Development & Strategic Partnerships Manager NC Rural Center

Career Opportunity

The NC Rural Center seeks a collaborative highly organized Development and Strategic Partnerships Manager to help grow philanthropic investment and strengthen partnerships that advance its mission across rural North Carolina. This newly created role offers an experienced development professional the opportunity to manage meaningful relationships build strong fundraising systems and work across a statewide organization with nearly 40 years of impact.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects this position will oversee an active portfolio of approximately 75-100 current and prospective donors funders sponsors and strategic partners; lead sponsorship and funder engagement for the annual Rural Summit; coordinate grant development reporting and renewals; and manage grant administration and grantee relationships for the Faith in Rural Communities program.

This is an excellent opportunity for a development professional who enjoys both the relationship side of fundraising and the behind-the-scenes discipline that keeps complex work moving: writing prospect research detailed tracking follow-through and cross-functional collaboration.

Mission: To champion rural North Carolina by investing in people communities and potential.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects. This position has no direct reports.

Salary: The salary is commensurate with experience and the salary range is $85000-$95000.

Benefits: NC Rural Center offers a comprehensive benefits package including 20 days of paid time off; 12 paid holidays plus a Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Years Day; 12 weeks of paid parental leave; medical dental and vision coverage at no cost to full-time employees; employer-paid life and short- and long-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions of up to 11.5% based on employee participation; and $2500 annually for professional development.

Working Location: Raleigh North Carolina. This is a full-time exempt position and includes periodic travel throughout North Carolina.

Key Responsibilities of the Development and Strategic Partnerships Manager

Cultivate Funding Relationships

• Manage an active portfolio of approximately 75-100 current and prospective donors funders sponsors and strategic partners moving relationships through identification cultivation solicitation stewardship and renewal
• Develop thoughtful donor engagement strategies coordinate meetings and site visits prepare briefing materials and proposals and ensure timely follow-up and accurate documentation
• Build and deepen relationships with foundations corporations financial institutions and other partners whose interests align with the Rural Centers mission and programs

Lead Rural Summit Sponsorships

• Serve as the development lead for the annual Rural Summit working with communications and other staff to develop and execute the sponsorship fundraising and funder engagement strategy
• Identify cultivate solicit steward and renew sponsors; coordinate sponsorship materials; and track commitments revenue benefits recognition and deliverables
• Create meaningful opportunities for sponsors and funding partners to engage with the Rural Center and rural leaders before during and after the Summit

Coordinate Grants and Funding Development

• Coordinate the lifecycle of grants received by the Rural Center including proposals award documentation reporting renewals and closeout while maintaining a comprehensive grants calendar and tracking system
• Work across program and finance teams to develop strong proposals and reports monitor deliverables and budgets and anticipate funder requirements and deadlines
• Conduct prospect research identify aligned funding opportunities and help translate program priorities into compelling fundable opportunities
• Strengthen grant management procedures templates and workflows to improve consistency accountability and efficiency

Manage the Faith in Rural Communities Grantee Portfolio

• Manage grantee relationships and grant administration for approximately 63 church and organizational partners representing approximately $2 million in grant funding in calendar year 2027. The portfolio may grow over time as the program continues to evolve.
• Manage grantees through all stages of the grant lifecycle including award processing payment coordination report collection monitoring follow-up and closeout while serving as the primary point of contact for grantees regarding award administration
• Maintain complete and accurate grantee records and calendars in Salesforce and other systems coordinating multiple grant cycles and reporting periods throughout the year with the Faith in Rural Communities and finance teams to keep awards payments and reporting on track

Strengthen Development Systems and Collaboration

• Maintain accurate donor prospect grant sponsorship and partnership information in Salesforce and other development systems including pipeline activity commitments and next steps
• Develop useful fundraising grant and pipeline reports; monitor key metrics; and recommend improvements to systems and workflows
• Build strong working relationships across programs finance communications and leadership supporting the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects in implementing annual and long-term fundraising and partnership strategies

The Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a collaborative relationship builder who combines strong communication skills with exceptional organization attention to detail and follow-through.

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in fundraising development philanthropy grants management nonprofit management partnership development or a related field
• Demonstrated success cultivating and managing relationships with donors funders grantees sponsors partners or other external stakeholders
• Strong grant development administration and/or grantee management experience including proposals award processing reporting compliance tracking payment coordination and/or renewals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to prepare clear compelling materials for a variety of audiences
• Exceptional project management and attention to detail with the ability to manage a high volume of relationships grants deadlines and deliverables at the same time
• Experience with prospect research and CRM or grants-management systems; Salesforce experience preferred
• A collaborative accountable and growth-oriented work style with comfort in an organization that continues to evolve and strengthen its systems and processes
• Genuine interest in rural North Carolina; experience with rural communities churches community development sponsorships or major organizational events is welcomed but not required

About NC Rural Center

Since 1987 the NC Rural Center has worked to develop promote and implement sound economic strategies that improve the quality of life of rural North Carolinians. The Center serves the states 80 rural counties with particular attention to people and communities with limited resources and access to opportunity.

As North Carolinas rural policy leader and advocate the Rural Center connects people capital and ideas to strengthen rural communities. Its work focuses on leadership development expanding access to capital for small businesses advancing policy and advocacy efforts and strengthening the capacity of rural communities to thrive.

Want to know more Visit .

How To Apply

Join the NC Rural Center and help strengthen the relationships and resources that expand opportunity across rural North Carolina.

To apply scroll to the bottom of this page. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter resume and salary requirements.

Please provide all requested information to be considered. For technical assistance contact . No phone calls please. Applications will not be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites.