StoryCorps

Chief Development Officer, Brooklyn, NY

Our mission is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world.

Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has given over 600,000 people, in all 50 states, the chance to record interviews about their lives. The award-winning organization preserves the recordings in its archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.

StoryCorps shares select stories with the public through StoryCorps' podcast, NPR broadcasts, animated shorts, digital platforms, and best-selling books, and reminds the nation that every story matters and every voice counts. These powerful human stories reflect the vast range of American experiences, engender empathy and connection, and remind us how much more we have in common than what divides us. StoryCorps is especially committed to capturing and amplifying voices least heard in the media. The StoryCorps MobileBooth, an Airstream trailer that has been transformed into a traveling recording booth, crisscrosses the country year round gathering the stories of people nationwide. Learn more, including an overview of StoryCorps' national recording initiatives, at storycorps.org.

StoryCorps is governed by a 24-member Board of Directors. The organization has an annual budget of just over $17 million and nearly 90 employees.

POSITION OVERVIEW

StoryCorps is seeking a dynamic, accomplished, and bold Chief Development Officer (CDO) who will help take the organization to the next level, supporting StoryCorps' ambitious North Star programmatic goals to expand its reach and service, and who will harness institutional energies and ideas and lead the drive toward doubling revenue in three years.

Working in close partnership with StoryCorps' CEO and its Founder/President, and as a member of the Executive Team, the CDO is charged with providing the strategic vision and oversight for all fundraising efforts. The CDO will lead a team of experienced fundraisers charged with the implementation and management of a robust and sustainable development program designed to diversify the donor base and increase revenue across a range of both proven and untapped funding sources, including major foundations, government and corporate sources, individual contributors, and partnerships.

The CDO will leverage StoryCorps' existing donors and identify, cultivate, and secure new philanthropic support and sponsorships. The individual will maintain up-to-date pipelines of prospects and manage all communications with existing and potential donors to ensure the highest level of donor engagement and satisfaction. The CDO is also responsible for implementing best practices, keeping up to date with fundraising trends, and ensuring that appropriate systems and development procedures are in place.

Human connection, pathways to believing in each other, and illuminating the possibilities and humanity in us all are needed more than ever and StoryCorps is answering that call. Therefore, finding a results-driven and entrepreneurial senior development professional with high EQ, a proven track record of success in cultivating relationships and executing a strategic vision to maximize contributed income, who brings new and fresh ideas and can make a case for support of StoryCorps that goes beyond traditional messaging and nonprofit templates is of the utmost importance.

PRIORITIES AND ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Development Officer will have the following priorities and ongoing responsibilities:

• Working closely with the CEO, Founder/President, and the Managing Director of Institutional Giving and Director of Individual Giving, assume a proactive, creative leadership role in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of major gifts;

• Quickly establish relevant relationships with existing and potential new major donors; strategize all significant cultivation and solicitation and quickly begin to articulate and quantify what success looks like from a development leadership perspective;

• Take a lead role in launching and executing StoryCorps' 20th Anniversary Capital Campaign, identifying and implementing best practices as well as strategies that will leverage StoryCorps' unique value proposition;

• While collaborating with the Board of Directors and its committees to further the organization's goals, continue to nurture and maximize their role and potential as a giving board and as active participants in the identification and cultivation of major donors;

• Identify and monetize, through social media and other partnerships, new and entrepreneurial ideas, pathways, directions, and attractions for donor support and investment in StoryCorps' mission and programs;

• Plan, oversee, and direct all special events, including StoryCorps' annual gala and other activities in support of StoryCorps' fundraising goals; develop new events that will expand outreach and cultivation efforts across the country;

• Provide leadership, strategic vision, and planning, in particular around unrestricted giving;

• Oversee all departmental staff and administrative activities, including the creation and execution of development plans, departmental budgeting and reporting, and the establishment of fundraising systems and procedures;

• Represent StoryCorps with prospective giving institutions and donors and in other public settings to advance the organization's mission and visibility.

• Oversee the development and tracking of proposals, reports, and major donor correspondence; oversee all fundraising materials for use in print and online.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The ideal candidate will have proven fundraising ability and a high-touch approach along with a strong track record of bold and effective fundraising. Additionally, the CDO will have or be the following:

• Aspirational, with national reach and potential; must be results driven, collaborative and a highly effective communicator; experience leading a development team responsible for raising at least $10 million and event planning experience raising at least $800,000-plus.

• A history of developing new sources of support from individuals and institutions; an understanding of the full range of funding tools, including earned income, foundation support, individual giving across a range of major benefactors and lower-level gift supporters, special events, and other programs;

• Strong individual giving experience, including a proven track record of donor acquisition, conversion, and retention;

• Data driven with the ability to provide metrics and leading indicators for performance and success, including dashboards, worklists, and time communications and updates;

• Effective direct response writing skills with a record of successful donor appeals, renewals, and stewardship and demonstrated experience with direct response strategies and techniques, including both direct mail and digital communications; experience in digital media, social media, and public relations;

• Deep understanding of CRM best practices, strategies, and working within a sophisticated CRM to communicate and appeal to donor base; working knowledge of Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or other fundraising software platforms required, along with knowledge of new technologies and payment forms on the horizon;

• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills and impeccable attention to detail; strong organizational and project management skills; and the ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously;

• Extensive experience providing staff supervision and leadership; strong team building, consensus building, and collaborative skills; able to motivate, retain, and lead an enthusiastic team of people. The ability to inspire others to perform at a high level;

• Cultural competence, humility, and the ability to thrive in a diverse working environment;

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 10 years of experience in the development field, in positions with increasing responsibility, or demonstrated success driving revenue in other arenas.

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this position is estimated at $180,000 to $250,000.

StoryCorps is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Applications, including cover letters and resumes, or nominations should be sent to Mark Tarnacki and G. Angela Henry at StoryCorps@PhillipsOppenheim.com.