Director of Development at North Carolina Hillel

Director of Development

North Carolina Hillel 

Role Overview

NC Hillel is seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Director of Development to join our highly collaborative team at a pivotal moment of growth and impact. This is an exceptional opportunity for a development professional with a passion for Jewish life and higher education to build and lead a comprehensive fundraising program serving Jewish students across North Carolina.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Development will be responsible for designing and executing NC Hillel's fundraising strategy, cultivating a robust major gifts program, and partnering closely with our Board of Directors and volunteer leadership to advance our mission. This role offers significant opportunity for professional growth and leadership within a supportive, award-winning workplace culture.

This position may be based in the Triangle or Charlotte, NC, with some domestic travel required.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Campaign Leadership

• Partner with the Executive Director and Development Committee to create and execute an annual fundraising plan, calendar, and moves-management strategy designed to achieve and grow fundraising goals.
• Lead both short- and long-term development strategies, with particular emphasis on building NC Hillel's alumni and parent giving programs.
• Identify and cultivate new revenue streams, grant opportunities, and organizational partnerships.

Donor Relations & Solicitation

• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, delivering tailored cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies.
• Conduct direct solicitations of major, mid-level, and grassroots donors.
• Oversee donor recognition, stewardship, and engagement programs to deepen long-term relationships.
• Assist in the development and implementation of a planned giving and endowment campaign.

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Serve as the primary professional liaison to the Development Committee providing strategic guidance, tools, and training to enhance donor cultivation efforts.
• Support and mobilize the Board of Directors and lay leaders as ambassadors and partners in fundraising.

Events & Communications

• Plan and execute special events for current and prospective donors and community supporters.
• Develop and oversee grassroots fundraising campaigns, including mailings, digital communications, and social media engagement.

Team Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise and mentor undergraduate Development Interns, providing structured guidance, learning opportunities, and hands-on exposure to all aspects of a professional fundraising program.
• Train and project manage campus professionals — including student engagement staff and program professionals — on best practices for identifying, prospecting, and cultivating parent and alumni donors.
• Develop tools, playbooks, and frameworks that empower engagement professionals to build authentic relationships that translate into philanthropic support.
• Foster a culture of development across the organization, equipping non-development staff to serve as effective frontline ambassadors for NC Hillel's fundraising mission.

Grants & Operations

• Research, prepare, and submit grant proposals; track and manage grant relationships and reporting.
• Oversee fundraising operations including donor database management (Little Green Light), gift processing, acknowledgment, and monthly benchmark reporting.
• Analyze campaign data, donor trends, and fundraising outcomes to inform strategy.

Qualifications & Experience

• 4–7 years of progressive experience in a development role(s).
• Demonstrated success in project management, preferably managing development campaigns, grant writing, solicitation, stewardship, and donor cultivation.
• Experience with Jewish communal organizations, Hillel, or university/higher education environments strongly preferred.
• Strong proficiency with donor management software and CRM systems; comfort with data analysis and financial reporting.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling narratives that inspire giving.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff or volunteers preferred.
• Passion for Jewish life, student engagement, and higher education.
• Familiarity with the Jewish calendar, religious practice, and the North Carolina Jewish community a plus.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive annual salary commensurate with experience, $75,000-$90,000.
• Full-time exempt position with generous, flexible PTO policy with no accrual limits, including time off for Federal and Jewish holidays, summer and winter office closures, and rest time after work-related travel — all coordinated in advance with your supervisor to ensure team needs are met.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits.
• Professional development opportunities, Jewish learning, and mentoring.
• Flexible hybrid working location within North Carolina; preference for candidates near the Triangle or Charlotte.
• Meaningful professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities — this role has significant growth for the right candidate.
• Domestic travel regionally and nationally.

About NC Hillel

North Carolina Hillel serves Jewish students across the UNC system, from the coast to the mountains. Whether it's their first time meeting a Jewish role model or taking ownership of their Jewish identity, students find NC Hillel to be a welcoming space to build community and grow.

As a proud recipient of the 2025 Hillel International Great Place to Work Award, NC Hillel is recognized for its inclusive, supportive, and mission-driven workplace culture.

We are a highly collaborative team that believes deeply in both our work and each other. The right candidate will find not only a fulfilling role but a genuine community and a platform to grow professionally in meaningful ways.

NC Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.

About the Area

Chapel Hill, NC is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — one of the nation's premier public research universities — and sits at the heart of the Research Triangle, one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regions in the United States. The Triangle boasts a thriving Jewish community, a robust nonprofit sector, and a rich quality of life. Charlotte, NC's largest city, is a major financial and cultural hub with a growing and engaged Jewish community and excellent connectivity for regional and national travel.