Director of Development (Hybrid or Remote)
The Record-Journal Latino Communities Reporting Lab seeks an experienced Director of Development to lead our efforts in the philanthropic funding of local journalism. This role is a key contributor to the overall strategy of the company to diversify and expand the resources for our newsroom and the community we serve.
The Director of Development creates fundraising strategies, tactics and campaigns that achieve Record-Journal Latino Communities Reporting Lab's annual philanthropic goals to support the Lab's mission to amplify the voices of our local Latino Communities. This person works across the organization and the community to develop and manage funder relationships in partnership with senior leadership.
The goals for this role are based on multi-year funding requirements for our Latino Communities Reporting Lab journalism and the infrastructure around it to support it as a long-term sustainable initiative, funded through philanthropy. Philanthropic funding provides essential support for our journalists and community engagement. Success means ensuring, through careful planning, donor development and engagement with journalists and senior leaders, that these funding requirements are met. A successful candidate will also serve as an internal and external communicator about the importance of supporting trusted local journalism and an independent local press.
What you'll do
- Cultivate new and existing relationships with local and national funders from philanthropic, nonprofit and business community, partners and donors for the community funded reporting initiatives.
- Lead stewardship efforts to maintain ongoing strong relationships with all funders, including identification, cultivation, and stewardship activities that strengthen long-term relationships with donors, from research to cultivation, to engagement, to solicitation opportunities.
- Identify new donor and sponsor prospects, including grants, through research, networking, and leveraging relationships of the newsroom and the organization
- Cultivate a portfolio of annual donors, both corporate and individual supporters
- Works with the publisher, editors and Lab working group in a cross-functional product manager role for the community funded reporting initiatives to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery of activities associated with driving the initiatives both quantitative impact and qualitative impact, including grant reporting, future fundraising and marketing.
- Organize and execute monthly funder development events on-site and off-site for groups of donors (lunches, community conversations, etc.)
- Serve as primary relationship manager with major donors.
- Collaborate with publisher to execute overall goals and objectives
We are an Equal Opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class or characteristic. Any candidate selected must pass a background check and drug screen as a condition of employment.
Ideal Candidate Qualities
- Although our preference is for candidates to live within commuting distance to our Meriden, CT office for hybrid work, we will consider highly qualified fully remote candidates.
- Exceptional interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to solicit and secure major gifts and execute donation campaigns
- Able to work well with others through trust and influence
- Knowledge of fundraising strategies and principles
- Preferred knowledge of tax planning principles and techniques that favor charitable giving
- This position requires the ability to travel locally and out-of area. A valid driver's license and vehicle are required; or, if no driver's license, reliable and at-the-ready transportation.
Skills, knowledge and abilities we're looking for
- Bilingual in English and Spanish, preferred
- Bachelor's degree preferred, or related work experience
- Five or more years of experience in professional fundraising/development including applied knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor relations with foundations, individuals, corporations, and other sources
- Solid, proven budget management skills including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making and reporting
- Strong organizational abilities including collaborating, planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with staff with a "hands-on" orientation to the workplace and supervision, and the humility to be willing to take on any task at any time
Physical, mental and environmental demands
Generally works in an office environment. Must be able to work nontraditional hours on occasion.
Local travel is required and out-of-area travel may be necessary. Must be able to walk,
lift and carry items such as laptops and files. Also must be able to operate computer keyboard and mouse. Expected to work under and meet deadlines. Routine interruptions and unforeseen assignments are to be expected.