VP of Development | Institute for Nonprofit News - Institute for Nonprofit News

Job description

Now Hiring: VP of Development

The Beacon seeks a mission-oriented development director to manage fundraising for a fast-growing startup civic news network serving Kansas and Missouri. The broad mandate of the role is to galvanize funding for public-interest journalism, which is more crucial than ever in the Midwest.

You would shepherd the design and execution of critical functions in fundraising strategy. Because The Beacon has significant financial backing from national and local partners - including the American Journalism Project, Wichita Community Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Report for America - this role is a great opportunity to help build an organization from the ground up that will become a core public service for Kansans and Missourians.

As commercial newsrooms in the region struggle with diminishing resources, residents are deprived of the information they need, and the journalism required to keep government, business and other institutions accountable. The Beacon was created to address this crisis, and is growing rapidly with a team of talented journalists focused on issues vital to the region, including public health, economic development, education and government accountability. We launched a KC newsroom in 2020, and are launching a Wichita newsroom later this summer.

You will help design and implement an annual development plan, incorporating short- and long-range goals. Key priorities include supporting fundraising efforts by overseeing the planning and management of strategic cultivation, implementing a donor communications plan, and developing/tracking a fundraising pipeline across individual donors, as well as national and local foundations.

This position will be based in the Kansas City metro, with travel expected throughout Kansas and Missouri.

The organization

The Beacon is a non-profit online news outlet focused on in-depth journalism in the public interest. We launched in 2020 and are building a regional nonprofit news network serving Kansas and Missouri. Beacon stories are revelatory, contextual, data-driven and solutions-driven.

We are backed by the American Journalism Project, the Wichita Community Foundation, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the William T. Kemper Foundation and Report for America, along with hundreds of individuals and family foundations, and have ambitious plans to grow.

Job responsibilities

Fundraising strategy and management:

* Design and implement an annual development plan that incorporates short- and long- range goals.
* Maintain accurate records of progress and activity reports for the leadership team and the Board of Directors.
* Manage a Development Manager to help execute on fundraising strategy.
* Oversee the planning and management of strategic cultivation and stewardship events.
* Work with the leadership team to maintain working knowledge of issues relevant to our journalism, including major news stories and topics that are of interest to our supporters and significant work by The Beacon that drive impacts.

Donor management

* Support donor engagement as well as carry out face-to-face solicitations and other direct engagement with donors and prospects.
* Identify new prospects for major gifts and opportunities for increased giving by current donors. Oversee prospect research and actively lead identification of prospects to bring new supporters into the organization.
* Oversee donor correspondence and maintain primary responsibility for developing messages, strategy memos, talking points, and donor materials.

Grant Development & Management

* Develop and manage an annual fundraising calendar.
* Draft grant applications and reports.
* Manage the grants management database including tracking submissions, awards and reporting deadlines.

You're a good fit if…

* You are good at building relationships and identifying how The Beacon's work may appeal to different donors and foundations.
* You have a strong interest in local accountability journalism and First Amendment values and can articulate The Beacon's mission and importance to different audiences.
* You have at least three to five years of nonprofit development experience.
* You have a track record of successful grant applications and/or requests for proposals.
* You are a database and organizational pro.
* You have excellent research skills.
* You have analytical skills; familiarity with data tracking and performance management.
* You are proficient in SalesForce, Google Sheets, Mailchimp and project planning tools such as Airtable, or are familiar with similar tools and can learn quickly.
* You are organized and can handle multiple projects and people under tight deadlines.
* You have a collaborative spirit and are calm under pressure. You believe that we are all stronger together.

Experience working in nonprofits in Kansas or Missouri is a plus, but not mandatory.

We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

We encourage those who are ready to take on an ambitious role, but don't meet 100% of our requirements, to apply. We're growing, so if you're not right for this job, you might be right for the next one.

Compensation and benefits

* Full-time, competitive salary with benefits starting at $90,000.

We pay 100% of employee monthly health, vision and dental premiums, and a portion of dependent premiums.
* Two weeks of paid time off, most federal holidays and the last week of the year.
* Flexible work schedule. Some weekend and evening hours will be required.

Application process

Questions? Email . Apply here.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis, giving an advantage to early applicants.