The Opportunity
Calling all strong communicators and nonprofit enthusiasts eager to dive deeper into philanthropy: NPR’s Development Division needs your help! If you love public radio, have a unique and persuasive way of articulating NPR’s value, and can share that love of mission in order to build relationships with people – this job is for you! We seek to hire a dynamic Foundation Manager to join NPR’s Institutional Giving team and secure support from foundations who make our critical work possible.
Position Summary
The ideal candidate will have experience in development and/or communications, with a track record of successful donor-centered or customer-focused efforts. S/he will be strategic and collaborative, and someone that thrives in a fast-paced, creative, results oriented culture.
The Foundation Manager plays a key role in identifying, securing and stewarding foundation support for NPR’s general operations or special initiatives and for Member stations. S/he also serves as a power-user of Development’s database, supporting the Institutional team via training and guidance to ensure the database accurately reflects stewardship and proposal activities. Under the supervision of the Executive Director of Institutional Giving, the Foundation Manager is part of a skilled fundraising team, with a focus on new donors and multi-year grants. The group also stewards relationships with existing partners to ensure funding and relationships are lasting.
Essential Duties
- Coordinates and facilitates institutional donor involvement including discovery, cultivation, ask/close and stewardship. Manages a portfolio of approximately 35 prospects capable of $20,000-$50,000 grants and higher.
- Helps to design fundraising strategies for the portfolio and determine appropriate steps for cultivation and solicitation, and follows up with appropriate actions such as helping prepare senior NPR staff for donor meetings through written and/or oral briefings, and schedules and attends meetings and presentations.
- Interacts with funders over the phone, e-mail, and in person (including up to 15% travel), to develop and deepen relationships through formal and informal stewardship.
- Gathers information and prepares or coordinates letters of inquiry, proposals, reports, accompanying materials, and budgets.
- As a power-user of the database, helps to support the Institutional team via training and data entry to ensure the database is fully utilized and accurately reflects stewardship and proposal activities. Assists as needed with queries for dashboards, pipeline/forecast and other team-related reports or documents.
- May provide critical backup to the Gift Processing team on an as-needed basis for processing and recording all gifts to NPR, ensuring timely processing and acknowledgment of gifts. Follow approved business practices to safeguard the integrity of donor and gift information in the database.
- Researches, identifies and cultivates new sources of funding, and monitors changing developments in philanthropy.
- Works collaboratively by sharing materials in order to improve the quality of the division’s material; to set and achieve goals; and to meet deadlines.
- Develops a thorough knowledge of digital and on-air program offerings and initiatives at NPR.
- Updates and maintains files and/or database to reflect personal contacts with funders.
- Performs other duties as assigned. Serves as an appropriate representative of NPR and its Member stations with all audiences.
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Required Skills:
- Two to three years of related work experience, preferably in development.
- Must have excellent communication and writing skills, preferably in the area of development and/or grant writing. Attention to detail is essential.
- Ability to eloquently articulate NPR’s mission and programs, and show passion for the mission of NPR.
- Proven ability to strategically and effectively build relationships and partnerships with donors.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and gain the respect and support of various constituencies, including NPR administrative and volunteer leadership, donors, colleagues, and Member stations.
- Must possess a strong personal work ethic, good judgment and diplomacy in dealing with a variety of constituents.
- Must have excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work appropriately and adapt easily to changing priorities.
- Must be willing and able to manage up to 15% travel as needed.
Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you. All applications must include a resume and cover letter to be considered.
NPR offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness benefits, retirement, and work/life balance programs, as well as opportunities for career growth and development. NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Do you ‘Like’ us? Follow us on Facebook at This Is NPR. You can also follow us on Twitter at @NPRjobs, as well as #NPRlife for 'behind the scenes' tweets about life at NPR from our employees.
NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer that affirmatively seeks to hire veterans and people with disabilities. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.