Executive Director, Foundation

Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Foundation seeks an Executive Director to serve as chief development officer, leading all fundraising, grant development, stewardship, alumni and community engagement.

This role partners with the College President to advance private support and build a culture of philanthropy that supports student success and faculty excellence. The Executive Director leads a donor-centered team, ensures governance, and strengthens community partnerships.

Qualifications

• Three years of fundraising/nonprofit management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from a USDE- or CHEA-accredited institution in a relevant field (e.g., nonprofit management, education, business).
• Knowledge of 501(c)(3) nonprofit governance, compliance, and fundraising best practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the Foundation.
• Coordinate external fundraising activities to align with institutional priorities.
• Develop Foundation policies and governance practices; ensure compliance.
• Cultivate major gifts, bequests, and donor relations; grow donor base.
• Oversee budget, investments, endowments, and financial reporting.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Grants development

Alumni engagement

Community engagement

Leadership

Staff management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit mgmt

Job description

The Executive Director of the Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Foundation serves as the chief development officer of the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to advance the mission of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. The Executive Director is responsible for leading all fundraising, philanthropic, grant development and stewardship, alumni engagement, and community engagement activities of the Foundation at the direction of the College President. This position plays a central role in securing private support, cultivating meaningful donor relationships, and advancing the College’s strategic priorities.

The Executive Director serves as a highly visible ambassador for both the Foundation and the College, working collaboratively across the institution and with external stakeholders to build a culture of philanthropy, expand community partnerships, and grow the Foundation’s capacity to support student success, faculty excellence, and institutional innovation. This role requires exceptional leadership, a passion for community college education, and a demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships that result in transformative investment.

Essential and other responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions

1. Provides leadership and direction for the overall activities of the Foundation.
2. Collaborates with the President in coordinating external college fundraising activities to ensure alignment with institutional mission and priorities.
3. Works in partnership with the President in determining annual Foundation Board priorities and levels, as well as special initiatives or capital needs that require funding.
4. Develops Foundation policies, procedures, and practices.
5. Ensures compliance with all regulations and best practices related to 501(c)(3) nonprofit management and governance.
6. Serves as the primary liaison for the Foundation Board of Directors, including board engagement, meeting coordination, and supporting effective governance practices.
7. Recruits, supervises, evaluates, and develops Foundation staff, building a high-performing team culture grounded in donor stewardship and community engagement.
8. Works closely with the College’s Business Office, Foundation Treasurer and Investment Committee to ensure sound fiscal management of Foundation funds, assets, endowments, and other financial resources, maintaining compliance with applicable financial policies, audit requirements, and reporting standards.
9. Works to secure major gifts, bequests, and other planned gifts. Cultivates new donors and prospects while encouraging existing donors to increase their levels of support.
10. Prepares endowment fund authorities for donations, ensuring that they are accurate and useful.
11. Manages donor and volunteer recognition through events, website, and publications and ensures accurate listings. Acknowledges tributes and memorials and verifies that gifts are published as appropriate. Composes prospect and thank-you letters for a variety of donors.
12. Maintains the Foundation’s Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and policies and procedures.
13. Oversees and assists with coordination of the Dream Award ceremony and Bernhardt Family Scholar programming. Works with the College Scholarship Committee to ensure all Foundation scholarships are properly represented.
14. Prepares bank deposits and manages account transfers and endowment disbursements. Verifies accuracy of invoices and approves all payment disbursements.
15. Develops reports, presentations, and information for the Foundation Board, Board of Trustees, College leadership, and community stakeholders. Ensures that accurate minutes and financial records are maintained and current.
16. Oversees financial management, including investment allocations and fund activity. Ensures all contributions are used as designated.
17. Manages and tracks endowments, grants, and special donations.
18. Provides assistance to the Foundation Financial Auditor.
19. Oversees Foundation grant stewardship activities and approves appropriate expenditures and transfers in accordance with Foundation policies and donor intent. ,
20. Oversees the preparation of community grant applications.
21. Develops and projects the annual Foundation budget for Board approval and works within that budget.
22. Prepares campaign calendars, prospect lists, solicitation mailings, and communications.
23. Manages the Annual Fund Drive and provides direct assistance to campaign leadership.

Marginal Functions

1. Coordinates with the Communications and Public Relations Department and Printshop to prepare and update all brochures, publications, press releases, webpage, and social media content.
2. Monitors pledges and pledge collections.
3. Assists with alumni relations, alumni engagement initiatives, events, and distribution of information. ,
4. Assists with selection of fund drive volunteers.
5. Participates in professional development activities and required employee training.
6. Maintains membership in professional organizations as appropriate.
7. Performs other duties as assigned by the College President, Foundation Board Chair, or Foundation Board of Directors.

This position description covers the most essential functions and duties associated with this position. The President or appropriate supervisory personnel may assign additional duties. The College reserves the right to alter duties, responsibilities, conditions, working hours, and job title with or without notice.

Knowledge of

• The mission, goals, and objectives of CCC&TI.
• Government and nonprofit budgeting and accounting procedures.
• Management and governance of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
• Current trends, research, and best practices in advancement, fundraising, alumni engagement, philanthropy, and nonprofit management. ,
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Foundation bylaws.
• Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
• College policies and procedures governing assigned work.
• Public relations techniques.
• Financial record-keeping techniques.
• Basic letter and report writing practices.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.

Ability to

• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.

Environmental Conditions

The employee should have the ability to e?ectively handle a work environment and conditions which involve an o?ce workspace and working closely with others.

The employee must maintain the o?ce environment by maintaining equipment and supplies, ensuring overall cleanliness, functionality, and conformance to OSHA standards to provide a safe work environment.

Physical Conditions

Physical and marginal functions require the ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following; standing, walking, or sitting for extended periods, moderate lifting and carrying, general manual dexterity, operating assigned equipment, and extended exposure to computer screens.

The employee must maintain e?ective audio-visual discrimination and perception to make observations, read and write, operate assigned equipment, communicate with others, and handle varied tasks simultaneously.

Additionally, the employee must maintain mental capacity, make sound decisions, use good judgment, demonstrate intellectual capabilities, and evaluate programs and personnel’s e?ectiveness.

Scheduling Conditions

This is a full-time, 12-month position, which requires the employee to be on campus or at an approved alternate location for at least thirty-six hours per week, Monday through Thursday, 8:00am-5:00pm, and Friday, 8:00am-12:00pm. This position generally works daytime hours but has the potential for occasional evening or weekend hours.

Traveling Conditions

Local travel between the Caldwell campus, Watauga campus, or any o?-campus sites may be needed. Out-of-state travel is limited but may be required for training and conferences

Experience

Three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, donor relations, advancement, or a related field required.

Training

Bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with major coursework in education, business administration, nonprofit management, communications, public administration, or a related field required.