Head of Development

About the National Trust for Local News

The National Trust for Local News is a non-profit news organization dedicated to providing local journalism for the long term. Our mission is to build a scalable new solution to the local news crisis by protecting and transforming local newspapers. Today our 65 publications serve as the primary source of local news for nearly six million Americans in Georgia, Colorado, and Maine. Our 200 local journalists tell the truth, hold power to account, create local context for global issues, and chronicle all realms of community life. We seek motivated, empathic, and entrepreneurial people who will thrive in a fast-paced environment with an urgent mission.

Overview of the Role

Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, the Head of Development will help implement an ambitious strategy to meet and scale beyond an annual $20 million fundraising goal. The Head of Development will assist in developing the overall fundraising strategy and contribute to all aspects of its success, including major giving, foundation relations, stewardship and cultivation, events, and membership campaigns. This role is a critical part of the NTLN management team, and will collaborate closely with national and state leadership teams, and oversee a small staff of development personnel.

Main Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy:

• Create a comprehensive development strategy aligned with NTLN's strategic goals.
• Work closely with the CGO and national leadership team to build a culture of philanthropy across NTLN’s State Trusts.
• Achieve fundraising benchmarks for all fundraising efforts, including major gifts, institutional giving, corporate partnerships, planned giving, and annual fund campaigns.

Team Management:

• Manage and build a growing team of in-market development professionals.
• Provide on-going guidance, direction, and motivation, and provide oversight to consultants as needed.
• Delegate appropriately and ensure strong internal communication and coordination.
• Set clear goals, evaluate performance and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, and foster an inclusive and high-performing development team.

Development Activities:

• Oversee cultivation, prospecting, and stewardship processes, including research and outreach.
• Contribute to solicitations from corporate and foundation funders and major individual donors.
• Ensure that all donor recognition and reporting processes are timely and effective.
• Manage donor events, cultivation opportunities, and virtual/in-person fundraising efforts to enhance NTLN’s visibility and reputation.

Development Operations:

• Develop and oversee the implementation of data-driven approaches to track and analyze fundraising progress, identify growth opportunities, and improve efficiency.
• Oversee the utilization of Salesforce and other development tools to maintain accurate donor records, analyze performance, and produce regular reports.
• Lead the integration of new technology and platforms to streamline operations and increase transparency across the development team.

Qualifications/Skills

• 7+ years of experience in development and/or translatable experience in the private sector (e.g., business development / fundraising for a start-up, investor relations for an asset manager, etc.).
• Proven track record of leading teams and securing major gifts/opportunities.
• Not afraid to roll up your sleeves; comfort and experience working in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Exceptional project management and strategic planning skills, with a track record of building structure and driving through it to outcomes.
• Strong team leader with experience managing high-performing development professionals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate NTLN’s mission and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask, learn and process information quickly, and exercise good judgment when dealing with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to quickly understand and assess opportunities and/or problems and respond with creative ideas and solutions.
• Ability to identify priorities, work independently, and develop tactics for addressing issues or requests.
• Passion for local news and community impact.
• Comfort with 20% travel expectation at minimum.

Why Work With Us

We value our team and provide competitive salaries and benefits, including a 401k and fully-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance. The salary range for this position is $190,000-205,000. We have a flexible paid-time-off policy for all full-time exempt employees as well as up to 11 paid federal, company-wide holidays. We provide a home office set-up stipend and support for professional development.

How to Apply

To apply, fill out this form, where you will attach a resume and cover letter. The ideal start date for this role is May 2025.