Civic News Company,parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting; and Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally, is seeking a Director of Philanthropy to step into a fundraising role with real influence, deep collaboration across newsrooms, and the opportunity to help shape (not just execute) philanthropic strategy at a moment when independent journalism has never mattered more.
Chalkbeat's Director of Philanthropy will build upon a 17-year track record and established donor base for significant growth. Working with the Vice President of Philanthropy, Chalkbeat and the Chief Philanthropy Officer, this strategic and entrepreneurial leader will manage a high-impact portfolio of foundation and individual donors, lead market-based fundraising efforts, and translate ambitious journalism into compelling, fundable opportunities. Positioned at the center of newsroom leadership, the Director partners with bureau chiefs, Editor in Chief, Chalkbeat, and senior Civic News Company leaders to align reporting priorities, budgets, and fundraising strategy. This critical role sustains and expands nonprofit journalism to strengthen democracy and improve outcomes for kids and communities through a collaborative, equity-centered approach.
This position reports to the Vice President of Philanthropy, Chalkbeat.
The key responsibilities for this role include:
- Revenue Leadership & Portfolio Ownership
- Manage and strategically optimize a complex portfolio of high-value donors and prospects, including foundations and individuals, with revenue goals of $1M per assigned bureau or program area.
- Develop and execute individualized donor strategies that advance relationships, increase giving, and secure new philanthropic support.
- Achieve assigned annual fundraising goals and performance metrics through a collaborative, team-based fundraising model.
- Strategic Fundraising and Organizational Partnership
- Create and execute short- and long-term fundraising strategies, in close collaboration with the Vice President of Philanthropy, aligned with organizational priorities and programmatic funding needs.
- Partner with bureau chiefs, the Editor in Chief, and other senior leaders to align bureau-level priorities and organizational strategy with philanthropic opportunities and funding capacity.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to Philanthropy leadership by helping shape, evaluate, and refine overall fundraising strategy in support of revenue growth, donor diversification, and long-term sustainability.
- Provide revenue forecasts, pipeline analysis, and strategic recommendations to Philanthropy leadership to support informed decision-making and goal attainment.
- Collaborate with Philanthropy and organizational leadership to support the development and refinement of program and bureau budgets that can be effectively leveraged in fundraising strategy and donor conversations.
- Leverage the organization’s moves management system to track progress, prioritize opportunities, and evaluate portfolio performance.
- Identify risks and opportunities within the portfolio and proactively recommend course corrections.
- Donor Engagement, Storytelling, & Stewardship
- Plan, lead, and oversee high-quality virtual and in-person donor meetings focused on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Collaborate with Philanthropy Operations and Chalkbeat bureaus to design meaningful, personalized stewardship experiences and donor communications.
- Contribute strong, persuasive writing to support donor engagement and stewardship including donor communications, and proposals and reports as needed in collaboration with Philanthropy leadership and Philanthropy Operations.
- Ensure donors are informed, engaged, and connected to the impact of their philanthropic support.
- Prospect Development, Collaboration, & Ethical Practice
- Identify, research, and qualify new prospects for funding opportunities.
- Influence and align stakeholders across the organization to develop compelling, mission-driven donor strategies and narratives.
- Ensure fundraising strategies reflect organizational priorities, equity commitments, and evolving programmatic needs.
- Advance inclusive and ethical fundraising practices that align with Civic News Company’s mission, values, and commitment to DEIB.
- Serve as a collaborative partner who models respect, transparency, and accountability across teams and with donors.
What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):
- Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- 5 to 7 years of frontline fundraising experience, including leadership of complex donor portfolios.
- Demonstrated success securing gifts in the $25,000-$250,000 range and consistently meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
- Comfort and effectiveness serving as a public-facing representative and spokesperson for the organization, including leading in-person and virtual donor meetings and advancing fundraising goals.
- Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess portfolio performance, donor data, and fundraising pipelines to inform strategy.
- Experience using Salesforce or similar fundraising CRM systems for donor management, reporting, and planning.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate organizational mission, vision, and impact to diverse audiences.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively across departments in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and a strong belief in the power of education and independent journalism to create better outcomes for kids by putting accurate, trustworthy information in the hands of those who shape decisions.
This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States with a preference for those located on the East Coast. Occasional travel will be required. Civic News Company already has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
Compensation
The salary range is $133,095-$159,714; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance
- Time off that truly supports rest, including 20 days of PTO, a paid one-week recess, 5 sick days, 3 floating holidays, and 12 paid holidays in 2026
- Retirement support through a 401(k) with a 4% employer match that is immediately vested
- 100% paid parental leave: 18 weeks fully paid, plus a 2-week part-time return-to-work ramp-up
- Flexible Spending Plan for eligible medical or childcare expenses
- Annual professional development stipend
- Employer-provided life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
- Monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet expenses
Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is not included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.
About Civic News Company
At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.
Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
