Senior Director of Development and Communications

NC Child is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Raleigh, NC that advocates for public policies improving the lives of all North Carolina children. As the state’s only multi-issue child advocacy organization, NC Child addresses policies affecting the whole child—health and well-being, early childhood education, and family economic security. It is also a leading source of state-level research and data on issues affecting children and families, serving as a trusted resource for policymakers and advocates across the state. ncchild.org

About the role

The Senior Director of Development and Communications provides strategic leadership for NC Child’s fundraising, communications, and external engagement efforts.

Responsibilities

• Development:
  • Develop and implement fundraising strategies focused on major gifts, annual giving, foundations, corporate support, sponsorships, and long-term donor engagement.
  • Manage and grow relationships with donors and prospects through strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Partner with the Executive Director and Board members to engage key supporters and secure transformational gifts.
  • Establish systems for prospect management, donor engagement, performance tracking, and fundraising growth.
  • Represent NC Child with funders, donors, and community partners to expand support for the organization’s mission.
• Communications & External Engagement:
  • Lead communications strategies that increase awareness of NC Child’s research, advocacy, and impact.
  • Manage media relations, including press outreach, organizational messaging, media inquiries, and interview preparation.
  • Develop compelling communications materials for donors, policymakers, advocates, partners, and the public.
  • Oversee digital, website, email, social media, and other communications efforts.
  • Maintain consistent organizational messaging and brand standards across platforms.
  • Support communications strategy for key initiatives, coalitions, and signature events, including the NC Child Summit.
• Leadership:
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on fundraising, communications, and external engagement.
  • Manage and develop a high-performing, collaborative team.
  • Create annual goals, work plans, and performance measures to support accountability and impact.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, nonprofit management, public policy, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in development, communications, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, or related work.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts and building donor relationships.
• Experience leading fundraising strategies and communications initiatives.
• Experience managing and developing teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing messaging and public-facing materials.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to navigate changing priorities.
• Commitment to NC Child’s mission and values.

Bonus Qualifications

• Existing relationships with North Carolina donors, foundations, philanthropic leaders, and media.
• Experience in child advocacy, public policy, or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience with fundraising and communications platforms such as Raiser's Edge, WordPress, Meltwater, Airtable, SharePoint, or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience with digital marketing, analytics, and social media strategy.
• Bilingual proficiency.

Schedule

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Hybrid, 3-4 days onsite with occasional travel mostly within North Carolina.

Pay

Hiring range: $105,000–$115,000, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Health and dental insurance.
• Paid sick days, vacation, and paid family leave.
• Sabbatical program.
• Professional development opportunities.