Development Associate, Annual Fund-Durham

Join Team NCSSM at the #1 rated Best Public High School in America for 2025

POSITION TYPE: Permanent, 12-month, EHRA Exempt Professional Staff (EPS), FLSA Exempt, 1.0 FTE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $58,000 - $65,783

Hiring salary will be determined based on education, experience, equity, budget, and market considerations.

NCSSM and the NCSSM Foundation foster an environment of collaboration across departments and divisions and support community-engaged service and research. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran or national guard. If you are an individual with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process, please contact us at hr@ncssm.edu.

Description of Duties:

The Annual Fund Development Associate supports the execution of a comprehensive annual giving program aimed at increasing annual gifts from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of NCSSM. Working closely with the Director of Annual Fund and other team members, this role assists with donor outreach, gift solicitation, and stewardship activities to help grow and strengthen the school's annual fundraising efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Donor Qualification & Portfolio Management: Managing an annual fund leadership-level qualification portfolio of 250 - 300 households, engaging these donors in the solicitation process, and participating in the team-wide moves management process. The primary purpose of this position is to qualify donors in terms of capacity. It is expected that this role will spend a minimum of 8 hours a week calling donors.

Campaign Management & Annual Giving Operations: Targeted fundraising appeals, such as the March Challenge and Giving Tuesday. This position would be part of the annual giving strategy team and responsible for implementing various aspects of time-limited campaigns, such as updating databases, loading and releasing electronic appeals, and producing donor data summaries.

Donor Data Management & Reporting: Producing donor reports and documenting donor contact. This position is responsible for recording all direct donor interaction and assisting other gift officers with data entry on occasion in the Foundation CRM. This position is also responsible for donor reports pulled from the Foundation's CRM.

This position offers a hybrid/flexible work schedule, with the option to work remotely up to two days per week, subject to supervisor approval.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Strategic Thinking:

-Ability to develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies that align with

the organization's mission and goals.

-Capacity to analyze donor data and giving trends to inform decision-making and strategy

adjustments.

Communication:

-Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling

messages and appeals that resonate with diverse audiences.

-Proficiency in public speaking and presenting to groups, including board members,

donors, and volunteers.

Relationship Building:

-Strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with donors, prospects,

volunteers, and colleagues.

-Ability to engage and inspire donors through personalized cultivation and stewardship

efforts.

Project Management:

-Exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple projects, campaigns, and initiatives

simultaneously.

-Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and manage resources effectively.

Data Analysis:

-Proficiency in analyzing fundraising data to identify trends, measure campaign

effectiveness, and drive improvements.

-Ability to use data to develop targeted solicitation and stewardship strategies.

Leadership:

-Strong leadership skills to guide and mentor staff, volunteers, and interns involved in

annual giving efforts.

Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, or a

related field. A Minimum of 1 year of experience in fundraising or a related field, with a focus on

annual giving programs.

-Proven track record of achieving fundraising goals and growing annual fund revenue.

-Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to craft

compelling messages.

-Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple

priorities and meet deadlines.

-Proficiency in using fundraising software and CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, NXT

experience a plus).

-Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

-High degree of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.

-Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Team NCSSM Benefits

Free On-campus Parking

Vacation and Personal Leave: EHRA Exempt Professional Staff (EPS) receive 26 days per year. Leave is pro-rated for part-time and less than 12 month employees. Leave is earned monthly.

Sick Leave: 12 days per year. Leave accruals for part-time and less than 12 month employees are pro-rated.

Additional Leave: Family Medical Leave (FMLA), Paid Parental Leave (PPL), Civil Leave, Personal Observance Day, Extended Illness, Short/Long Term Disability, Family Illness Leave, Military Leave, Community Service Leave, Voluntary Shared Leave and Leave Without Pay.

Holidays: 12 days per year

Benefits: The University System offers eligible employees a flexible and comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to University-provided group life insurance, various retirement savings options, group health plan coverage, dental, vision, critical illness, cancer, flexible spending accounts, accident, disability coverage, educational assistance, and more. These programs can help employees achieve retirement savings and career goals, as well as assistance with meeting everyday health and educational needs. The benefits programs are designed for employees to tailor a benefits package that best meets their needs.

