Director of Development

KALW Public Radio; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

KALW Public Radio in San Francisco seeks a strategic fundraising leader to design and execute a comprehensive program aligned with our mission and growth goals, driving revenue across individual, institutional, and earned streams. This senior role will shape storytelling and branding, grow major gifts and listener contributions, build institutional partnerships, and lead a small development team.

You will collaborate with the Executive Director, board, and programming teams to advance public

Responsibilities

• Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with KALW’s mission, values, and growth goals.
• Set revenue targets and build systems to meet them across individuals, institutions, and earned revenue.
• Lead institutional storytelling and marketing strategy with communications, editorial, and leadership to shape KALW’s institutional narrative.
• Align fundraising, marketing, and public communications, translating complex work into clear donor-focused stories.
• Position KALW as a brand, a civic institution, and a cultural force.
• Grow major, leadership, and listener giving; manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects.
• Partner with the Executive Director on top relationships and solicitations.
• Inspire donors and listeners to see themselves as builders of public media and civic infrastructure.
• Lead institutional fundraising strategy and relationships with foundations at local, regional, and national levels.
• Engage foundation partners to shape multi-year investments in journalism, music, and civic programs.
• Oversee foundation giving in partnership with program, editorial, and leadership staff.
• Position KALW as a trusted, long-term partner for foundation investment in public media and civic life.
• Provide strategic leadership for listener membership, including on-air drives and digital campaigns.
• Collaborate with programming, editorial, and marketing to evolve on-air drives with a mission-forward, compelling voice.
• Use audience insight and storytelling to grow listener revenue and deepen long-term member relationships.
• Lead and develop a small development team; mentor staff.
• Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and joy in fundraising.
• Work with an engaged board to deepen giving and broaden networks.
• Support board members as ambassadors and fundraisers.
• Applications considered on a rolling basis.
• Target Start Date: April 1, 2026.
• Email Eli Wirtschafter at [e-mail] for questions or accessibility issues.

Job description

Lead fundraising strategy: Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with KALW’s mission, values, and growth goals. Set clear revenue targets and build systems to meet them across individual, institutional, and earned revenue. Evaluate current systems and tools to design fundraising practices moving forward.

Lead institutional storytelling and marketing strategy: Partner with communications, editorial, and senior leadership to shape and steward KALW’s institutional narrative. Ensure fundraising, marketing, and public-facing communications are aligned, compelling, and values-driven. Help translate complex work into clear, resonant stories for donors, foundations, partners, and the broader public
Play a senior role in defining how KALW shows up as a brand, a civic institution, and a cultural force.

Grow major, leadership, and listener giving: Personally manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects. Partner closely with the Executive Director on top relationships and solicitations. Help donors and listeners see themselves as builders of public media and civic infrastructure.

Advance institutional partnerships: Lead institutional fundraising strategy and relationships with local, regional, and national foundations. Personally engage with foundation partners as a senior representative of KALW, shaping multi-year investments aligned with our journalism, music, training, and civic impact work. Oversee foundation and institutional giving in close partnership with program, editorial, and leadership staff. Position KALW as a trusted, long-term partner for foundation investment in public media, culture, and civic life, and as a field leader in innovative, community-centered public media.

Strengthen listener membership and on-air fundraising: Provide strategic leadership for KALW’s listener membership program, including on-air drives and digital campaigns
Partner with programming, editorial, and marketing teams to evolve on-air drives so they are mission-forward, compelling, and aligned with KALW’s values and voice. Use audience insight, storytelling, and experimentation to grow listener revenue and deepen long-term member relationships.

Lead and develop the team: Manage and mentor a small, strong development team
Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and joy around fundraising. Work with a highly engaged, evolving board to deepen giving, expand networks, and strengthen governance around fundraising. Support board members as authentic ambassadors and fundraisers.

Applications considered on a rolling basis until Sunday Feb 8, 11:59PM

Target Start Date: April 1, 2026

Email Eli Wirtschafter at [e-mail] if you have any questions or accessibility issues.