Stephanie Cherry

About Stephanie Cherry

For twelve years, I’ve built my career as a nonprofit fundraising leader focused on turning vision into measurable growth. I specialize in empowering volunteer leaders to drive meaningful impact in their communities, building scalable revenue strategies, and strengthening major donor and corporate partnerships. As Senior Development Director with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, I lead strategies generating more than $1.8 million annually within a $4.5 million chapter portfolio. For the last 8 years, I have led the North Carolina Xtreme Hike to Cure Cystic Fibrosis, a 30.1-mile endurance fundraising program on the Appalachian Trail that engages more than 250 participants and volunteers across two statewide events. I also manage An Evening with the Master Chefs, our flagship gala projected to generate $1 million in 2026 through six-figure corporate sponsorships and led by a highly motivated committee. An Evening with the Master Chefs is one of Charlotte\'s premier food and wine galas, which hosts 400 attendees and more than 50 sponsors. My leadership extends not only locally but nationally. During the pandemic, I connected Xtreme Hike leaders across markets through a Microsoft Teams chat that evolved into structured monthly strategy calls, shared marketing systems, cross-market mentorship, and participation. As a result, I mentor and advise 18 event leads across the U.S. on building and growing sustainable fundraising programs modeled after North Carolina’s success. This leadership earned me the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Stronger Together Award in 2024, granted to eleven employees nationally across development, advocacy, and scientific teams, and has allowed me to assist in scaling hikes from the Pacific Crest Trail to the Foothills Trail, coast-to-coast. I have proudly managed, participated in, and assisted with more than 28 hikes during my tenure. Looking forward, I am excited to expand our reach and impact by embracing innovative technologies and continuing to build on creative fundraising strategies. I am inspired by the progress the CF Foundation has made, the dedication of our teams, volunteers, and supporters, and I remain committed to driving our mission forward to make a meaningful difference for those living with CF.

Experience

1. Senior Director of Development

   Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

   Jul 2023 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Generates $1.8M+ annually within a $4.5M chapter portfolio.Directs An Evening with the Master Chefs, hosting 400+ attendees and 50+ sponsors, featuring seven chefs and a five-course, wine-paired dining experience while integrating CF mission-centered programming. Empowers and supports a high-performing 7-member executive committee to solicit more than $400K in corporate sponsorship, to curate a premium live and silent auction generating $200K+.Directs the NC Xtreme Hike to Cure Cystic Fibrosis, a statewide 30.1-mile Appalachian Trail endurance fundraising program generating $850K+ annually and engaging 250+ recruited and renewed hikers, volunteer coaches, and corporate partners across two annual events in the Spring and Fall. Designs and leads a three-month fundraising and endurance training program culminating in a one-day, 30-mile hike, overseeing three-day participant accommodations and mission programming while driving logistics coordination, safety oversight, fundraising benchmarks, and revenue performance.Recruits, trains, and leads a 250-member fundraising community annually through structured recruitment, renewal, and performance accountability systems; manages 17 volunteer coaches responsible for participant trail readiness.Initiated the Xtreme Hike collaboration into a coast-to-coast peer network, aligning fundraising standards, streamlining shared resources, and contributing to improved financial performance through cross-territory participation.Received the 2024 Stronger Together Award in recognition of building and scaling the Xtreme Hike Team U.S. system and driving national program impact.Architected the Build Your Own Hike, designing and launching a hybrid endurance fundraising model during the pandemic to protect revenue continuity and expand donor reach.Founded the Junior Xtreme Hike Program, establishing a youth leadership and fundraising pipeline that strengthens multigenerational donor retention and long-term sustainability.

Education

• University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Public Health

Skills

• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Time Management
• Logical Thinker
• Social Media
• Data Entry
• Customer Service
• Research
• Time-Oriented
• Fundraising
• Event Planning
• Event Management
• Data Analysis
• Health Program Planning
• Marketing
• Grassroots Fundraising
• Public Speaking
• Volunteer Management
• Telephone Skills
• Dependable
• Strong Presentation Skills
• Active Team Player
• Leadership
• Microsoft Word
• Highly Organized & Strong Analytical Abilities
• Community Outreach