Civic News Company,parent company of the nonprofit newsrooms Chalkbeat, focused on telling the story of education in America; Votebeat, dedicated to in-depth reporting on elections and voting; and Healthbeat, covering public health and health policy both nationally and locally, is seeking a Vice President of Philanthropy, Chalkbeat to lead fundraising strategy and grow Chalkbeat’s annual revenue from $6M to $10M over the next 3–5 years.
This is a critical leadership role responsible for guiding development efforts for Chalkbeat, Civic News Company’s largest and longest-running newsroom. A key member of the Philanthropy Leadership Team, the Vice President of Philanthropy, Chalkbeat will shape and execute fundraising strategies to advance Chalkbeat’s mission and sustainability.
The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial frontline fundraiser with a track record of ambitious revenue growth, thrives in fast-paced environments, and is deeply committed to the power of journalism to improve education. They are a strong team builder and a compelling communicator who can inspire donors, partners, and communities around Chalkbeat’s mission. This is a unique opportunity to join a mission-driven team and help scale a newsroom with transformational impact.
This role reports to the Chief Philanthropy Officer.
The key responsibilities for this role include:
Frontline Fundraising and Relationship Management
Build and manage a portfolio of high-level individual and institutional donors, with a focus on identifying, cultivating, and soliciting new prospects.
Serve as the lead relationship manager for major funders, deepening existing partnerships and expanding Chalkbeat’s reach within the philanthropic community.
Personally lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts with an emphasis on long-term relationship building and strategic alignment.
Manage and support a team of fundraisers to drive revenue growth across Chalkbeat’s national and local markets.
Fundraising Strategy and Execution
Develop and execute a bold, best-in-class strategy to grow Chalkbeat’s revenue from $6M to $10M+ over the next 3–5 years.
Establish a clear vision for development that prioritizes relationship building and reflects Chalkbeat’s mission and role in the education and journalism landscape.
Collaborate with teams across Civic News Company to align fundraising goals, highlight impact, and support national expansion.
Foster a culture of philanthropy by embedding fundraising into organizational planning and decision-making.
What background and skills do you have? (We know not all strong candidates will have all the skills we list. That’s OK. What else do you bring to the table? Please tell us!):
7–10 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in development, philanthropy, or a related field.
Proven track record of building and scaling strategic fundraising efforts across diverse revenue streams, with measurable growth.
Success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-level funders, both individual and institutional, and securing major gifts and grants (typically five figures and above).
Experience working collaboratively with shared development operations teams or systems.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling proposals, presentations, and donor-facing materials.
Strong ability to use data and CRM tools to inform strategy and guide fundraising activity.
Bonus points if you’ve got:
Experience in the education and/or journalism sectors.
Background working with both local and national funders.
Deep commitment to values-based, non-advocacy journalism as a force for systemic change and a pillar of democracy.
Strong strategic thinking and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
Adaptable, optimistic mindset grounded in humor and humility.
Solutions-oriented, collaborative approach and a can-do attitude in working across teams and departments.
This full-time, remote-eligible position may be based anywhere in the continental United States. Civic News Company already has a presence: Chicago, Colorado, Indianapolis, Newark, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
The salary range is $140,000-$190,000; final salary will be determined based on level of experience and geographic location, with a generous benefits package, including:
Medical, vision, and dental insurance
20 days of PTO and a paid one-week recess
401(k) matching program
Paid parental leave
Civic News Company recognizes a staff bargaining unit, Civic News Company, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for news and online media, motion pictures, and television. This position is not included in the Civic News Company bargaining unit.
About Civic News Company
At Civic News Company, our mission is helping people understand how America works so they can make it work better. Committed to equal employment opportunities, Civic News Company welcomes applicants and employees from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to races, colors, national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages, disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and marital statuses. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our shared vision.
Civic News Company participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Civic News Company is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Civic News Company can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Civic News Company can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
