Brian Feeley
The Morehead-Cain Foundation has named Brian Feeley vice president of development. He will join the Foundation on October 21.
Feeley brings more than two decades of experience in higher education, advancement, and relationship building to Morehead-Cain. He joins Morehead-Cain after twelve years spent advancing alumni engagement and development at Elon University.
In his new role, Feeley will shape the Foundation’s development strategy as Morehead-Cain prepares for its next period of growth. He will partner closely with President Chris Bradford, trustees, alumni, donors, volunteers, and colleagues across the Foundation to strengthen philanthropic engagement and advance Morehead-Cain’s vision for the future.
“Brian brings strategic thinking, heart, and hands-on leadership to the work of development,” Bradford said. “He understands that meaningful philanthropy begins with listening, trust, and a deep belief in the mission, and his breadth of leadership roles at Elon University and in the broader community will add perspective to our team and work. I am excited for Brian to build on the strong relationships across the Morehead-Cain community and translate our ambitions for leadership development into opportunities to invest in Morehead-Cain’s future.”
At Elon, Feeley served on the advancement leadership team throughout Elon LEADS, a comprehensive campaign that closed at $263 million and engaged nearly 29,000 donors. Across his roles at Elon, Feeley dramatically grew alumni participation, expanded the university’s volunteer base, strengthened planned giving and corporate and foundation relations, and developed new donor pipelines. He also partnered with university leadership on strategic planning, campaign planning, and program development.
Feeley said Morehead-Cain’s mission drew him to the opportunity.
“My own path was shaped by what a university opened up, and Morehead-Cain’s commitment to character, leadership, and the full development of young people represents what higher education can be at its best,” Feeley said. “At a time when the field is facing hard questions about its value, Morehead-Cain stands as proof of what still matters.”
His interest deepened through the search process as he met members of the Morehead-Cain community, including staff, trustees, volunteers, and a scholar.
“Each conversation left me more impressed than the last,” Feeley said. “By the end, I knew this was a community of remarkable people doing work that matters, and I wanted to be part of it.”
As he begins his new role, Feeley said listening and learning will be central to his approach. He is particularly interested in hearing the stories that have shaped scholars and alumni, understanding what members of the community value most about Morehead-Cain, and learning what they hope for its future.
“Strong relationships are built on consistency, honesty, and real interest in the person across the table,” Feeley said. “The best advancement work I have been part of has felt less like fundraising and more like building a shared sense of what we can do together.”
Before joining Elon, Feeley spent twelve years at the Washington Center in Washington, D.C., advancing through several roles before serving as vice president for college and university relations. There, he managed relationships with more than 400 colleges and universities, oversaw admissions and institutional partnerships, and helped launch new international programs.
Feeley earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Elon University and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
His commitment to education and community extends beyond his professional work. Feeley serves on the United Way of Alamance County Board of Directors and previously served on the Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education, including as vice chair.
He resides in Elon, North Carolina, with his wife, Lauren, and their two children, Ashlyn and Colin.
