Director of Business Development

The Director of Development will drive Austin Free Press's financial sustainability and growth, leading our fundraising initiatives and donor relationships. This senior leadership role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution to support our mission of delivering essential local journalism to Austin. The ideal candidate will bring proven nonprofit development experience in the areas of donor outreach, grant writing and event planning, outstanding relationship-building skills, and a passionate commitment to independent local journalism. The candidate will work with AFP to set three month, six month and annual funding targets. The goal is to secure funding from donations, grants, and events to fuel our operations today – and well into the future.

Key Full-Time Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Design and execute a comprehensive development strategy encompassing individual donor giving, institutional funding from foundations, subscription membership funding, and community-driven fundraising through events.
• Set and achieve ambitious but realistic fundraising goals aligned with organizational growth plans.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to identify new funding opportunities aligned with AFP’s development initiatives with and mission.

Donor Engagement

• Build and nurture relationships with major donors, and foundations.
• Develop compelling cases for support that showcase AFP’s impact.
• Design and launch innovative fundraising campaigns and giving programs.
• Plan and execute engaging donor events highlighting our journalism's community impact.
• Create personalized stewardship plans to enhance donor engagement and retention.
• Represent Austin Free Press at community events and with key stakeholders.

Grant Outreach

• Lead grant strategy, including prospect research, proposal development, and reporting.
• Build and nurture relationships with foundations.
• Research, write, and submit grant proposals to foundations and government agencies, ensuring compliance with grant requirements and deadlines.
• Maintain a calendar of grant opportunities and reporting deadlines.

Subscription Membership and Event Generation

• Plan and execute fundraising events and campaigns that promote the organization’s work and engage the community.
• Coordinate messaging, mailings and social media to encourage one-time and recurring donations.

Operations Management

• Oversee donor database management and giving analytics.
• Produce regular performance reports for board and leadership.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit fundraising regulations and best practices.
• Foster a collaborative and positive team culture that aligns with the organization’s values.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with editorial team to translate journalistic impact into compelling donor communications
• Collaborate with finance team on budgeting and revenue forecasting

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 3+ years of progressive responsibility in nonprofit development.
• Proven track record of proficiency in fundraising or sales in the nonprofit or for-profit. sector as well as writing applications for grants.
• Experience with CRM systems and fundraising analytics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information compellingly.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Passion for journalism, community engagement, and social justice.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Prefer someone who has lived in Austin at least 5 years, with knowledge of local affairs and community issues.

Essential Skills

• Strategic thinking and planning capabilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication.
• Strong project management and organizational abilities.
• Proficiency with fundraising technology and databases.
• Self-motivated, able to work in a startup environment

Key Attributes

• Passionate about the role of local journalism in democracy.
• Understanding of Austin's community dynamics and challenges.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• High degree of integrity and professional ethics.