Director of Institutional Giving

Chicago Public Media•Chicago, IL

2d•$104,000 - $129,000•Onsite

About The Position

Chicago Public Media is one of the nation’s largest local nonprofit news organizations. Home to WBEZ 91.5FM, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Vocalo. Chicago Public Media reaches more than 3.3 million people weekly across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. As a mission-driven organization, we aspire to be the most trusted news source Chicagoans turn to for understanding the people, events, and ideas shaping our community. Chicago Public Media is a 100% community-funded newsroom powered by nearly 97,000 members whose support makes our journalism possible. This sustained community investment helped drive nationally recognized work in 2025, including 29 awards from esteemed organizations, including the Public Media Journalists Association, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the National Association of Black Journalists. We believe independent journalism is essential to a healthy democracy and that access to objective, fact-based news is a right for every citizen. We serve the public interest by creating diverse content that informs and enriches our community, supported by a dedicated staff of approximately 250 professionals. For more information, please see the Chicago Public Media Annual Report. The Opportunity The Director of Institutional Giving is responsible for the management and performance of the institutional giving team. The Director strategizes and implements revenue initiatives, serves as a frontline fundraiser, and coaches the Manager of Institutional Giving to provide strategic guidance and accountability. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director works collaboratively across the Development team and other departments to strengthen donor pipeline development, improve fundraising effectiveness, and support a high-performing culture of philanthropy.

Requirements

Seven-plus years progressive frontline fundraising experience with demonstrated expertise interacting with executive-level foundation and corporate representatives
In-depth knowledge of corporate/foundation philanthropy process
Successful experience in developing multi-year gift strategies
Management experience, with the ability to lead, coach, and motivate a talented team of fundraising professionals
Comfortable using both quantitative and qualitative data to inform strategy and create a culture of excellence, accountability, and support
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience developing case statements and donor proposals
Superior interpersonal skills required with donors and prospects as well as internal leadership, peers, colleagues, and direct reports. Must be a team player with high emotional intelligence who values collaboration and partnerships and treats everyone with respect
Proactive nature with strong planning and attention to detail. Ability to be strategic, collaborative, and results-oriented. Ability to take initiative and manage complex projects and work effectively from conception to completion in a timely manner
Possess an understanding of fundraising industry standards, especially regarding the legal and ethical aspects of donor solicitation, confidentiality, gift crediting, stewardship, and financial principles that shape the work of fundraising professionals
Proficiency with Google Suites and constituent management and fundraising software
Ability to work with a variety of people in multiple departments for the benefit of the organization; desire to collaborate across departments
Ability to think strategically and possess thorough understanding of strategic development

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain strategy for institutional revenue that supports organizational needs. Requires the ability to benchmark, strategize, and build a pipeline through sophisticated prospect research.
Supervise and support the Institutional Giving team, including onboarding, day-to-day management, goal setting, and performance management.
Conduct portfolio and moves management reviews to ensure timely donor engagement, solicitation activity, proposal tracking, and stewardship.
Support the development of donor strategies, cultivation plans, solicitation approaches, and stewardship opportunities for institutional donors and prospects.
Set and track on ambitious individual goals for direct reports, with the aim of advancing donor relationships, upgrading support, and maintaining a high standard across the team.
Manage an active portfolio of 50-80 foundations and corporations with increases year over year.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward institutional donors.
Prepare written solicitations, proposals, and donor reports.
Manage the responsible stewardship of gifts, including the interpretation of terms in collaboration with finance colleagues.
Maintain data for the institutional giving portfolio in the database, including contact reports, proposals, and other stewardship activities.
Proactively identify and approach potential institutional funders to establish new relationships and strengthen CPM’s connections within the institutional funding community.
Monitor and keep leadership apprised of team fundraising performance, portfolio health, and activity metrics.