Executive Director of Development

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Job Title:

Executive Director of Development

Department:

Advancement | Development Constituency Fundraising

Position Overview

The Executive Director of Development (ED) will serve as the lead fundraiser and oversee fundraising, marketing and communications and donor experience for WOSU Public Media. The ED is responsible for understanding the mission, needs and value proposition of the organization in order to strategically create awareness, engagement and support from a variety of constituent groups including donors, members, underwriting clients, and friends. This position will also focus on building relationships with corporations, community organizations, government entities, and foundations that help advance the initiatives of WOSU.

The ED reports to both the Senior Executive Director, University Development in the Office of Advancement and the General Manager of WOSU and leads a team of Advancement professionals comprised of development, corporate/foundation support, marketing/communications, and donor experience staff. The position creates and fosters effective partnerships with Advancement leadership across every college and specialty unit at the university and administers short- and long-term operational strategies to meet and exceed organizational goals. This position operates with a high degree of independence to make decisions, solve problems, negotiate and adapt to shifting priorities. Expectations include stellar communications and interactions with constituents, collaboration with colleagues across Advancement and the university, diplomacy, and discretion. This role requires some travel and occasional evening and weekend work.

In addition to guiding strategy for development, marketing and donor experience, this position actively manages a portfolio of prospective donors capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more. Preparation for the solicitation will include creative and strategic utilization of resources to determine the prospective donor’s capacity for giving, build their interest, raise their sights, sustain their engagement and close a gift. Success in the position will be guided by annual metrics including numbers of monthly meetings, solicitations, gift commitments and dollars raised. The Executive Director will strategically leverage Central resources including: prospect development, gift planning, regional development officers, donor experience, principal gifts, and corporate and foundation engagement to help accomplish the organization’s fundraising goals.

All members of Advancement are part of creating a culture that inspires an exceptionally multifaceted and talented team and are expected to exhibit The Ohio State University’s Shared Values. The Office of Advancement is committed to acting with kindness, respect, and integrity at all times and welcoming our colleagues’ ideas, voices, and perspectives, acknowledging that we are better together.

Department Overview

For a more than a century, WOSU Public Media has engaged, informed, and inspired the diverse community of Central Ohio. WOSU is a public service media organization that distinguishes itself through a commitment to collaboration, community engagement and distinctive noncommercial mission-driven programming. WOSU reaches nearly 2 million people across 20 counties throughout the state of Ohio.

As one of the first educational radio stations on the air across America in 1922, WOSU was developed to bolster the commitment of The Ohio State University’s land-grant mission to educate all Ohioans. To honor that commitment and meet the evolving needs of the citizenry, WOSU has grown over the years to include multiple broadcast and digital distribution platforms focused on distinctive areas of content: arts, culture, history, lifelong learning, and quality journalism. Our current platforms include:

• WOSU TV – with four unique channels of public television service
• 89.7 NPR News – Ohio’s most listened to NPR News station
• Classical 101 – the only all-day classical music station in Central Ohio and with a network of six stations
• WOSU Digital – extensive online and mobile programming, podcasts, and blogs
• WOSU Classroom – programming and training for educators, parents, and children

Having successfully completed a capital campaign for a new headquarters, WOSU now looks to a bright new future redefining public media for and in central Ohio. It’s an exciting time to be part of the WOSU Development team – moving public media into the next century of service in Central Ohio.

Duties and Responsibilities

75%

Leads a team of development professionals to meet WOSU’s fundraising goals by identifying, securing and maximizing opportunities to align prospective donor interests and passions. Leverages university resources as appropriate to help advance fundraising goals and carries own portfolio of prospects and donors. Builds and maintains a portfolio, serving as prospect manager for major donors. Strategizes, identifies, cultivates, and solicits a portfolio of donors with a capacity for major gifts of $100,000 and above.

Oversees the development and execution of strategies to engage donors and members, leveraging new tools and partnerships with the Alumni Association and campus partners to effectively reach and connect with WOSU’s 35,000 members. Drives the growth and sustainability of an engaged donor network through enhanced donor relations and stewardship practices. Fosters meaningful relationships with members, donors, and volunteers, supporting the recruitment and inspiration of alumni and donor leaders. Serves as a critical partner with the General Manager, contributing to the planning and execution of strategies that advance WOSU’s development and alumni relations goals, and actively participates in the GM’s leadership team. Works with WOSU leadership to manage the Friends of WOSU Advisory Board.

Recruits, trains, evaluates, motivates, and coaches employees of various backgrounds and identities; establishes and monitors goals, provides performance feedback and coaching, and supports professional development; completes annual performance management procedures; manages performance issues; is responsible for using independent, consistent and fair judgement in exercising authority; develops procedures, assigns and prioritizes work, and ensures that the resources needed to accomplish work are provided;

15% Marketing/Communications

Provides leadership and direction to WOSU’s marketing/communication and external engagement efforts to ensure effective, efficient outreach to a broad base of constituents; supports partnership with University Marketing to expand the WOSU’s branding initiatives. Provides high-level oversight of communications and content development processes to ensure clarity and consistency while enhancing strategic positioning and messaging for both internal and external audiences. Oversight includes the strategic use of traditional and new media for external communications, executive communications, media relations and crisis communications. Additionally, provides leadership to the development and

implementation of strategic approaches to cultivate, grow, and maintain relationships with community organizations and partners that help advance WOSU’s initiatives.

10% Miscellaneous

Serves as a key member of WOSU’s leadership team. Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Metrics and Collaboration

The annual performance of all fundraisers at Ohio State is measured by the number of qualifications, cultivations, solicitations and commitments/dollars raised the individual accrues over each fiscal year. Each fundraiser may have different expectations regarding these figures based upon, but not limited to, their experience level, unit size, prospect portfolio, past performance, etc. Goal setting is done with the individual’s manager prior to each fiscal year to ensure transparency, consistency and alignment.

All fundraisers at Ohio State are encouraged and expected to collaborate with their colleagues across the institution and can be counted as ‘Secondary’ on a gift in the solicitation, commitment and dollars raised phases of the development cycle. A secondary fundraiser can be considered when a team is working on a multi-unit gift, the fundraiser is a subject matter expert in an area critical to the solicitation or a fundraiser has a pre-existing, meaningful relationship with the donor and their participation helps move the gift forward.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent combination education/experience.

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience with at least four (5) years of professional fundraising experience (building relationships towards philanthropic end through making calls, conducting face-to-face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, closing gifts) and two (2) years of related experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, account management or related field with emphasis on donor cultivation, solicitation and relationship cultivation of individuals/businesses.

• Three years of management experience.

Desired Qualifications (We’re committed to building a team that reflects a variety of skills and experiences and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• Master’s degree.

• At least seven years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably five or six figures and above).

• At least seven years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a public media organization

• Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications, annual giving/membership and/or corporate foundation relations.

• Experience leading multiple cross-functional advancement teams.

The Office of Advancement is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, university-specific processes, and advancement practices.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the vibrant, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here: https://hr.osu.edu/careers/.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

Additional Information:

To learn more about the Office of Advancement, please visit advancement.osu.edu.

The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications.

Function:       Development and Engagement

Sub-function:          Development

Career Band:           People Leader – Managerial

Career Level:           M3

Location:

WOSU (1030)

Position Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:

First Shift

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