United Way of Greater Charlotte - Chief Development Officer

United Way of Greater Charlotte is boldly investing in what if. When Charlotte ranked last in the nation for economic mobility, United Way challenged ourselves and others to say what if every neighborhood has the resources it needs to break the cycle of poverty? And what if every person has equal access to opportunities? In response, United Way is going directly to where the needs are the greatest and is bringing new voices to the table to promote racial equity and ensure every neighborhood thrives. We believe that by challenging the what ifs and by moving together in hope, we can build thriving communities.

Job Summary:

The Chief Development Officer leads our external resource mobilization efforts to drive community impact throughout the United Way of Greater Charlotte's footprint, directly supporting our mission to end poverty and improve economic mobility. This key leadership position manages all aspects of our philanthropic initiatives by securing financial and in-kind resources through strategic partnerships with corporations, foundations, and individual donors. The role oversees comprehensive fundraising strategies including major gifts, annual giving, corporate, foundation and government relations, grants, third party fundraisers (including but not limited to workplace giving) planned giving, and development services. As a vital member of the Executive team, this individual will collaborate closely with internal leadership and external stakeholders to ensure organizational alignment through well-defined strategies and efficient processes. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with exceptional organizational skills who can successfully manage multiple concurrent projects. This position requires a proven leader with demonstrated ability to build strong collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholders, a track record of measurable results, and genuine passion for advancing initiatives that create lasting community impact.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising business plan to generate new revenue aligned with community impact priorities across individual, foundation, corporate support, third party fundraisers, and planned giving channels.
• Partner: Partner with CEO & Board of Directors to identify, cultivate and develop financial resources and volunteer leadership needed to advance all aspects of fundraising strategy.
• Lead as the primary relationship manager for Resource Development and serve as a visible community leader, representing United Way of Greater Charlotte at events and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with Resource Development leadership to set team and corporate goals supporting UWGC's vision, while working with foundations and community groups to secure large-scale investments across the 5-county region.
• Build and develop a strong Resource Development team and culture, identifying future leaders and encouraging professional growth within the department.
• Provide ongoing leadership to the Resource Development team, ensuring they have the skills, tools, resources, and training needed to achieve fundraising success.
• Develop, monitor and manage Resource Development departmental expense budgets and revenue goals, implementing data-driven analysis for effective projections.
• Establish strong relationships with key donors, volunteers, community leaders, and agencies while participating in cross-functional teams and important regional meetings.
• Represent UWGC in the community as needed (including evenings and weekends), attending major conventions and speaking engagements to advance fundraising initiatives.

What You'll Need: Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, business, or impact-related discipline; advanced degree beneficial. Certified Professional Fundraising Executive accreditation is beneficial.
• Minimum ten years of development experience with emphasis on Major Gifts, Planned Giving, and Capital Campaigns, plus five years of executive-level management experience.
• Proven record of raising significant funds, with demonstrated success in engaging leadership volunteers and presenting information persuasively to executive teams and boards.
• Strong project management skills with ability to effectively plan, execute, and oversee multiple initiatives while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strategic thinker with business analytics capabilities who identifies innovative ways to connect constituents for maximum community impact.
• Passionate advocate for United Way of Greater Charlotte's mission, experience working with and managing volunteers, beneficial.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, demonstrating adaptability to change and strong independent problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite with exceptional written and verbal communication skills for both internal and external stakeholders.

Workplace values

• Take action and go! Be bold and not afraid of a little competition or thinking outside the box even when opportunities seem unimaginable. Create a new path one-step at a time, you got this!
• Openly collaborate in the pursuit of truth and doing what is right. Welcome tough conversations don't make assumptions, and rely on others, together we are stronger!
• Sometimes things just need a shake-up. Whether internally or out in the community, we aren't afraid to be disruptive. Understanding that we may leave a few feathers ruffled along the way, if it is the right thing to do and benefits our community, we will take the chance!
• Inaction is the enemy of innovation. We are a perpetual work in progress, striving to be better, constantly learning and taking risks to be the best we can be. Learning from our mistakes and paving the way for continual betterment.
• Teamwork makes the dream work. Bottom line, we need each other. Working together makes us all better individually and makes us awesome as a group. Understanding what other strengths and weaknesses may be and using that knowledge to guide, support, and model our work makes for a successful and high performing team.
• Recognizing and appreciating our differences only make us better. We all share in the responsibility to create a positive culture and to safeguard equity, inclusion, dignity, and respect for all. Each member of our team will be a role model for others.

United Way of Greater Charlotte is committed to having a workforce that reflects our entire community. United Way opposes racism and oppression in all its forms and believes the nonprofit work environment is enhanced when diverse groups of people with ideas come together to achieve common goals. United Way understands that diverse representation and perspectives are vital to our success. We are Dedicated to continuous learning and active participation in diversity initiatives while advocating for equitable opportunities across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Committed to deepening understanding of historically marginalized communities' experiences, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latinx groups, to create more inclusive environments.

Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits include Health, Dental, Vision, 401k Defined Contribution Plan, Paid Holidays and Paid Time-Off.

UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We recognize that candidates may not check every box in our requirements list. If you're passionate about United Way's mission, have relevant skills and experience, and are eager to learn, we strongly encourage you to apply. Studies show that people from underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet 100% of the qualifications. We value diverse perspectives and believe that your unique combination of skills, experiences, and enthusiasm might be exactly what we need. Our goal is to build a talented, diverse team committed to our mission-so please don't hesitate to submit your application

No calls, emails, or visits please. For immediate consideration, please formally apply online and provide a resume and cover letter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job classification. They are not to be constructed as an all-inclusive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities of people so assigned.

The Agency's policy is to provide equal opportunity in all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability or veteran status