Assistant Director of Leadership Gifts

We dig deep into important issues, shining a light on abuses of power and betrayals of public trust — and we keep digging for as long as it takes to hold power to account. We focus on stories with the potential to spur real-world impact. Among other positive changes, our reporting has contributed to the passage of new laws, reversals of harmful policies and practices, and accountability for leaders at local, state and national levels.

ProPublica is embarking on a strategic growth plan to scale our newsroom and deepen impact. We are making bold investments to expand our coverage to new beats and geographic perspectives and to broaden our reach to meet more people where they are. The vision is to create a truly national newsroom, with journalists across the country working tirelessly to shed light on injustice in communities big and small. Raising the capital needed to fund these critical initiatives requires broadening ProPublica’s base of major gift support. 

About the position:

ProPublica seeks an experienced development professional to join its successful development team as an assistant director of leadership gifts in support of its groundbreaking accountability journalism. Reporting to the director of leadership gifts, the assistant director will manage and grow a portfolio of individual major donors and prospects, soliciting gifts in support of newsroom operations and strategic priorities. The assistant director will steward and expand ProPublica’s major gift donor base in California, a key donor market, and throughout the Western region.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Execute a major gifts strategy

• Working closely with the director of leadership gifts, expand and diversify ProPublica’s major donor base, proactively identifying, qualifying and cultivating prospects with capacity to give five- and six-figure gifts.
• Work closely with the individual giving team to determine which strategies are most impactful; refine and improve approaches based on analyses and insights.
• Create compelling personalized and customized donor collateral, communications, solicitations and materials.

Cultivate and steward major donors

• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects — with a focus on California and the Western region — to cultivate, solicit and close gifts in support of ProPublica’s organizational priorities. Portfolio may include some donors and prospects across the country in other strategic, higher-volume donor markets.  
• Develop a thorough understanding of ProPublica’s existing funding relationships and identify opportunities for ongoing and increased support.
• Support leadership in the cultivation and solicitation of major donors, including prepping communications and briefings, conducting donor research, and developing proposals.
• Assist in launching and managing major donor circles, working with colleagues to ensure the donor circle experience is compelling and meaningful.
• Assist in planning and developing substantive experiences for groups of donors, both virtual and in person.

Process and project management

• Participate in ongoing portfolio review processes in collaboration with development services and other stakeholders to maintain a moves management system in the Salesforce database.
• Provide timely and accurate reports on all fundraising activities.
• Work with colleagues and ensure they have the necessary information to effectively co-manage donors, as appropriate.

Candidate requirements:

• At least five years of professional experience, with a minimum of three years experience building long-term relationships with donors, soliciting and closing gifts above $50,000, and managing a portfolio of 100+ current and prospective donors.
• Demonstrated success moving prospective donors through a pipeline, from identification, research and qualification to cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.
• Ability to travel to meet with and solicit donors as necessary; capacity to work effectively across teams and time zones.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with proven experience creating persuasive and compelling cases for support and conveying complex issues to diverse audiences; the ability to articulate ProPublica’s mission to prospective donors to inspire enthusiasm for its work and goals.
• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Collaborative work ethic with the ability to work with others to steward donors
• Experience in tracking and reporting to peers, management and senior leadership.
• Experience executing successful capital and/or multiyear fundraising campaigns and experience with major donor giving is a plus.
• Professional experience in and ties to the Western region (California, in particular) is a plus.
• Must be proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office suite and have familiarity with fundraising databases, preferably Salesforce.

This job is full time and includes benefits. ProPublica is based in New York, but we have offices across the country and will consider remote applicants. Candidates in California or on the West Coast are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S.

The expected salary range for this position is $95,000 to $125,000.

This is a good-faith estimate of what we expect to pay for this position. The final salary figure will take into account a person’s experience, accomplishment and location. ProPublica is committed to paying its staff equitably, and these ranges should not be considered career salary limits or caps.

We will begin reviewing applications as we receive them, but we will continue to consider candidates as long as the posting remains live on our site.

Questions? Send an email to talent@propublica.org. 

No phone calls, please.