Leadership Giving Officer

Application Deadline: Monday, Feb 06, 2023

Description

About Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is home to WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR (National Public Radio) news source, and one of the largest and most respected public media stations in the country, as well as urban alternative music and culture station, Vocalo. The organization serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information. WBEZ’s award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers, and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. In addition to its local and national news programming, WBEZ Chicago is home to a growing portfolio of popular podcasts, including the “Making” series of Making Beyoncé, Making Obama, and Making Oprah; an investigative podcast series, Motive; 16 Shots: A podcast about the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald; Nerdette; and Curious City. WBEZ Chicago has a legacy of innovation as the birthplace of nationally acclaimed programs such as This American Life and Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! and the ground-breaking podcast, Serial.

Chicago Public Media acquired the Chicago Sun-Times in January 2022, one of Chicago’s two major daily newspapers and among the most storied dailies in the nation. With the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Chicago Public Media is now the largest local nonprofit news organization in the country. Under the banner of Chicago Public Media, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times reach more than two million people a week in the Chicago area across broadcast, print, and digital channels. Backed by a significant philanthropic commitment, Chicago Public Media is increasing its investment in local journalism by expanding the newsroom and topic coverage and redoubling its commitment to advancing independent, community- and people-centered journalism.

Position Summary

Chicago Public Media (CPM) is searching for a Leadership Giving Officer (LGO) at a time of enormous opportunity and innovation that CPM is leading in local nonprofit journalism. The Development team at CPM plays a central role in the organization’s sustainability and growth. Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, the LGO is responsible for raising gifts from an expanding portfolio of major donors. The Leadership Giving Officer will cultivate prospects, including those who are, or have the potential to become, donors capable of $5K-$25K gifts annually to CPM. They will be adept at deploying annual fund strategies and tactics, utilizing effective email campaigns to solicit and close gifts and steward donors at scale. Equally important, they will successfully execute individual giving approaches to cultivate, solicit, and steward higher-level prospects. The successful candidate will partner closely and proactively with colleagues in Membership and Prospect Research to establish and build a pipeline of donors from the Leadership Circle ($1K-$4.9K) into major gifts. The LGO will be expected to qualify large numbers of prospects for the organization.

The Leadership Giving Officer will collaborate with colleagues in Donor Engagement/Events and Prospect Research to manage the development and implementation of assigned prospect and donor engagement efforts, departmental initiatives, and volunteer management, including events with the CEO, Chief Content Officer, Chief Advancement Officer, and other CPM ambassadors, to cultivate support.

WBEZ and the Sun-Times together play an essential leadership role in Chicagoland. The ideal candidate will be passionate about championing CPM’s mission and vision and the role journalism plays in strengthening democracy and our communities. They will possess the following competencies: excellent judgment, strategic thinking, initiative, ability to deal with ambiguity, quality decision-making, integrity and trust, interpersonal savvy, listening, negotiating, presentation skills, priority setting, strategic agility, strong written communication skills, openness to risk, persistence, creativity, and collaboration.

Responsibilities

Frontline Fundraising/Relationship Management (85%)

• Build and manage a portfolio of active and prospective major donors with the capacity to make gifts of $5K-$25K annually.
• Qualify and prioritize prospects for cultivation and solicitation. Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to renew and upgrade existing donors using scaled annual giving tactics and more individualized plans for higher-capacity donors. Create and implement donor-centric cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• In collaboration with other frontline colleagues, promote and ask for annual, multi-year, and planned gifts.
• Write briefings, proposals, donor correspondence, and updates that shape and reflect fundraising strategies, with support and collaboration from colleagues.
• Achieve annual performance metrics including visit targets and fundraising goals—to be set each year.

Other Fundraising Activity (15%)

• Keep track of plans and outreach in the Development database to ensure transparency and effective pipeline management. Provide timely follow-up and debriefs after meetings.
• Proactively update and track solicitation data and review gift acknowledgments.
• Participate in the hands-on, team approach to shaping and executing donor cultivation, engagement, and stewardship opportunities. This includes building invitation lists and partnering on donor events, holiday card mailings, etc.
• As part of this work, may manage high-level volunteer councils, meetings, and events related to the engagement of major gift donors.
• Actively participate in strategy sessions and help inform colleagues’ major gifts strategies.
• Actively build knowledge of CPM and relationships with colleagues across the organization by attending events and activities, reading and listening to CPM journalism, and pursuing other avenues for professional learning and growth.

Skills and Qualifications

• A minimum of two years of experience in fundraising or a related field.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategy and techniques and an ability and willingness to implement strategy.
• Ability to take relationships with donors and prospects to a higher level and to move difficult cases forward.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required to relate to donors, volunteers, and colleagues. Must be able to consistently display tact, diplomacy, and discretion, and maintain confidentiality inside and outside of the organization.
• Must be a self-starter who is organized, results-driven, solutions- and detail-oriented, and able to prioritize and balance multiple tasks in a fast-paced complex environment.
• Demonstrates proficient use of data to shape strategies and approaches to work.
• Must have a natural affinity for collaboration, leading through influence, and a high level of emotional intelligence. Must be drawn to a challenge and exhibit the patience necessary to advance solutions in a complex and collaborative organization.
• Exercises excellent judgment and models honesty, integrity, and collegiality.
• Proficiency with constituent management and fundraising software such as Salesforce or Raisers Edge, preferred.
• Demonstrates a personal commitment to excellence.

Working at Chicago Public Media

At Chicago Public Media, we are looking for people who are curious about the world and are excited about the mission of independent, nonprofit journalism. We care deeply about our employees as we know attracting, developing, and growing talent is key to our success and enhancing our impact. Our culture is one where collaboration, ideas, and innovation are encouraged. We value colleagues who will enhance our culture by bringing new ideas, diverse experiences, and talents to our dynamic workplace.

Chicago Public Media’s dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion is reflected across our brands, WBEZ 91.5 FM, Vocalo 91.1 FM, and the Chicago Sun-Times . We are fully focused on equality of opportunity and believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, experience, and all other fascinating characteristics that make us different.

At Chicago Public Media we believe dedication to a great workplace includes supporting our employees and their families. As a result, we provide a broad and generous benefits package for you at hire and in the years to come.

Our benefits include:

• Generous paid time off, including starting with 3 weeks of vacation and 4 personal days.
• High-quality Medical, Dental, and Vision plans at an affordable cost
• A 403(b) retirement plan with a company match
• 6 weeks of fully paid family leave

The essential functions described above are not all-inclusive and may change periodically to meet the needs of Chicago Public Media (CPM). The information contained in this job description is not intended to create any contractual or other legal commitment. Chicago Public Media may change the content or format of this job at any time in its sole and exclusive discretion without notice.

Chicago Public Media is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we actively seek and welcome people from all backgrounds, orientations, and life experiences to join our team.

For additional information about this position, please contact: