaborative partner across Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, University Development and University Advancement.
• Build strong relationships with college and unit development leaders and other advancement partners.
• Connect constituent interests with appropriate university, college and unit priorities.
• Represent Philanthropic Engagement with university partners, alumni, donors and volunteers.
• Serves as a member of the AEAG Leadership team.

Other Responsibilities

• Regular local travel and some regional/out‑of‑state travel are required for this position.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of five (5) years or greater of experience, including 3 years of progressive advancement experiences

All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of relationship‑based fundraising and philanthropic engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, mentor and develop others.
• Ability to serve as a player‑coach, balancing team leadership and strategy with active frontline fundraising.
• Strong relationship‑building, communication, organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across a large, complex and decentralized organization.
• Ability to use data to inform strategy, prioritize opportunities and evaluate results.
• Demonstrated comfort with technology and willingness to learn, test and adopt emerging tools and approaches.
• Sound judgment and commitment to responsible stewardship of constituent information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Successful experience in fundraising, advancement, sales, relationship management or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting and closing philanthropic gifts or comparable relationship‑based commitments.
• Experience coaching or developing fundraising, sales or relationship‑management professionals.
• Experience developing staff training, professional‑development or talent‑development programs.
• Experience using technology, data, automation or digital tools to improve fundraising or team operations.
• Understanding of the relationship among annual giving, emergent philanthropy and major‑gift development.
• Experience in higher education advancement, alumni engagement or a similarly complex nonprofit environment.

Required License(s) Or Certification(s)

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

Valid NC Driver's License required Yes

Commercial Driver's License required No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date 11/13/2026

Anticipated Close Date Open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

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 [e-mail]. 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.