President & CEO

President & CEO

North Carolina Community Foundation

Raleigh, North Carolina

 

Mission

 

To inspire North Carolinians to make lasting and meaningful contributions to their communities.

 

Executive Summary

 

The North Carolina Community Foundation (NCCF), one of the state's most trusted philanthropic institutions, seeks its next President & CEO.

 

Over the past two decades, NCCF has grown from approximately $100 million to more than $600 million in assets, expanded its statewide reach, and strengthened its role as a trusted philanthropic partner for donors, nonprofits, and communities across North Carolina.

 

The next President & CEO will inherit a high-performing organization with:

 

• A dedicated leadership team

• A proven statewide model

• Strong organizational culture

• Significant opportunities for continued growth and innovation

 

This is not a maintain-and-manage role. The Board seeks a visionary leader who will deepen NCCF's presence across North Carolina, expand donor engagement, strengthen partnerships, and guide the organization through its next phase of growth.

 

About NCCF

 

Founded in 1988, NCCF exists to help North Carolinians create lasting charitable impact in their communities.

Today, the Foundation includes:

 

• Over $600 million in assets

• More than 1,300 charitable funds

• A $7.5 million operating budget

• 53 affiliate community foundations serving 60 North Carolina counties

• Approximately 300 nonprofit agency endowments

• More than $38 million awarded annually in grants and scholarships

 

NCCF is purposefully nonpartisan, collaborative, and committed to serving communities across urban and rural North Carolina.

 

Position Summary

 

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO provides strategic, operational, and philanthropic leadership for the Foundation while serving as its chief ambassador across North Carolina.

 

The President & CEO will strengthen donor relationships, support affiliate community foundations, expand partnerships, inspire innovation, and ensure NCCF continues to grow its statewide impact.

 

Key Priorities

 

Statewide Leadership

 

• Serve as a visible leader throughout North Carolina.

• Build strong relationships with donors, affiliate boards, community leaders, and partners.

• Elevate NCCF's profile across the state.

 

Donor Development

 

• Lead major gift cultivation and planned giving efforts.

• Strengthen relationships with current and next-generation donors.

• Build partnerships with attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, and wealth advisors.

• Champion the unique value of community philanthropy.

 

Strategic Partnerships

 

• Serve as a connector among philanthropic, civic, nonprofit, business, and government leaders.

• Advocate for rural communities and long-term community investment.

• Represent NCCF throughout North Carolina and nationally.

 

Affiliate Network Leadership

 

• Support and strengthen NCCF's statewide affiliate network.

• Build trust with affiliate boards and volunteers.

• Help affiliates use local data and community knowledge to maximize impact.

• Increase collaboration and long-term effectiveness across the network.

 

Innovation & Organizational Growth

 

• Identify emerging opportunities for community philanthropy.

• Guide NCCF through continued organizational growth.

• Expand the Foundation's relevance and statewide impact.

 

Ideal Candidate

 

The successful candidate will bring:

 

Leadership & Management

 

• Significant executive leadership experience leading a complex organization.

• Strong organizational, financial, and strategic planning skills.

• Experience developing high-performing teams.

• Ability to partner effectively with a governing board.

 

Philanthropic Experience

 

• Experience in philanthropy, community foundations, family foundations, or related nonprofit organizations strongly preferred.

• Proven fundraising and donor relationship management experience.

• Knowledge of donor-advised funds, planned giving, and charitable philanthropy.

 

Community Leadership

 

• Genuine appreciation for rural communities.

• High emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to build trust across diverse constituencies.

• Comfortable serving as the public face of the organization.

 

Collaboration & Organizational Agility

 

• Demonstrated success building partnerships.

• Strong political awareness and sound judgment.

• Ability to lead through complexity while maintaining collaboration and transparency.

 

Values Alignment

 

The successful candidate will model NCCF's values of:

 

• Community

• Partnership

• Stewardship

• Trust

• Collaboration

• Long-term impact

 

Reporting Relationships

 

Reports to:

 

• Board of Directors

 

Direct Reports

 

• Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

• Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

• Vice President of People & Culture

• Vice President of Philanthropic Services

 

Key External Relationships

 

• Donors and fundholders

• Professional advisors

• Affiliate community foundation leaders

• Nonprofit partners

• Civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders

• National philanthropic organizations

 

Compensation & Location

 

NCCF offers a competitive executive compensation and benefits package.

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, with extensive travel throughout North Carolina.