About Chicago Public Media
Home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Media is the largest local non-profit news organization in the country. WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times serve more than 2 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to become the essential and most trusted news source that Chicago turns to each day for understanding the people, events, and ideas that shape our community.
WBEZ is home to local and national news programming as well as a growing portfolio of popular podcasts. WBEZ serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information, and its award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. WBEZ is supported by more than 86,000 members, hundreds of corporate sponsors and major donors. In 2022, WBEZ received more than 20 awards for its journalism, including two prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Chicago Sun-Times is Chicago’s oldest continuously published daily newspaper serving Chicago and is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, in-depth political coverage, timely behind-the-scenes sports analysis, and insightful entertainment and cultural coverage. Chicago Sun-Times is the winner of eight Pulitzer Prizes and countless other awards. In recent years, the Sun-Times has focused on a digital transformation to deliver its news and content to a growing digital audience. Most recently, the Sun-Times dropped the paywall on suntimes.com to expand access to its journalism, and shifted to a community-funded digital membership program supported by voluntary member donations.
Chicago Public Media believes independent journalism is essential to a well-functioning democracy and access to fact-based, objective news and information is a right of every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse, compelling content that informs, inspires, and enriches. We connect diverse audiences and help them make a difference in the community, the region and the world. And, we employ 300+ staff who want to belong to an organization that inspires, supports, and challenges them to do their best work.
For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report.
The Opportunity
Chicago Public Media (CPM) is searching for a Senior Philanthropy Officer (SPO) at a time of enormous opportunity and innovation that CPM is leading in nonprofit journalism. The Development team at CPM plays a central role in the organization’s sustainability and growth. Reporting to the Director of Major and Planned Giving, the SPO will be an experienced senior member of the frontline fundraising team and will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individuals/families for philanthropic support of CPM’s mission and objectives. The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects ($5K to $100K+ in annual support) and collaborate with colleagues on volunteer management efforts and other fundraising priorities of the Development team. The Senior Philanthropy Officer will also lead the planning and execution for CPM’s Business Leadership Council, composed of top industry leaders from across Chicagoland.
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.
General Responsibilities
Frontline Fundraising/Relationship Management (80%)
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Build and manage a portfolio of active and prospective major donors with the capacity to make gifts of $5K to $100K+ annually.
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Qualify and prioritize donors for cultivation and solicitation. Develop and successfully implement comprehensive and customized solicitation and engagement strategies to generate, sustain, and upgrade donors and prospects. Create and execute donor-centric cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
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In partnership with the Director of Major and Planned Giving, take a leadership role in executing CPM’s planned giving strategy including by personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned giving donors and prospects.
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Write briefings, proposals, donor correspondence, and updates that shape and reflect fundraising strategies, with support and collaboration from colleagues.
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Achieve annual performance metrics including visit targets and funding goals—to be set each year.
Other Fundraising Activity (20%)
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Lead the planning and execution of CPM’s Business Leadership Council meetings, in close collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Major Gifts, and the Development Operations team.
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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.
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Proactively update and track solicitation data and review gift acknowledgments.
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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.
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Actively participate in strategy sessions and help inform colleagues’ major gifts strategies.
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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.
Qualifications
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A minimum of five to seven years of experience in fundraising or a related field.
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Knowledge of fundraising strategy and techniques and an ability and willingness to implement strategy.
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Ability to take relationships with donors and prospects to a higher level and to move difficult cases forward.
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Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
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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.
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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.
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Demonstrates proficient use of data to shape strategies and approaches to work.
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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.
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Exercises excellent judgment and models honesty, integrity, and collegiality.
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Proficiency with constituent management and fundraising software such as Salesforce or Raisers Edge, preferred.
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Demonstrates a personal commitment to excellence.
Working at Chicago Public Media
At Chicago Public Media, 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 reflective across our brands, WBEZ 91.5 FM, Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo 91.1 FM, in our staff and in our work. 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:
- 6 weeks fully paid family leave
- High quality Medical, Dental, and Vision plans at an affordable cost
- A 403(b)retirement plan with a company match
- Generous paid time off, including starting with 3 weeks’ vacation and 4 personal days.
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.