Health Insurance: Employee only coverage under the State Health Plan (PPO) is provided to employees that work 30 or more hours a week. The cost is determined by the type of coverage elected by the employee. Dependent coverage is available by payroll deduction.

Retirement: Required participation for all employees working 3/4 time or more. Option (1) Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees are vested for retirement after 5 years. Option (2) The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) requires 6% of gross salary. Employees in ORP are vested after 5 years of participating in ORP. As a participant in either retirement program, you are automatically covered for short-term disability (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost), long term disability (eligible after 5 year of service/no cost). Death benefit of minimum $25,000/maximum $50,000 based on previous 12 month salary (eligible after 1 year of service/no cost).

Supplemental Retirement Plans :Supplemental retirement plans provide an additional opportunity to help you reach your retirement goals. Supplemental Plan offerings such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) on a Roth (after-tax) or pre-tax contributions.

Tuition Waiver: Three courses per academic year tuition free (at any of UNC 17 campuses that offer courses) for permanent full-time employees.

State Employees Credit Union: Membership welcomed. Contact the SECU Credit Union for information.

Community Service: 24 hours leave credited each calendar year (prorated for part-time) unless you choose the Mentoring/ tutoring option - 1 hour each week up to a max of 36 hours that schools are in session as documented by the elected board of the local education agency or the governing authority of any non-public school.

Facilities: Library & Gymnasium - other athletic facilities available at no cost to employees. Cafeteria on site.

About NCSSM:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a world-class public high school with statewide reach empowering academically talented students from diverse backgrounds from every corner of the state to design their own future. We offer residential high school programs in Durham and Morganton for juniors and seniors or virtual high school courses and programs that students can take alongside their local curriculum, all tuition free. Our wide array of summer offerings for rising 5th- through 12th-graders includes free opportunities for in-state students alongside paid options for students from anywhere in the world. NCSSM Extended Learning partners with communities and regions to advance student learning and outcomes.

Specializing in science, technology, engineering, and math, and embracing the fine arts and humanities, NCSSM has become the model for 18 such specialized schools around the globe since its founding in 1980 and is a full constituent of the University of North Carolina System. NCSSM's Ignite + Transform comprehensive campaign seeks to raise $50 million in private support for our mission.

The new NCSSM-Morganton campus opened in 2022 for summer programs and its first fall academic term. NCSSM-Morganton focuses on the booming fields of data science and artificial intelligence, preparing the leaders of tomorrow to navigate a future driven by data and machine learning, with emphasis on the humanistic implications and ethical use of these tools.

Nearly two-thirds of NCSSM graduates earn a bachelor's degree in a STEM field -- over three times the national average, including 58 percent of our underrepresented minority graduates, which is nearly four times the national average. Nearly three-quarters have earned or are seeking a graduate degree. A 2020 economic impact study found that 54 percent of our alumni continue to live and work in North Carolina, catalyzing nearly $1.3 billion in annual economic activity. NCSSM values the diversity in our student body, and all members of the NCSSM community are expected to foster a safe environment of respect and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students.

For more information, please read the NCSSM strategic plan and visit ncssm.edu.

How to Apply:

Submit electronic application via this link: Development Associate, Annual Fund-Durham.

Please complete your application in full. All required Competencies, Work History, and Credentials must appear on the application in the Education and Work Experience sections of the application to receive consideration during the selection process. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the State Application form in its entirety. "See Attached Resume or an Embedded Text Resume" will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, along with the state application. Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If applicants are a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least six years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22 along with their state application.

Final candidates are subject to criminal and sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require a motor vehicle check. If the highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree equivalency verified at www.wes.org or equivalent service. NCSSM participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Please refrain from submitting multiple applications. However, if multiple applications are submitted to a posting, only the most recent application received prior to the posting close date will be accepted. There is a 24 hour waiting period before an applicant can re-apply to a position.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy Fullgraf at fullgraf@ncssm.edu.

NCSSM is an EEO/eVerify/VEVRAA Employer