Major Gifts Manager

Inside Philanthropy; Chapel Hill, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

States Newsroom is seeking a proactive Major Gifts Manager to build and run a formal major gifts program across the national network of state-based newsrooms. The role reports to the Development Director and focuses on growing donor support for gifts $1,000 and above.

You will cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, manage a 100–150 donor portfolio, and collaborate with editors across the country to identify funding opportunities. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of fundraising experience at nonprofit organizations, preferably in front-line fundraising roles focused on soliciting major gifts.
• Demonstrated track record of personally soliciting and closing major gifts, and experience building and managing a major gifts portfolio and pipeline of prospects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to craft donor-centric communications.
• Strong relationship building skills, collaborative, and able to work with high net worth individuals and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a major gifts strategy to support States Newsroom’s long-term growth.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors; manage a portfolio of 100–150 donors and prospects.
• Analyze donor data to identify trends and inform major giving strategies.
• Draft donor communications including proposals, reports, acknowledgements and other correspondence.
• Establish a stewardship plan with events, webinars, and impact reports.
• Represent States Newsroom at donor events; 10–15% travel anticipated.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Prospect research

Portfolio management

Communication

Relationship building

Tools

CRM platforms

Wealth screening tools

Job description

States Newsroom is seeking a proactive, creative and experienced fundraiser to help build and manage a major gifts program for our national organization and state-based newsrooms.

States Newsroom is the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, with reporting from every capital. Our work provides key insight on policy and politics at no cost to the reader — no pop-ups, paywalls or ads. States Newsroom employs more than 230 full-time editors, reporters, and support staff covering 39 states; in the remaining 11 states, we partner with and support already-established nonprofit newsrooms. As we look to diversify revenue streams and ensure long-term sustainability, we are seeking an experienced and effective Major Gifts Manager to launch a formalized major gifts program, and establish the strategy and systems that will support a robust and growing portfolio of donors across our network.

Reporting to the Development Director, this position can be based anywhere in the United States, and will play a critical role in growing donor support and major gifts, which we currently define as $1,000 and above. The Major Gifts Manager will have strong experience with donor cultivation and stewardship, prospect research and new donor identification, and implementing systems that support a growing individual giving program. This position is a highly collaborative and relationship-driven role, working internally across our newsrooms and directly in partnership with state editors to identify opportunities for support. Ideally, the person in this role is strongly aligned with our mission and understands the critical role of local and state news; experience working at nonprofit newsrooms or in the media field is a plus, although not required.

If you are a highly strategic and proactive fundraiser who is energized by creating systems, building a portfolio, and cultivating trusted relationships with donors across the country who are committed to supporting state and local journalism, this role is for you!

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Development Director and other key staff to develop and execute a major gifts strategy that supports States Newsroom’s long-term vision and growth
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, and manage an initial portfolio of 100-150 donors and prospects
• Analyze donor data to identify trends and inform major giving strategies
• Draft donor communications including proposals, reports, acknowledgements and other correspondence
• In collaboration with the Development team, establish a stewardship strategy that includes events, webinars, donor-specific impact reports and other communications
• Represent States Newsroom at donor events, conferences, and other gatherings; 10-15% travel anticipated

Qualifications

We’re looking for someone who demonstrates:

• At least 3-5 years of successful fundraising experience at nonprofit organizations, ideally in front-line fundraising roles focused on soliciting major gifts
• Demonstrated track record of personally soliciting and closing major gifts, and experience building and managing a major gifts portfolio and pipeline of prospects
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and an ability to craft compelling and effective donor-centric communications
• Strong relationship building skills, highly collaborative, and comfortable with a variety of stakeholders, especially high net worth individuals, as well as working internally with colleagues across editorial, finance, and operations
• Creative, out-of-the-box thinker, who is comfortable in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
• Strong team player, with a can-do and solutions-oriented attitude
• Understanding of DAFs and community foundations are highly preferred
• Familiarity with wealth screening tools, CRM platforms, and database systems
• Experience working at nonprofit newsrooms or in journalism is preferred but not required

Authorization to work in the United States is required. At this time, States Newsroom is unable to provide visa sponsorship.

About Our Culture

States Newsroom is dedicated to producing journalism at all levels — from quick hit to investigative — but not at the expense of burning out its employees. We are supportive, exciting, welcoming and positive. We believe in creating sustainable careers for journalists on the crucial state government beat.

States Newsroom’s mission is to connect people to the power that shapes their daily lives through relentless reporting and incisive commentary on state government and policy. Journalism is a powerful force for social change, uniquely suited to challenging systemic inequality and racism. Our goal is to build an organization that fulfills that mission.

At States Newsroom, we believe we strengthen our work and improve our insights when we incorporate the perspectives of people who come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences. We are committed to diversity and prioritize equity in all recruiting and hiring. We are always working to better represent our communities and are supported in these efforts by a network-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee.