Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina
Central Piedmont Community College invites applications and nominations for the position of Major Gift Officer, an opportunity for an accomplished fundraising professional to secure significant philanthropic investments that expand educational access, strengthen workforce development, and advance student success.
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Central Piedmont is a nationally recognized leader among two-year institutions and one of the largest colleges in the Carolinas. Central Piedmont serves nearly 60,000 students annually through eight locations throughout Mecklenburg County, offering nearly 300 programs of study and more than 55 professional pathways to get students real-world ready. The College plays a vital role as the region's primary workforce development partner and a key driver of economic growth.
Fiscal Year 2026 was a record-setting year for the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation. The Foundation:
- Raised $21.4 million, its highest ever annual fundraising total
- Provided over $5 million in scholarships to students
- Reported more than $120 million in assets
The Major Gift Officer will serve as a frontline fundraiser responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of prospective and current major donors. Through strategic relationship management and donor-centered engagement, the successful candidate will identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic investments supporting scholarships, academic programs, capital needs, campaign initiatives, and other institutional priorities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing individualized strategies for major-gift prospects and donors
- Building the prospect pipeline through research, referrals, events, and community relationships
- Conducting donor visits and preparing proposals, correspondence, briefings, and gift illustrations
- Achieving annual fundraising, donor-engagement, and portfolio-performance goals
- Partnering with institutional leaders, Foundation representatives, faculty, staff, and volunteers on donor meetings and solicitations
- Maintaining accurate donor records and using data to guide strategy and evaluate results
- Supporting campaigns, stewardship programs, special initiatives, and donor-engagement events
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and have at least seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including significant major-gift experience and a proven record of successful fundraising. Preferred qualifications include a master's degree; experience in higher education, campaign fundraising, or a comparable portfolio environment; experience managing planned-giving and major-gift prospects; proficiency with fundraising databases, preferably Blackbaud Raiser's Edge; and CFRE certification.
The successful candidate will be an exceptional communicator and relationship builder who can manage multiple prospects, collaborate across the institution, exercise discretion, and clearly articulate Central Piedmont's mission and impact in ways that inspire philanthropic investment.
Compensation will be commensurate with experience and will include a competitive base salary and comprehensive benefits package.
While applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed, interested individuals are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible for full consideration. The preferred start date is late 2026.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to CentralPiedmontMGO@buffkinbaker.com
Ken Carrick, Partner
Janny DeLoache, Associate Partner
Buffkin / Baker
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