Chatham Literacy, Development Director

The Organization

Chatham Literacy was created in 1988 as a “friends helping neighbors” group and was reorganized in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Working in partnership with local businesses and other non-profits, the organization enlists and trains volunteer tutors and provides services to adults who live or work in Chatham County. With an annual operating budget of $525,000, Chatham Literacy provides a critical service that helps adults develop the educational and literacy skills they need to reach their goals.

Chatham Literacy is seeking a Development Director to report to the Executive Director and work in partnership with her and members of the Board to secure philanthropic support.

Chatham Literacy, formally known as the Chatham County Literacy Council, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Siler City and Pittsboro and serves adults who live or work in Chatham County, North Carolina. Founded in 1988 by community volunteers, it expanded its services and organized as a formal nonprofit in 2008.

Our mission is to help adults develop the literacy and educational skills they need to function successfully in society and achieve personal and professional goals. The organization is community based and driven largely by volunteers. We partner with local organizations to recruit and train volunteer tutors and to provide free, confidential adult education. With an annual operating budget of $525,000, Chatham Literacy provides a critical service that helps adults develop the educational, literacy, and life skills they need to reach their goals.

Chatham Literacy transforms lives in the following three areas:

• Traditional Literacy – we help adults improve their basic education such as reading, writing, and math; to prepare for the GED or high school diploma; to enroll in a vocational degree; or to ready themselves for training opportunities to advance their work.
• Civics and Language Literacy – we teach English language learners how to speak, read, write, and understand English, and we prepare adults for the US citizenship exam.
• Life Skills Literacy – we prepare adults for expectations and norms in today’s workplace by offering digital literacy, financial literacy, and other literacy-related services tailored to meet an individual’s needs. In Chatham County, 9.10% of the population over 25 years old do not have a high school degree and 11% of adults live below the poverty line.

Through personalized tutoring, Chatham Literacy helps adult learners build confidence and a sense of pride—empowering them to improve their own lives and contribute more fully to the community.

Chatham Literacy is looking for a Development Director who will partner with our Executive Director and Board members to build relationships, grow community support, and secure the funding that fuels our mission.

Founded in 1771, Chatham County, NC, is a rapidly growing, centrally located county covering 707 square miles with Pittsboro as the county seat. Chatham County blends a rich, rural agricultural history with modern development. Situated between the Triangle and Piedmont Triad, it is close to Research Triangle Park, universities, and major amenities.

• Geography: Located in the Piedmont region, featuring rolling hills and the 7,156-acre
  
  B. Everett Jordan Lake, a major recreational spot.
• Growth & Development: Experiencing rapid expansion, with many residential developments approved for construction and a growing number of corporations relocating to Chatham County. It is transforming quickly from purely rural to a mix of suburban and rural.
• Culture & Lifestyle: Known for its artistic community, local farms, farmers' markets, and the upscale Fearrington Village. Chatham County is recognized for its progressive and well-developed culture of philanthropy.
• Education: Highly regarded public school system with recent expansions in infrastructure to accommodate growth.
• Economy: Transitioning from traditional agriculture (poultry, cattle, crops) to include major manufacturing, industry, and corporate growth.

As a key member of a dedicated team of five full-time and three part-time program…