The Purpose

Blue Ridge Community College, nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina, seeks an Executive Director of the Educational Foundation, dedicated to providing broader educational opportunities to the community. The Educational Foundation serves the College by raising funds and offering financial support to aid students in their educational journey. We are seeking a driven philanthropic leader, creative fundraiser, and strategic planner with a heart for bettering our community. This administrator will report to the College President and will serve as a member of the College’s leadership team. The preferred start date is July 1, 2023.

If you are interested in learning more about this position, please copy and paste the following link into your browser to apply directly on our website.

https://www.blueridge.edu/about-blue-ridge/human-resources-department/ca...

• Is responsible, in consultation with the President of the College, for generating private donations to support the College’s programs and operations, including scholarship, academic, operational, capital and infrastructure needs.
• Is responsible for the management and growth of the College foundation’s endowment, investments, and all assets.
• Stays knowledgeable of current fundraising and endowment management programs, practices, and procedures being utilized by post-secondary education institutions.
• Develops and manages the Annual Giving Program, which includes the College’s faculty and staff giving program, annual community fund drive, planned giving and corporate and foundation giving.
• Develops and manages a donor relations and stewardship program that achieves meaningful and reciprocal engagement between the College and its donors.
• Researches potential sources of, and applies for, grants and public funding.
• Works closely with the Foundation Board Chair to understand and advance appropriate board governance and development; maintains clear lines of communication and provides well-defined opportunities for board engagement.
• Responsible for external relationships and communications with the public and community groups.
• Serves as advisor to the College President on issues of public affairs and external communications.
• Serves as President’s liaison, and attends and manages events as assigned by the College President.
• Plans, directs, implements and evaluates the organization's day-to-day operations and ensures that all operations of the foundation are carried out in accordance with applicable laws governing private foundations.
• Develops the budget and oversees the prudent financial management of the organization's funds.
• Oversees the leadership and management for the Educational Foundation including management and evaluation of staff, development of strategic plans, and stewardship of resources.
• Is responsible for special projects and other duties as directed by the College President.

Qualifications

Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Preferred: Master’s degree in a related field Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years in nonprofit management and development, preferably donor relations, stewardship, events management or major gift fundraising, is required.
• Experience in data analytics, database management, and reporting in higher education or comparable organization is also required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT and Financial Edge NXT.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential.
• Knowledge of the local/regional philanthropic and business community.
• Experience in a postsecondary foundation, including scholarship processes.

Position requires regular travel between three campus locations and the two counties served. Additional statewide and nationwide travel may be required.

Additional Information

Physical Demands

The ability to perform all duties associated with the position including, but not limited to lifting, prolonged standing, sitting, bending, stooping, and operating or performing work with associated tools and machines.

Blue Ridge is an Equal Employment Opportunity Institution