Senior Development Associate

Career Opportunity

FeedNC is seeking a relationship-driven Senior Development Associate (SDA) to help advance our mission by growing philanthropic support from individuals, businesses, and community partners. This position manages a portfolio of approximately 125–175 donors and qualified prospects and plays a key role in strengthening donor relationships, expanding mid-level giving, growing recurring giving, and identifying new philanthropic opportunities. 

For nearly 40 years, FeedNC has earned the trust and support of our community. Today, the organization operates with an annual budget of approximately $5 million and raises approximately $2.5 million annually through philanthropy to sustain and expand programs that serve neighbors across four counties. FeedNC benefits from an exceptionally generous community of individual donors, businesses, foundations, civic organizations, and faith partners who believe deeply in our mission. 

This is an opportunity to join an organization with an established fundraising program and a strong base of committed supporters. The Senior Development Associate will be empowered to manage and grow a meaningful donor portfolio, deepen relationships with existing supporters, cultivate new donors, and help expand philanthropic investment to meet the growing needs of our community. This position is the Chief Development Officer’s (CDO) primary partner in implementing the organization's development strategy.  

Reporting Structure: The Senior Development Associate reports to the Chief Development Officer.

Salary: The salary is commensurate with experience, in the $55,000-65,000 range and includes a generous benefits package.

Working Environment/Location: Onsite

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Development Associate

Donor Relationship Management 

• Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of approximately 125–175 individual, corporate, and community donors and qualified prospects. 
• Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that align each donor's philanthropic interests with FeedNC's mission. 
• Build trusted relationships through personalized outreach, mission tours, volunteer experiences, donor events, and stewardship activities.
• Develop strategies to retain and grow donors, with a particular emphasis on expanding mid-level giving ($1,000–$5,000). 
• Collaborate with the CDO and CEO on cultivation and stewardship strategies for select leadership donors. 
• Collaborate with the CDO and the CEO on ensuring consistency with FeedNC’s overall messaging and brand strategy. 
• Maintain accurate donor records and timely documentation within the donor database. 
• Support donor retention through thoughtful stewardship and ongoing relationship management. 

Portfolio Growth & Strategic Fundraising 

• Manage a robust pipeline of current and prospective donors, guiding them through every stage of the relationship lifecycle—from identification and qualification to cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term engagement. 
• Secure major gifts, corporate sponsorships, employee engagement opportunities, workplace giving initiatives, volunteer partnerships, and cause marketing collaborations while identifying opportunities to grow support through upgraded and recurring giving. 
• Develop sponsorship opportunities, funding proposals, customized gift requests, presentations, sponsorship packages, gift agreements, and donor impact reports. 
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to develop and implement fundraising strategies, proposals, and donor engagement initiatives that support annual revenue goals and future endowment and capital campaign efforts. 
• Analyze donor engagement, giving trends, and portfolio performance to identify opportunities for growth and strengthen long-term donor relationships. 

Special Events & Donor Engagement 

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of assigned fundraising events, donor engagement activities, and stewardship experiences that strengthen relationships and generate philanthropic support. 
• Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer and volunteer teams to develop sponsorship opportunities, recruit attendees, and maximize donor engagement before, during, and after events. 
• Develop and implement event stewardship plans, ensuring timely follow-up, donor cultivation, and meaningful engagement with attendees and sponsors. 
• Evaluate event outcomes and recommend strategies to increase participation, sponsorship revenue, and long-term donor relationships. 

Stewardship & Donor Experience 

• Lead FeedNC's recurring monthly giving program by developing strategies to recruit, retain, steward, and upgrade recurring donors while increasing long-term philanthropic support. 
• Design meaningful stewardship experiences for assigned donors through personalized engagement, timely acknowledgments, impact reporting, recognition, and mission-focused communications. 
• Ensure donors receive consistent, thoughtful, and timely stewardship that reflects FeedNC's values and strengthens long-term relationships. 
• Collaborate with the Development team to enhance the donor experience and identify opportunities to increase donor engagement and retention. 

CRM & Portfolio Management 

• Maintain accurate and timely donor records, relationship strategies, meeting activity, and next steps within the organization's CRM to support effective portfolio management. 
• Utilize CRM data and fundraising analytics to monitor portfolio performance, donor movement, giving trends, and fundraising outcomes, identifying opportunities for increased engagement and growth. 
• Prepare monthly portfolio and fundraising reports that inform strategy, track progress toward goals, and support leadership decision-making. 
• Ensure timely processing of donor acknowledgments and maintain accurate donor records, including contact information, giving history, and relationship documentation. 
• Participate in regular portfolio reviews, strategic planning and coaching sessions with the CDO. 

Community Engagement 

• Represent FeedNC throughout the community by building relationships with business leaders, civic organizations, corporate partners, and volunteers, while serving as a visible ambassador for the organization's mission. 
• Attend and actively participate in community events, chamber meetings, networking opportunities, donor engagements, and other activities that strengthen FeedNC's visibility and cultivate philanthropic partnerships. 
• Promote a culture of philanthropy by connecting individuals, businesses, and community partners to meaningful opportunities to support FeedNC through giving, volunteering, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. 

Cross Department Collaboration 

• Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer and collaborate with the CEO on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for key donors, corporate partners, and strategic relationships. 
• Collaborate with Development, Marketing, Programs, Volunteer Services, and Leadership teams to develop coordinated fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship strategies that advance FeedNC's mission. 
• Lead assigned fundraising initiatives, donor engagement activities, and special events, while collaborating on annual campaigns, capital campaigns, volunteer initiatives, and community outreach efforts. 
• Assist the CDO with Board Development Committee materials, fundraising reports, donor strategy discussions and other initiatives that support the broader development function. 
• Partner with colleagues to identify compelling stories, program outcomes, and impact that inspire generosity, strengthen donor relationships, and support organizational fundraising goals. 

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required. Degree or coursework in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field preferred. 
• Five or more years of successful experience in fundraising, sales, business development, relationship management, or a comparable field. 
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships and successfully manage a portfolio of clients, donors, or accounts. 
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. 
• Demonstrated proficiency using donor CRM systems to manage donor portfolios, document donor engagement, maintain data integrity, and support fundraising strategy. Experience with Salesforce, LGL or similar CRM platforms is preferred. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications. 
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for local travel. 

Preferred Attributes 

• Passion for FeedNC's mission and commitment to serving neighbors with dignity. 
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and results oriented. 
• Comfortable engaging with donors, business leaders, volunteers, and community partners. 
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through. 
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment. 

About FeedNC

FeedNC is a community-centered nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity while helping individuals and families build pathways toward long-term stability. Through a dignified, relationship-based approach, the organization provides nutritious food, education, and essential resources that empower neighbors to move beyond crisis and toward greater self-sufficiency. Its mission is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to healthy food, opportunity, and hope. Want to know more? Visit FeedNC.org.

How To Apply

Join the FeedNC team and play a critical role in shaping its future while driving impactful change in the community. 

To apply, click on the link for this position athttps://jobs.armstrongmcguire.com/. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, and salary requirements. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of FeedNC as well as the stated responsibilities and qualifications.

Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact talent@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, andno applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.

About Armstrong McGuire

Armstrong McGuire is a national executive search, fundraising, and strategic advising firm that believes in unlocking the potential of nonprofit leaders and the communities they serve. Founded in 2004, our diverse team of advisors work with clients and leaders to align strategy, optimize operations, build capacity, and lead nationwide searches that bring supremely talented individuals to high-impact organizations. Learn more about our services in talent acquisition, fundraising counsel, and strategic planning. Armstrong McGuire