Chief Executive Officer

The Board of Directors of the United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina (the Foundation) 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.

The Foundation serves United Methodist churches agencies clergy individuals and related partners across North Carolina through investment management endowment stewardship planned giving church finance education grantmaking and related philanthropic and financial services.

The next CEO will be asked to honor this strong legacy and to continue its growth while guiding the Foundation through a changing church and philanthropic landscape. The successful candidate will bring executive leadership fiduciary judgment fundraising and donor stewardship experience relational credibility and the ability to build trust with churches clergy donors unit holders staff Board members Conference leaders and ministry partners.

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.

The Foundations mission is 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 Foundations values to advance its mission.

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

Chief Executive Summary

The CEO serves as the Foundations chief executive principal ambassador fundraiser and relationship steward. The role is both externally facing and institutionally accountable requiring the CEO to balance visibility and relationship-building with fiduciary oversight Board governance operational discipline and mission alignment within the United Methodist connection.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Provide strategic leadership in partnership with the Board staff and key stakeholders.
• Serve as the Foundations 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.

The next CEO will have the opportunity to build upon the Foundations trust financial stewardship and responsive service while positioning the Foundation for future growth and ministry impact. The following leadership priorities will help guide this work:

• Strengthen visibility and relationships: Be present with churches clergy unit holders donors Board members Conference leaders and ministry partners; deepen existing relationships and cultivate new ones.
• Expand stewardship endowment and donor engagement: Serve as a stronger public voice for generosity stewardship planned giving endowment development and long-term ministry sustainability.
• Optimize stakeholder experience: Improve communication education on reporting and account access and the overall experience for churches ministries donors and investors.
• Preserve and strengthen staff culture: Honor a healthy collaborative efficient staff culture while providing clear expectations accountability support and trust.
• Lead through denominational and economic change: Help churches and ministries respond to demographic financial denominational and philanthropic shifts with creativity and stability.
• Expand the Foundations role as a ministry partner: Build relationships with faith-based and ecumenical partners related nonprofits and other mission-aligned organizations.

The Foundation seeks a faithful authentic and forward-thinking leader who can guide the Foundation 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 a collaborative leadership style and the ability to inspire trust across constituencies.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable leading at the intersection of faith philanthropy financial services and nonprofit leadership. This leader should understand the importance of stewardship planned giving endowment growth donor relationships church finance and long-term ministry sustainability.

The next CEO should be visible accessible and able to tell the story of generosity and faithful stewardship in a compelling way. At the same time the CEO must be an operationally disciplined executive who works well with a volunteer Board values staff expertise supports healthy culture and leads innovation and change with humility clarity and care.

• 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.
• Bachelors 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.

• 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.

This full-time in-office position is based in Garner North Carolina and offers a salary range of $200000$225000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Candidates should submit a cover letter addressing interest in the position and how the candidates experience aligns with the candidate profile identified along with a comprehensive resume.

Materials must be submitted by September 3 2026.

References will be requested at a later date.

The United Methodist Foundation of North Carolina is an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based organization.

Tricia Baker

Chief Officer of Human Resources

Cianta Hogan

Director of Human Resources

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