Director of Advancement

Book Harvest•Durham, NC

5d•$87,100 - $105,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Book Harvest, an award-winning national children’s literacy nonprofit based in Durham, North Carolina, is seeking a Director of Advancement to lead individual and corporate fundraising and support the organization’s next stage of growth. The role combines strategic planning with relationship-centered fundraising, focused on growing the Founders Circle major gifts program, deepening corporate partnerships, and developing the team and systems that support both. The Director will grow major individual giving to more than $4 million by December 2027 and sustain corporate revenue at 13–15% of the annual budget. The role reports to the National Director of Advancement, collaborates closely with the C-suite and board members, and may supervise select advancement staff in the future. The position is based in Durham, NC. Approximately 40–50% of work time is in the office, with much of the remaining time spent meeting donors and partners in the community. The schedule is primarily Monday through Friday, with some evenings, weekends, and regular travel across North Carolina. Book Harvest’s mission is books for every child, support for every parent, and literacy for every community. Since 2011, it has placed more than three million books in the hands of children and families. The organization is pursuing a national movement to establish a home library for every child starting at birth and is building research, policy, and field infrastructure to advance this work. Its revenue goals exceed $11 million in 2027, alongside expanding national programmatic reach. The Director will lead the Founders Circle and a personal portfolio of major donors and prospects; develop donor journeys, site visits, and cultivation and solicitation strategies; and contribute to appeals, sustaining-donor growth, and planned giving. The role will lead corporate engagement strategy, oversee sponsorships and benefit fulfillment for signature initiatives, and develop executive-level corporate relationships and employee engagement opportunities. It will also support advancement planning and forecasting, manage pipeline reviews and shared calendars, strengthen proposals, reporting, prospect research, and operating procedures, and champion the organization’s Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion commitments. Book Harvest prioritizes applicants with lived experience of its programs or from the communities it serves, and encourages candidates who may not have seen themselves reflected in books and stories as children to apply. The organization does not require a college degree and encourages applicants who meet most, but not necessarily all, listed qualifications. The hiring process requires a resume and cover letter and includes application questions, a phone call, at least two interviews, a work assignment, and reference checks. The priority application deadline is November 15, 2026; later applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The target start date is January 2027.

Requirements

At least 7 years of nonprofit fundraising or similar experience.
A proven record of securing and sustaining five- to seven-figure gifts.
Strong experience in prospecting, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Exceptional ability to build authentic, trust-based relationships with donors, board members, and community leaders, and to engage C-suite executives and corporate leaders.
Experience designing and executing fundraising plans aligned with organizational goals and values.
Superior written and verbal communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate through storytelling.
Familiarity with donor database systems such as Virtuous or similar.
Strong Google Suite and Microsoft Office skills.
Leadership grounded in integrity and emotional intelligence, with the ability to cultivate learning and institutionalize equitable practices advancing DEBI goals.
Ability to articulate strategy to executives and external stakeholders; build and lead cross-functional teams; direct complex project portfolios toward measurable results; make high-stakes decisions; lead through change; and develop long-term strategies grounded in foresight.

Responsibilities

Lead and grow the Founders Circle major gifts program in partnership with the CEO, including management of a personal portfolio of top donors and prospects.
Develop and execute a strategy to increase major individual gifts by more than $1 million annually and reach more than $4 million by December 2027, with financial and relationship milestones.
Design customized donor journeys, site visits, and experiences that demonstrate the impact of donor investments.
Partner with the CEO, board members, and National Director of Advancement on cultivation and solicitation strategies for six- and seven-figure gifts.
Shape strategies for spring and year-end appeals, sustaining-donor growth, and the development of a planned giving program.
Lead a multi-year corporate engagement strategy to secure 13–15% of annual revenue locally, regionally, and nationally.
Oversee sponsorship packages and benefits fulfillment for signature initiatives, including the Dream Big Book Drive and Summer Block Party.
Cultivate and steward executive-level corporate relationships, aligning partners’ corporate social responsibility goals with Book Harvest’s mission.
Partner with the Volunteer Manager to grow employee giving, matching gifts, cause-marketing campaigns, and corporate volunteer experiences.
Contribute to the annual advancement plan, revenue goals, and departmental priorities in partnership with the National Director of Advancement.
Manage weekly pipeline reviews, moves management, and shared calendars for proposals, reports, appeals, and events.
Translate pipeline activity into short-, mid-, and long-term revenue forecasts, working with the National Director of Advancement and partnering with the CFO as directed.
Review proposals and reports for alignment and quality, and write or co-write priority submissions.
Partner with program colleagues to capture outcomes and stories that communicate the impact of funders’ investments.
Identify funding opportunities that advance organizational goals for scale and policy influence.
Maintain and improve standard operating procedures, prospect research, and reporting systems.
Participate in all-staff meetings, retreats, and program visits; pursue professional development; and champion DEBI commitments across team practices and partnerships.
Collaborate with the C-suite team and board members; supervise select advancement staff in the future.