Meet Freedom House

Freedom House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Greensboro, North Carolina, that provides a Christ-centered, long-term residential recovery program for mothers struggling with addiction. Founded in 2006 by Ann Reilly, the organization was created to fill a critical gap in recovery services by allowing mothers to live and heal alongside their young children, as traditional programs often require families to separate. The 9- to 12-month program focuses on whole-family restoration, equipping women to break the cycle of addiction, rebuild their lives, and strengthen their maternal bonds. The program boasts a strong track record, with graduates maintaining sobriety at rates nearly three times higher than the national average and consistently securing employment shortly after completion. By graduation, these mothers have typically regained custody of their children, resolved their legal issues, and secured both transportation and stable housing.

The organization’s holistic approach to recovery incorporates personalized treatment plans, professional counseling, spiritual discipleship, and practical life skills training. A distinctive component of the Freedom House model is its vocational training program, facilitated through three thrift stores in Greensboro and a 110-acre farm in nearby Summerfield. In fact, more than 80% of the organization’s revenue is generated through its thrift store operations, creating a sustainable funding model that supports the ministry while also providing residents with meaningful hands-on work experience and transferable job skills. The farm campus, purchased in 2017, features five residential homes, a coffee trailer, and a farm stand that sells seasonal produce and flowers, all contributing to a peaceful, purpose-driven environment for healing and restoration.

About the Development Director

The Development Director at Freedom House is a newly created, pivotal role reporting directly to the CEO. Tasked with building the organization's development function from the ground up, the director will oversee a $500,000 departmental budget and focus on cultivating authentic relationships with a current pipeline of around 300 donors. The ideal candidate is a highly relational, energetic, and organized professional with a bachelor's degree and 5 to 10 years of experience. While the first year will be dedicated to establishing relationships and structuring donor management systems using tools like Salesforce, the second year will demand a clear return on investment to help fund the expanding recovery program. Ultimately, this self-starter will play a critical role in expanding corporate and individual partnerships, driving the financial growth necessary to support the organization's $7.2 million operating budget.

The Development Director's responsibilities include:

Strategy & Systems Building

As this is a newly created position, a primary responsibility is building the organization's development function from the ground up. The director must be visionary, entrepreneurial, and comfortable creating organizational structure where none currently exists. A key strategic duty is establishing and managing donor database systems and processes, with a strong preference for familiarity with platforms like Salesforce and QuickBooks. Ultimately, they must operate independently to cast vision and execute a forward-thinking strategy in relation to donor development.

Donor Development & Relations

A core responsibility is cultivating authentic relationships with Freedom House's existing pipeline of approximately 300 donors. The organization believes sustainable development flows from genuine connections rather than just fundraising asks. The director will focus heavily on individual donor relations, expanding corporate partnerships, and leveraging connections from events. For the first 12 months, the primary goal is simply to build relationships and foster established relationships before making heavy fundraising pushes.

Financial Growth & Execution

The Development Director will oversee a $500,000 departmental budget. While the first year is dedicated to relationship building, the director is responsible for demonstrating a clear return on investment (ROI) by the second year to help fund the recovery program and support the broader $7.2 million operating budget. Quarterly or semi-annual performance bonuses will be tied directly to the funds the director brings in. The Development Director will also be in charge of working closely with the manager of the partnering thrift stores to market and scale their ties to supporting the mission.

Team Building & Culture

The director is expected to be a positive force who elevates the internal culture of the organization and rallies new people around the mission. Although the role will have no direct reports initially, the organization envisions the director eventually overseeing or collaborating closely with existing support roles, such as a Grant Writer and an Event Planner.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Development Director:

Experience and Capabilities

To successfully manage these responsibilities, the candidate must leverage 5 to 10 years of relevant experience and hold a bachelor's degree. The role requires a highly organized, driven, and disciplined self-starter who has an energetic, upbeat, and calming pastoral presence. Most importantly, the director must possess a strong personal Christian faith, approach the work as a calling, and align deeply with the mission of rescuing mothers and redeeming lives.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Systems Management: The director must be capable of building and managing a donor database from scratch. Familiarity with Salesforce (CRM) and QuickBooks is strongly preferred.
• Strategic Execution: They must be strategic and forward-thinking, possessing the ability to cast a vision and then independently execute that strategy.
• Organization: The role requires someone who is highly organized and detail-oriented, with excellent task and goal management skills.
• Experience with grant writing or the ability to oversee a team that handles grants is beneficial but not required. 

Personal Characteristics and Qualifications

• Faith and Alignment: The candidate must possess a strong personal Christian faith, view the work as a calling, and deeply align with the mission of rescuing mothers and redeeming lives. They will be required to align with a statement of faith and sign a Title IX waiver. 
• Relational Approach: They must be highly relational, viewing donor connections as genuine relationships to steward with care rather than as transactional opportunities.
• Personality and Presence: The organization is looking for someone with an energetic, upbeat, and fun personality who radiates kindness and has a great smile. Despite the high energy, they must also maintain a calm, pastoral presence.
• Work Ethic and Drive: The candidate should be a disciplined, driven self-starter who is secure in who they are and has a "no quit" attitude. 
• Connection to the Mission: Having lived experience or proximity to addiction is considered important and impactful.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Because this is a newly created role, the candidate must be visionary and comfortable creating structure from the ground up.

What it's like to live in Greensboro, North Carolina

Living in Greensboro feels easy in the best way. It’s not trying to be flashy or fast-paced—it just works. You’ve got room to breathe, a cost of living that doesn’t constantly stress you out, and a city that’s big enough to have options but small enough to feel familiar.

There’s a steady rhythm to life here. You might spend a Saturday morning walking around Greensboro Arboretum, grab coffee at a local spot, and then end up downtown without much of a plan. Places like LeBauer Park tend to pull people in—families, college students, friends meeting up—so it’s pretty normal to run into someone you know or strike up a conversation with someone you don’t.

Food is part of the fun here. You’ve got your classic North Carolina barbecue, but also a growing mix of local restaurants that people genuinely care about. And if you’re into college sports, Greensboro shows up for that too—it’s right in the middle of ACC country, so game days actually mean something.

What stands out most, though, is the sense that people are building something here. It’s a city where families are putting down roots, where neighbors still look out for each other, and where there’s real opportunity to get involved—whether that’s through schools, churches, or local organizations.