Start Date: March 2024

As National Director of Advancement, Connor Kirkpatrick is the organization’s principal leader responsible for architecting and executing the annual and long-term fundraising strategies that fuel strategic growth and innovation. He directs the continuous stewardship of individual and institutional donors, ensuring the robust pursuit of diverse income streams—including major gifts and capital campaigns—to meet the organization's expanding mission goals. A strategic storyteller and visionary leader, Connor works closely with the C-Suite and Board of Directors to align philanthropic investment with the 2026 Strategic Plan.

Connor is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience dedicated to empowering young people and their families. He launched his career at Student U, where he served as an educator and fundraiser for first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, eventually rising into senior leadership as Development Director. Connor graduated as an Honors Laureate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a dual degree in English and Nonprofit Leadership and Management. He is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

Deeply committed to community service, Connor regularly volunteers with Southern High School and Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership and is an active member of the Downtown Durham Rotary Club. His family also founded and leads Shining Hope Farms, a nonprofit farm in the Charlotte area serving people with disabilities. His favorite book as a kid was The Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart.