New

Executive Director of Philanthropy, Central Major Gifts

North Carolina State University

Commensurate with Education and Experience

life insurance, flexible benefit account, paid time off

United States, North Carolina, Raleigh

Mar 14, 2026

Posting Information

Posting Number	PG194531EP
Internal Recruitment	No
Working Title	Executive Director of Philanthropy, Central Major Gifts
Anticipated Hiring Range	Commensurate with Education and Experience
Work Schedule	Mon-Fri 8-5 with frequent travel, night, and weekend responsibilities; flexible work arrangements available
Job Location	Raleigh, NC
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, over 10,000 preeminent faculty and staff and over 310,000 alumni. NC State is a research-extensive university known for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We're also at the forefront of teaching and research 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 Division of University Advancement at NC State is a dynamic and entrepreneurial group of advancement professionals dedicated to helping NC State achieve its full potential, transforming lives in North Carolina and solving the grand challenges of a complicated world. The mission of University Development within the Division of University Advancement at NC State is to raise philanthropic support for university goals and priorities that benefit our students, faculty, this campus and ultimately, the state of North Carolina. The department includes the offices of Central Major Gifts, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Gift Planning, and Prospect Development.
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 Executive Director of Philanthropy for Central Major Gifts is a pivotal leadership role reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor ( AVC) for University Development and serving as a key member of the division's leadership team. NC State is seeking a dynamic, results-oriented leader charged with leading the strategy for securing financial support from a varied portfolio of alumni and friends. This individual will drive the full gift cycle-identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts-while fostering a culture of excellence and sophisticated, donor-centric philanthropy. As the strategic lead for the central major gifts team, the Executive Director is responsible for developing and executing high-level plans to meet ambitious annual goals centered on new prospect discovery and qualifications, impactful in-person meetings, and successfully closed gifts. A collaborative partner, the Executive Director plans, coordinates, and represents university-wide fundraising initiatives and programs by closely partnering with colleges and units, university leadership, and development colleagues across campus. Beyond strategy, this role serves as the direct supervisor, mentor, and coach to the central major gifts staff, providing the hands-on guidance necessary to thrive in a high-performance environment. Essential duties and responsibilities of the Executive Director include, but are not limited to the following: Growing the major gifts program and building a pipeline of individual major gift donors ($50,000+) through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship cycles Developing annual fundraising and program goals for staff in collaboration with AVC; monitoring progress against goals and producing necessary reports Fostering and reinforcing a non-territorial, sophisticated approach to donor-centric philanthropy that encourages flexibility and responsiveness throughout University Advancement Actively managing a personal portfolio of current and potential major gift donors Initiating and conducting personal meetings with prospects and donors throughout the year and leading / participating in solicitations with university leaders and development colleagues to meet individual and achieve institutional goals Leading strategies to identify, qualify, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, recognize, and steward all donors and prospects assigned to the Central Major Gifts team Working collaboratively with and in support of volunteers, other University development and advancement staff, and other College and University leaders to identify, cultivate and solicit donors for College and University-wide priorities Prioritizing and implementing complex donor strategies involving multiple units and leadership Building and managing regional fundraising programs engaging all units and their teams to maximize donor engagement, prospect strategies and grow major giving Leading and managing staff in a fiscally sound manner by ensuring that the appropriate systems, staffing and procedures are in place to support fundraising goals Serving as a resource, role model, and coach to development staff on matters of prospect strategy and solicitation; regularly share new approaches and techniques Ensuring that all interested parties (team members) are well informed and engaged in efforts focused on specific prospects
Other Responsibilities	Additional duties of the Executive Director include, but are not limited to the following:* Performing other duties as required or assigned by the AVC. Attending a variety of events throughout the year. Regular travel around the region and to other areas of the country Occasional night and weekend work is required.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Requires a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with 6 or more years of progressive experience in institutional advancement, a multi-year record of success in advancement team management, and proven ability to secure six and seven-figure gifts.
Other Required Qualifications	Proven experience and demonstrated success in major individual gift fundraising, preferably in higher education, with a deep understanding of cultivating and soliciting prospects capable of six-figure gifts or more Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and the philanthropic process and gift cycle; able to (1) initiate contacts with potential donors; (2) develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers and senior university administrators; (3) move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure; (4) make solicitations when appropriate Understanding of the needs and interests of major donors in order to develop relationships between them and the University Demonstrated experience in management, leadership, team development, and ability to successfully motivate and manage a multi-functional and varied staff Excellent written and verbal communication skills; outstanding interpersonal skills Problem-solving, research, and analytical skills Ability to articulate the case for support so that individuals "buy in" to the vision/mission/goals and with sufficient effectiveness to secure gifts at assigned donor-giving levels Ability to build trust-based, respectful, collegial and effective relationships with faculty, administrators, volunteers, and colleagues as part of a team in a large, complex research university Optimism, perseverance and a positive attitude Commitment to a collegial and collaborative team approach Self-motivated and driven with an entrepreneurial approach to problem solving
Preferred Qualifications	Comprehensive campaign experience Experience negotiating and closing seven-figure gifts An understanding of the land grant, research Tier One university environment
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	Yes
Commercial Driver's License required	No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date	03/13/2026
Anticipated Close Date	Open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants	In addition to your application please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for at least 3 professional references.

Position Details

Position Number	00105171
Position Type	EPS/SAAO
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)	1.00
Appointment	12 Month Recurring
Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather	Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather
Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events	Non Mandatory - Emergency Event
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.