About Chicago Public Media

Chicago Public Media is home to WBEZ , Chicago’s NPR news source and one of the largest and most respected public media stations in the country, as well as urban alternative music station, Vocalo . The organization serves the community with fact-based, objective news and information. WBEZ’s award-winning journalists ask tough questions, dig deep for answers and expose truths that spark change and foster understanding. In addition to its local and national news programming, WBEZ Chicago is home to a growing portfolio of popular podcasts, including the “Making” series of Making Beyoncé, Making Obama and Making Oprah; an investigative podcast series, Motive; 16 Shots: A podcast about the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald; Nerdette; and Curious City. WBEZ Chicago has a legacy of innovation as the birthplace of nationally acclaimed programs such as This American Life and Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me! and the ground-breaking podcast, Serial. 

Chicago Public Media has recently acquired the Chicago Sun-Times, one of the Chicago’s two major daily newspapers and among the most storied dailies in the nation.  With the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Chicago Public Media is now home to one of the largest teams of journalists of any local news organization in the nation. Under the banner of Chicago Public Media, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times will reach more than 2 million people a week in the Chicago area across broadcast, print, and digital channels. Backed by a significant philanthropic commitment, Chicago Public Media plans to substantially increase its investment in local journalism by hiring additional reporters, producers and newsroom personnel in the months and years ahead. 

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 front line 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 Chicago-land.

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.

Responsibilities

Frontline Fundraising/Relationship Management (80%)

• Build and manage a portfolio of active and prospective major donors with the capacity to make gifts of $5K to $100K+ annually.
• Qualify and prioritize donors for cultivation and solicitation. Develop and successfully implement comprehensive and customized solicitation and engagement strategies t generate, sustain, and upgrade donors and prospects. Create and execute donor-centric cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• 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.
• Write briefings, proposals, donor correspondence, and updates that shape and reflect fundraising strategies, with support and collaboration from colleagues.
• Achieve annual performance metrics including visit targets and revenue goals—to be set each year.

Other Fundraising Activity (20%)

• Lead the planning and execution of CPM’s Business Leadership Council meetings, in close collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Major and Planned Giving, and the Development Operations team.
• 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.
• Proactively update and track solicitation data and review gift acknowledgments.
• 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.
• Actively participate in strategy sessions and help inform colleagues’ major gifts strategies.
• 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.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in fundraising or advancement, experience managing a major gifts portfolio required.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategy and techniques and an ability and willingness to implement strategy.
• Ability to take relationships with donors and prospects to a higher level and to move difficult cases forward.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written.
• 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.
• 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.
• Demonstrates proficient use of data to shape strategies and approaches to work.
• 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.
• Exercises excellent judgment and models honesty, integrity, and collegiality.
• Proficiency with constituent management and fundraising software.
• 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 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.

NOTE: This is a remote-hybrid role with the expectation to be on-site a minimum of 2x/week.

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.