Wtmd

Baltimore Public Media (BPM), home to WYPR and WTMD, seeks a strategic, results oriented Director of Development to lead all philanthropic fundraising and revenue-generating activities for the organization. This leadership-level position is responsible for designing, managing, and executing a comprehensive and diversified fundraising program that includes major gifts, membership, planned giving, foundation support, corporate underwriting coordination, and special campaigns.

The Director of Development is a member of BPM’s strategic team and plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s mission by developing sustainable revenue streams and building meaningful relationships with individual and institutional funders. This leader will build a culture of philanthropy, support audience growth and engagement, and help shape BPM’s long-term strategic vision.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Design and lead the implementation of a multi-year development strategy that aligns with BPM’s mission, vision, and business goals.
• Work closely with the President & General Manager to establish annual fundraising priorities, revenue goals, and key performance metrics.
• Guide and support the President & General Manager’s donor and prospect portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic fundraising objectives.
• Partner with the executive leadership team to integrate fundraising goals across departments, including content, programming, marketing, and community engagement.
• Lead BPM’s capital and special campaign strategies as needed, including case development, donor identification, and campaign infrastructure.
• Develop and manage the Development department’s annual budget, including forecasting revenue and expenses to inform organizational planning; ensure alignment with fundraising goals, monitor performance against budget, and collaborate with Finance to support long-term financial sustainability and strategic decision-making.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Oversee all aspects of individual giving, including major gifts, annual membership, planned giving, and leadership giving.
• Direct prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for individual and institutional donors.
• Manage a portfolio of high-level donors and prospects; develop and execute customized engagement and solicitation plans.
• Guide foundation and government grant strategy in collaboration with the development and editorial teams to secure programmatic and general operating support.
• Ensure donor stewardship plans and impact reporting are consistently executed. Team & Department Management
• Supervise a development team that includes roles in major gifts, membership, grants, and marketing.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to support team performance and retention.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors, especially the Development Committee, to support fundraising activities and Board engagement.

Campaign & Event Leadership

• Lead multi-channel membership campaigns (on-air, digital, direct mail, and social media) with coordination from programming and marketing teams.
• Partner with BPM’s events and community engagement staff to plan and execute donor cultivation events and fundraising activities.
• Innovate new approaches to reach and engage diverse audiences and grow donor participation from underrepresented communities.

Data, Systems & Reporting

• Oversee fundraising operations and CRM systems to ensure integrity, accuracy, and actionable insights from donor data.
• Deliver regular fundraising reports, forecasts, and strategic insights to the President & General Manager, Board, and Development Committee.
• Ensure legal and ethical compliance in all fundraising efforts, aligned with AFP and PBS/NPR standards.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive development experience, with at least 3 years in a senior fundraising leadership role, ideally in public media, arts, or nonprofit sectors.
• Demonstrated track record of personally soliciting and closing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Experience leading and managing successful membership or annual fund programs.
• Knowledge of CRM platforms (e.g., Allegiance, Salesforce, or similar) and donor analytics tools.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, board members, and community leaders.
• Strong project management and strategic planning skills.
• Commitment to public media and to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in fundraising practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with the public media fundraising landscape, including understanding of CPB guidelines and public broadcasting systems.
• Experience managing capital campaigns or special initiatives.
• Knowledge of Baltimore and Maryland philanthropic and corporate communities is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

Baltimore Public Media offers a competitive salary with this role's range being between $110,000-$130,000 annually, and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, 403(b) plan with match, paid vacation and holidays, parental leave, and hybrid work flexibility.