Senior Development Lead — Grants & Major Gifts

Center For Employment Opportunities, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) seeks a Senior Associate, Development to co-lead high-stakes fundraising efforts, including government grants and major gifts, while guiding strategy and mentor staff across dispersed teams. The role partners with leadership to align fundraising with impact and oversees donor cultivation at regional or national scales.

You will collaborate with senior leaders to craft proposals, manage complex portfolios in Salesforce, and deliver compelling funder

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in fundraising, with 1–2 years in grant writing and revenue generation.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects across dispersed teams.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders on high-stakes funding opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal storytelling to articulate impact and funding needs.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Attention to grant guidelines, budgets, and reporting requirements.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Salesforce CRM preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft and submit foundation, corporate, and government proposals and LOIs.
• Prepare tailored grant reports for institutional funders and donors.
• Research funders, develop strategy memos, and support program funding priorities.
• Coordinate site visits and follow-up communications with funders.
• Collaborate with Program, Investment, Finance, and Grants teams to ensure timely deliverables.
• Track cultivation, solicitations, and donor milestones in Salesforce.
• Lead regional or national revenue opportunities and mentor Development staff.
• Prepare strategic memos, decks, and presentations for prospective funders.
• Support training and coaching for Development Associates.

Skills

Grant writing

Fundraising strategy

Project coordination

Stakeholder engagement

Proposal development

Storytelling

Budgeting & reporting

Team mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Google Workspace

Job description

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) seeks a Senior Associate, Development to co-lead high-stakes fundraising efforts, including government grants and major gifts, while guiding strategy and mentor staff across dispersed teams. The role partners with leadership to align fundraising with impact and oversees donor cultivation at regional or national scales.

You will collaborate with senior leaders to craft proposals, manage complex portfolios in Salesforce, and deliver compelling funder