Chief executive officer

The Board of Directors of the United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina seeks a visionary, mission-driven, and relationship-centered Chief Executive Officer to lead a faith-based philanthropic and financial services organization into its next chapter of faithful stewardship, strategic growth, and expanded ministry impact. The Foundation has a staff of six with an annual operating budget of approximately $2 million and is responsible for assets of approximately $300 million.

About the Foundation

The United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina strengthens the long-term financial health and mission capacity of churches, ministries, clergy, individuals, and institutions. Its work includes stewardship resources and services that help churches and ministry partners faithfully manage, invest, and grow resources for long-term ministry impact.

Mission: To enable churches and agencies to build a culture of purpose and generosity through education, consulting, development, and financial services.

• Act with integrity: Conduct all work with honesty, transparency, and ethical judgment.
• Execute with accuracy: Apply care, precision, and full effort to deliver exceptional value.
• Make it better: Continuously improve in service to those who place their trust in the Foundation.
• Remain open to change: Stay flexible in approach and delivery while remaining committed to the mission and goals.
• Collaborate willingly: Work with others who share the Foundation’s values to advance its mission.

The Foundation invests according to the Social Principles of The Book of Discipline.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in partnership with the Board, staff, and key stakeholders.
• Serve as the Foundation’s principal ambassador, enhance fundraising, and steward relationships among unit holders.
• Partner with the Board and its committees to support sound governance, long-range planning, and annual goal-setting.
• Oversee prudent stewardship of assets entrusted to the Foundation in partnership with the Board, Investment Committee, and outside advisors or managers.
• Lead in enhancing development, fundraising, planned giving, donor stewardship, and endowment growth through partnership with staff and key stakeholders.
• Strengthen relationships with churches, clergy, laity, unit holders, donors, the Bishop and Cabinet, District Superintendents, Conference leaders, and ministry partners.
• Ensure operational integrity through sound budgeting, internal controls, audit compliance, risk management, human resources, technology, and administrative effectiveness.
• Maintain alignment with the mission, values, doctrine, discipline, and polity of The United Methodist Church, or demonstrate a clear commitment to developing that fluency.

Opportunities Ahead

The next CEO will have the opportunity to build upon the Foundation’s trust, financial stewardship, and responsive service while positioning the Foundation for future growth and ministry impact. Key leadership priorities include:

• Strengthen visibility and relationships with churches, clergy, unit holders, donors, Board members, Conference leaders, and ministry partners.
• Expand stewardship, endowment, and donor engagement as a stronger public voice for generosity and planned giving.
• Optimize stakeholder experience through improved communication, education, and reporting.
• Preserve and strengthen staff culture by fostering collaboration, accountability, and trust.
• Lead through denominational and economic change with creativity and stability.
• Expand the Foundation’s role as a ministry partner with faith-based and ecumenical organizations.

Requirements

The Foundation seeks a faithful, authentic, and forward-thinking leader with strategic vision, financial credibility, relational depth, and a deep commitment to ministry impact. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, fiscal acumen, strong communication skills, and a collaborative leadership style.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in relationship-building, external engagement, and communication with diverse stakeholder groups.
• 7-10 years of executive or senior leadership experience in a nonprofit, faith-based, philanthropic, financial services, foundation, or mission-driven organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, nonprofit leadership, theology, finance, law, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of investment management principles, fiduciary oversight, institutional portfolios, and financial stewardship.
• Experience with fundraising, donor stewardship, planned giving, endowment development, or major gift cultivation.
• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors and Board committees.
• A leadership style grounded in integrity, humility, trust, collaboration, and accountability.
• Experience leading through organizational, denominational, philanthropic, or market disruption.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a United Methodist or other faith-based foundation, community foundation, or similar philanthropic/financial services organization.
• Familiarity with United Methodist structure, polity, Conference relationships, connectional giving, trust clause matters, or church finance.
• Professional credentials such as CFP, CTFA, CFA, CFRE, or comparable education/experience.
• Experience with technology modernization, stakeholder-facing reporting tools, or digital communication strategy.
• Advanced degree in business, nonprofit leadership, theology, finance, law, or a related field.

Pay

This full-time, in-office position based in Garner, North Carolina offers a salary range of $200,000–$225,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.