Major Gift Officer Washington, DC
Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com Covering the Region
WAMU 88.5 is the leading public radio station for news and information in the Washington, DC area, striving to be the most respected and trusted voice in the world of traditional and emerging media. WAMU is proud to be member-supported, professionally-staffed, and licensed to American University. Since 1961, it has provided programming to an audience that now totals almost 1 million listeners on-air, online, and on-demand.
The station's 24-hour format blends a unique mixture of news, public affairs talk programming, and traditional American music. Its team of award-winning local reporters and acclaimed talk radio hosts offers comprehensive coverage of local, national, and international events. During the week, WAMU focuses on news and information with 1A, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, and programming from National Public Radio (NPR), Public Radio International (PRI), American Public Media (APM), and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Weekends offer listeners a variety of news, entertainment, and traditional American music with internationally recognized hosts such as Rob Bamberger and Murray Horwitz.
Deeply committed to the DC metro area, WAMU produces regular and special programming that reflects the unique environment of our region. WAMU is seen as a big asset to Washington, and for the past 60 years has maintained its commitment to local news and stories that will continue to engage their audience. What’s On?
Kojo 20th Anniversary For two decades, Washingtonians have been tuning in to The Kojo Nnamdi Show. WAMU will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show with a year of special programming and events to showcase Kojo’s historical perspective, as well as what’s ahead for the region.
What’s With Washington Building on the success of the popular “What’s With Washington” stories on the air, WAMU launched a What’s With Washington podcast, delivering answers to Washingtonians’ most baffling questions. Each episode centers on one listener question about the region and goes on a journey to find the answer. With member support, WAMU investigates and responds to listener questions, be they serious or silly, that otherwise might never receive coverage.
1A 1A explores important issues such as policy, politics, technology, and what connects us across the fissures that divide the country. The program also delves into pop culture, sports, and humor. 1A’s goal is to act as a national mirror— taking time to help America look at itself and to ask what it wants to be. With a name inspired by the First Amendment, the show celebrates free speech and the power of the spoken word.
Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com Development at WAMU
WAMU 88.5 generates roughly half of its $32M annual revenue through private donations, with the bulk of the remaining revenue generated through corporate underwriting. Private donations come from three main sources: membership fees from the over 70,000 members devoted to WAMU programming; events, including intimate dinners at the home of On My Mind host Diane Rehm; and major gift cultivation, led by WAMU’s Leadership Circle of donors giving at least $1,200.
WAMU sees tremendous growth potential to build a major giving program by tapping into the organization’s devoted membership, who recognize the organization’s commitment to local news and excellent reputation in the DC area. While WAMU has seen success following the leadership of American University’s Board of Trustees and their Community Advisory Council, they are in the process of establishing a Board of Directors who will contribute financially to WAMU’s success, and who will be instrumental in opening doors and building relationships for the fundraising team.
General Manager JJ Yore
Since August 2014, JJ Yore has led a transformation of WAMU 88.5, bringing in new leadership, launching new programming initiatives, and restructuring WAMU’s revenue operations. These efforts have increased listening to WAMU in the Washington, DC metropolitan area by 41%, including doubling the percentage of African American and Hispanic listeners. Yore also increased membership to WAMU by 33% and revenue by more than 70%. Under his leadership, WAMU developed and launched the national talk show 1A in January, 2017, succeeding the iconic Diane Rehm Show. WAMU also has enhanced its value as a source of regional news, almost doubling its news staff and reviving the beloved local news site, DCist.
Yore has spent much of his career as a journalistic innovator and builder. He was one of the creators of the Marketplace business programs, known for delivering complex business and economics information in a uniquely accessible yet intelligent way. Under his leadership, the programs earned the highest accolades in media, including the duPont-Columbia and Peabody awards.
Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com The Opportunity
WAMU 88.5 seeks a Major Gift Officer to join the ❖ Work with content and marketing staff to fundraising team and build out a major giving secure appropriate information, including portfolio to increase revenue for the organization. budgets, to create offers, proposals, and asks. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer and These will be used with individuals in the working closely with the Assistant Director of portfolio to secure gifts and report back to Development, the MGO will create, manage, and donors on how their donations were used. steward a portfolio of approximately 150 assigned and qualified donors. He/she will work with these ❖ Assist in the creation of a Board of Directors, donors to achieve higher levels of engagement to including identification and recruitment. Once ensure that WAMU can continue to grow into the the Board is established, work with members future, providing the quality of content their to increase revenue generation. members have come to expect. Specific responsibilities include: ❖ Work within the Strategic Plan to assist in raising the Development department’s goal of ❖ From a larger pool of donors, qualify a $1.4M annually. portfolio of 150 individuals that have the ability and potential to give at higher levels. ❖ Conduct basic prospect research for portfolio.
❖ Create individual goals for each donor in the ❖ Create monthly reports as required by portfolio based on the donor’s history of management that accurately reflect portfolio giving and the knowledge of that donor’s activity and performance. potential.
❖ Create a personalized plan for each donor that will serve as a foundational communications and marketing plan for each prospective donor, recognizing that to be successful the MGO will need to take time getting to know the donors.
❖ Execute plans to meet individual and departmental goals, ensuring that donors in the portfolio are retained and upgraded, including, but not limited to, face to face visits.
❖ Manage prospect/donor communications and draft specific proposals for his/her assigned prospects.
Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com The Candidate
The ideal Major Gift Officer will be passionate about ❖ Record of successfully engaging leadership the content that WAMU 88.5 works to produce and and Board members in the fundraising will serve as a compelling ambassador to a process. membership base that is equally dedicated to sustaining their programs. The MGO will be eager to ❖ Exceptional organizational skills and grow a major giving portfolio from scratch and will judgement are necessary to manage be comfortable taking the lead and working competing priorities and longer-term projects. independently to achieve their goals. The MGO is expected to conduct frequent meetings with ❖ Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 as well donors, ensuring that they are kept informed on as industry-standard research and analytics how their gifts are making a difference. The ideal processes. candidate’s background will include: ❖ Extensive knowledge of the Washington, DC Background area philanthropic community. ❖ At least three years of successful individual major giving experience. ❖ Familiarity with Revolution Online (ROI) database software preferred; Team Approach ❖ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required. software a plus.
Knowledge and Skills ❖ Experience in public broadcasting a plus. ❖ Knowledge of the principles of major donor pipeline management and successful track ❖ Commitment to the mission and values of record of moving donors into higher giving WAMU 88.5. brackets. Personal Characteristics and Work Style ❖ Experience developing tailored cultivation ❖ Comfort working in a fast-paced, flexible, and stewardship plans that exhibit an collegial, goal-oriented, and entrepreneurial exceptional understanding of others’ environment. priorities, motivations, and interests. ❖ Self-motivated, with the ability to work ❖ Competency in prospect identification, independently and as part of a team. cultivation, solicitation, and donor relations. ❖ Excellent interpersonal communication skills – ❖ Capacity to work easily and effectively with a both verbal and written. wide range of people; adept at building relationships with donors, leadership, and ❖ Highest level of personal and professional Board members. integrity and quality standards.
Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com Questions, résumés, and CVs should be sent to [email protected]
All first-round interviews for this position will take place at Development Resources, inc. at 1820 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 702, Arlington, VA 22209, (703) 294-6684, or via telephone/video conference. DRi is an executive search and development consulting firm that recruits senior leaders and works with them to build talented teams, create bold strategic plans, and design powerful fundraising programs. WAMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is seeking a diverse slate of candidates for formal consideration.
Search conducted by Development Resources, inc. www.driconsulting.com