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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 range of formats — including data visualizations, easily searchable databases and editorial events — bringing greater transparency and accountability to public policy, politics and government. 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.

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.

We are seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead our fundraising efforts and secure the resources needed to fulfill our mission. In close collaboration with the CEO, editor-in-chief and the board of directors, you will develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies to achieve ambitious financial goals in support of our $14M organization.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee all aspects of development activities, including major gifts, grants, corporate sponsorships, annual giving programs, and special events.
  • Design the development strategy for The Texas Tribune, including identification of funding targets and top priorities, matching targets to organizational needs, and executing plans to secure gifts and promote long-term funding relationships.
  • Conduct research, prospecting, and application to multiple individuals and foundations.
  • Develop and maintain key long-term relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners, ensuring a diversified funding portfolio.
  • Cultivate and solicit gifts from individual and institutional donors.
  • Ensure timely reporting to foundations and individuals as needed.
  • Coordinate with editorial staff to promote understanding of funding opportunities and commitments made to funders.
  • Participate as a member of the business leadership team and board development committee.
  • Collaborate across teams on membership drives, crowdfunding efforts and fundraising campaigns.
  • Manage, coach and mentor a team of development professionals, including a development director, major gifts officer, development officer, grants officer and grants/awards manager.
  • 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.
  • Foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization and secure the active participation of the board of directors in fundraising initiatives.
  • 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 within the development field, 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.
  • 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 manager 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.
  • 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.

Location

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

Compensation and Benefits

The minimum salary for this position is $170,000 on experience. This job is full-time and includes the following benefits:

  • Medical, vision and dental insurance
  • Cell phone 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

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.