Demo

Executive Director of Development and Planned Giving

Inside Higher Ed
Charlotte, NC Full Time
POSTED ON 6/19/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/17/2026
Responsibilities

This role is fully in person (not hybrid or remote). This position is also funded by non-university funds.

General Statement of Job

Under limited supervision, performs a variety of duties associated with identifying, cultivating and soliciting major gifts and supervising fundraising staff for the university, its academic programs and institutional projects. As a key member of the Institutional Advancement and External Affairs leadership team, the Executive Director of Development and Planned Giving is responsible for identifying and cultivating prospects and building a portfolio of individual major gift contributors and will included a portfolio of foundations and corporations to support the ongoing needs of the Johnson C. Smith University. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

  • Direct, develop and implement comprehensive fundraising programs and campaigns to help the University achieve its fundraising goals. Minimum fundraising goal for the Executive Director of Development and Planned Giving will be determined annually by the President and VP for Institutional Advancement.
  • Design, implement, and manage a comprehensive proactive plan focused on expanding and enhancing private giving and deffered giving to support university mission.
  • Direct research of individual prospects and related organizations and ensure prospect portfolios at relevant levels for President, Vice President, and Assistant Vice President. Actively participate in prospect management and tracking for capital, major, and deffered gifts.
  • Build, maintain and foster a large and robust portfolio and assign metrics to reporting staff, ensuring regular solicitation, and tracking.
  • Cultivate, solicit and negotiate with potential donors.
  • Assist with other activities as required.

Additional Job Functions

Performs additional duties as required to meet organizational needs and as assigned by the VP of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs to include but not limited to the following:

  • Play lead role in developing and executing fundraising strategy.
  • Coordinate on-campus fundraising activities.
  • Represent the University on external committees, work teams, civic partnerships as assigned by AVP Institutional Advancement and External Affairs.

Qualifications

Minimum Training And Experience

Requires a Bachelor's degree in business or other relevant field and at least three to five years of significant experience in fundraising or a related field. Advanced degree preferred. Experience with computerized databases and word processing an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Minimum Qualifications Or Standards Required

To Perform Essential Job Functions

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines and equipment. Must be able to exert up to five pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Must be able to lift/carry weights of five to ten pounds.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or directions from supervisors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of policy and procedure manuals, financial documents, computer manuals, etc. Requires the ability to enter data into a computer and prepare reports, correspondence, records, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Must be able to speak with poise, voice control, and confidence and to articulate information to others.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with co-workers and the general public.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to determine percentages and decimals, and to determine time. Must be able to use practical applications of fractions, percentages, ratio, and proportion. Must be able to use practical applications of statistics.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, and visually read various information.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment and communications machinery.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items including computer keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress when confronted with an emergency or tight deadline.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to hear and understand communications through a telephone.

Supplemental Information

To apply, please include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three supervisory references including the most recent supervisor.

Finalists for this position are subject to a background check. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history and identity check.

Salary.com Estimation for Executive Director of Development and Planned Giving in Charlotte, NC
$97,615 to $140,349
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