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The Texas Tribune, the state’s go-to source for Texas politics and public policy news, is an established leader in digital-first journalism, devoted to informing and engaging Texans through in-depth investigations and explanatory guides, as well as with rigorous enterprise, breaking news and beat reporting informed by data. Our newsroom covers a range of topics, including public and higher education, health and human services, mental health, immigration and the border, politics and threats to democracy, urban affairs, as well as climate, energy and the environment.

We produce robust, nonpartisan journalism in a variety of formats — including data visualizations, easily searchable databases and editorial events — bringing greater transparency and accountability to public policy, politics and government. The Tribune’s storytelling goes deep to break down complicated issues that impact everyday Texans. As a result, those Texans have the tools to be more thoughtful and engaged — and not just at election time.

Our goal is to raise the level of civic engagement in communities far and wide and to return civility to public discourse on the issues that matter.

We are seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Chief Development and Growth Officer (CDGO) to lead our fundraising and revenue efforts and to secure the resources needed to fulfill our mission.

The CDGO will work closely with the Tribune’s CEO, editor-in-chief, chief product officer, local program leaders and chief finance officer to build effective cross-team collaboration, ensuring that leadership effectively advances program goals aligned with revenue strategy. In concert with the CEO, editor-in-chief and the board of directors, you will develop and execute comprehensive revenue growth, sponsorship and fundraising strategies to achieve ambitious financial goals in support of our $14M organization.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the fundraising and revenue strategy for the Tribune, fostering a culture of philanthropy and interconnectedness across teams. Collaborate with the CEO and the board to refine and implement a long-term revenue plan while ensuring that the budget, staff, and priorities are aligned with the Tribune’s core mission.
  • Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the board of directors and ensure open communication about progress toward financial milestones and goals.
  • Provide inspirational leadership and direction to the senior leadership, and ensure the continued development and management of a professional and efficient revenue team of 5+ with a talent-first approach, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and accountability.
  • Oversee all aspects of revenue activities, including major gifts, grants, corporate giving, annual giving programs, special events, advertising and sponsorships.
  • Develop a vision to meet short-term and long-range revenue goals, identifying funding targets and executing plans to secure gifts from individual and institutional donors and to promote lasting funder and sponsor relationships.
  • Establish effective decision-making processes that will enable the Tribune to achieve its long- and short-term revenue goals and objectives.
  • Prospect, develop and maintain key long-term relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners, ensuring a diversified funding portfolio.
  • Ensure timely reporting to foundations and individuals as needed.
  • Coordinate with editorial staff and the finance team to promote understanding of funding opportunities and commitments made to funders.
  • Participate as a member of the business leadership team and board development committee, and secure the active participation of the board of directors in fundraising initiatives.
  • Collaborate across teams on membership drives, crowdfunding efforts and fundraising campaigns.
  • Strategize innovative revenue solutions that meet evolving client and funder needs.
  • Oversee the development department's budget and ensure efficient use of resources.
  • Develop and implement a robust system for tracking donor engagement and measuring fundraising success.
  • Stay abreast of trends in fundraising and identify new opportunities for securing resources.
  • Regular travel, mainly within the state of Texas.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.
  • Minimum of 10 years of experience in a leadership role in development or revenue roles, including 5+ years experience in a nonprofit organization with a $10M+ operating budget.
  • Proven success in nonprofit development, including major individual gifts and corporate and foundation grants. Capital campaign experience is a plus.
  • Strong understanding of long-term revenue needs and an ability to design a vision to meet goals.
  • Experience planning, leading and managing development projects, including coordinating with multiple internal staff to achieve desired outcomes, tracking and reporting.
  • Takes initiative and actively seeks to deepen current donor relationships and forge new ones.
  • Effective use of a customer relationship management system to grow and manage prospects and donors.
  • Skilled in creating powerful, compelling written and oral communications for fundraising, as well as experience and credibility when presenting to external audiences.
  • Ability to convey complex ideas through brief, simple materials.
  • Effective at working with others — internal and external — to reach common goals and objectives.
  • Strong understanding of fundraising best practices and principles.
  • Excellent relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Strategic thinking and analytical abilities.
  • Ability to motivate and inspire a team. Proven success in developing and promoting talent.
  • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Commitment to the organization's nonpartisan journalistic mission.

We know some great candidates won’t check all the boxes, and we also know you might bring essential skills that we haven’t considered. If that's you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position will depend on experience. The minimum is $200,000. This job is full-time and includes the following benefits:

  • Medical, vision and dental insurance
  • Cellphone stipend
  • 20 days of paid time off each year
  • 12 paid holidays
  • Up to 16 weeks of paid family leave plus four weeks of additional job protection
  • Annual 401(k) match of $2,000
  • Remote working flexibility

Location

This position is located in Austin, Texas, at our headquarters, just blocks from the Capitol. The CDGO will be expected to have a regular presence in the office, but flexibility to work remotely is a company standard.

Austin is a vibrant city known for its live music and restaurant scenes, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions. It’s a friendly place with a strong sense of community. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the abundance of parks, trails, and water activities on the Colorado River. With its mild winters and abundant sunshine, Austin is an exciting place to live, work and play.

To Apply

Submit your application here with a résumé and cover letter detailing your vision for this position and how you would approach the work. We can't wait to hear from you.

The Texas Tribune is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for all, and we encourage applicants of all identities, backgrounds, ages, and abilities to apply.

About the Tribune

Here’s what you should know about the Tribune. From day one, we’ve had disruption, innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. We’re ambitious and still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. We want to become the number one media organization in Texas, and we’re always looking to expand our boundaries. We’re nonprofit because the challenging economic reality for the media these days obligates us to find a different way, reliable and sustainable, to fund serious journalism. We’re nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias — and we don’t need to be part of the problem. We don’t need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives that are already in people’s heads. At the same time, nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be called.

All of us at the Trib believe the best way to achieve that mission is to resemble the state we cover. We’re committed to building an inclusive newsroom for people of all backgrounds and ages, and we’re taking steps to meet that commitment. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for this role, including women, veterans, people of color, LGBTQ people and people with disabilities.

Learn more about The Texas Tribune here.