Development Director

McDowell LFAC • Marion, NC

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

McDowell Local Food Advisory Council (LFAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening community health through an equitable and economically viable local food system. Through core programming at the Foothills Food Hub and the Marion Tailgate Market, LFAC works to increase access to healthy food while supporting the success of local agriculture. This is a newly created leadership position, reflecting an intentional investment in McDowell LFAC's next stage of growth. The Development Director is a senior leadership position responsible for advancing McDowell LFAC's mission by growing the organization's financial resources, strategic partnerships, public visibility, and community engagement. Working closely with the Executive Director, this role develops and implements strategies that strengthen philanthropy, expand community support, elevate the organization's brand, and increase awareness of local food across the region. Through fundraising, storytelling, communications, relationship-building, and strategic planning, the Development Director helps build a financially sustainable organization that supports local farmers, improves community health, and expands access to local food. McDowell LFAC believes that strong organizations are built through shared leadership. The Development Director serves as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and contributes to organizational planning, revenue diversification, and long-term sustainability. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys building systems, cultivating relationships, solving complex challenges, and helping shape the future of a growing nonprofit organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, communications, business development, relationship management, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated success cultivating relationships and securing financial support.
• Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills.
• Experience developing strategic plans and executing complex projects.
• Familiarity with donor databases/CRM systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and common communications platforms.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with grant writing is preferred.
• Knowledge of agriculture, local food systems, rural communities, or community health is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the organization's leadership team.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Director on organizational strategy and long-term sustainability.
• Help identify opportunities for organizational growth, partnerships, and revenue diversification.
• Contribute ideas, expertise, and thoughtful perspective to organizational planning and decision-making.
• Help establish systems that strengthen organizational capacity for years to come.
• Develop and implement an annual fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director.
• Lead individual giving initiatives, donor cultivation, stewardship, and annual campaigns.
• Build recurring giving, major donor, and planned giving opportunities.
• Develop sponsorship opportunities for programs, events, and organizational initiatives.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with foundations, businesses, community leaders, and philanthropic partners.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on grant strategy, proposal development, grant research, and reporting, with responsibilities shared based on organizational priorities and staff capacity.
• Track fundraising progress and recommend adjustments throughout the year.
• Provide strategic leadership for McDowell LFAC's communications while collaborating with staff and contractors on implementation.
• Develop annual communications and storytelling strategies.
• Guide organizational messaging and brand consistency.
• Grow public awareness of McDowell LFAC's mission and impact.
• Support marketing strategies that increase participation in programs, grow storefront customers, and strengthen community engagement.
• Oversee newsletters, website content, media relations, and digital communications.
• Work collaboratively with staff to highlight farmers, partners, volunteers, and community impact.
• Develop and strengthen meaningful relationships that advance McDowell LFAC's mission.
• Serve as the primary administrator for the organization's CRM (MonkeyPod).
• Maintain systems that support donor stewardship and relationship management.
• Support communications systems including mailing lists, newsletters, and campaign tracking.
• Provide light administration of Microsoft 365 systems, SharePoint, and organizational information management.
• Coordinate with outside IT support for advanced technical issues.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources
• Three weeks paid vacation after successful completion of a 90-day introductory period
• Eleven paid holidays
• Five paid self-care days
• Life and disability insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior