Major Gifts Officer

Join Us in the Fight Against Hunger!

At the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, we believe in a future where no one goes hungry.

The Development Officer plays a pivotal role in advancing the Food Bank’s mission to Nourish people. Build solutions. Empower communities. by managing a portfolio of individual donors giving $10,000+ annually. This position focuses on building and deepening relationships with individual supporters, with an emphasis on strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

This frontline fundraising role is ideal for a proactive, collaborative, relationship-driven professional who thrives in a performance-based culture and is motivated by impact. As part of a high-performing team committed to fundraising excellence, this role directly contributes to revenue growth and long-term donor pipeline development.

Job Responsibilities

(80%) Major Gifts Fundraising 

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of approximately 100–125 individual donors and prospects with the capacity to give $10,000+ annually.
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and upgrade strategies designed to deepen engagement and increase philanthropic investment.
• Conduct a high volume of meaningful donor interactions, including in-person visits, virtual meetings, and strategic touchpoints throughout the donor lifecycle.
• Prepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, stewardship communications, and donor correspondence tailored to individual interests and priorities.
• Solicit and close major gifts in support of annual, campaign, and strategic funding priorities.
• Partner closely with senior leadership, board members, and program staff to strengthen donor relationships and identify new opportunities for engagement.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects to support continued portfolio growth and pipeline development.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, strategies, and moves management activity within Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Meet or exceed established fundraising goals and key performance metrics, including activity, pipeline movement, and revenue targets.

(20%) Collaboration & Organizational Support 

• Partner with the Annual Fund, Philanthropy Operations, and Corporate and Foundation teams to deliver coordinated and impactful donor experiences.
• Participate in development team meetings, strategic planning sessions, and Food Bank events.
• Assist with campaign efforts, regional engagement opportunities, and other fundraising initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in fundraising, relationship management, sales, or a related field, including demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
• Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts at the $10,000+ level.
• Experience managing a strategic donor portfolio with measurable fundraising outcomes.
• Ability to build credibility and relationships with donors, volunteers, senior leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including proposal and donor correspondence development.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Experience utilizing CRM systems and moves management practices; Raiser’s Edge NXT experience preferred.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Passion for the Food Bank’s mission and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license and good driving record, with the ability to travel extensively throughout the Food Bank’s 34-county service area and regionally, including occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to operate standard office equipment.
• Frequently sits; occasionally stands, walks, reaches, and lifts/moves up to 10 pounds.
• Work performed in a hybrid office and community environment, including occasional visits to warehouse or program sites.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not regard race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, marital status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or any protected class characteristic when seeking to hire. This practice, in addition to hiring, applies to our recruiting, training, transfers, promotions, job benefits, pay, dismissal practices, social and recreational activities, and any other term or condition of employment.

We care about our employees, our candidates, and our community. As such, please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.