Chief Development Officer and President of the NPR Foundation

National Public Radio, Inc. | NPR Foundation
Chief Development Officer and President of the NPR Foundation
Washington, D.C.

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization established in 1970, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility, and NPR employees do too. They are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, NPR employees and Member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

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NPR is seeking a Chief Development Officer and President of the NPR Foundation (CDO) who will lead the strategic design and execution of a comprehensive national fundraising program consistent with NPR’s reputation for innovation and excellence. The CDO will oversee the adoption of benchmark best practices and the development of creative strategies that continue to expand NPR’s major donor base and philanthropic revenue. This individual will provide direction and oversight for a geographically distributed, 40-person development staff assigned to the areas of Individual Giving and Collaborative Fundraising, Institutional Giving, Planned and Principal Giving, and Board and Donor Relations. The CDO will embody the highest standards of professionalism in developing fundraising systems and in executing high-touch frontline fundraising: as an influential member of the executive management team; as an effective partner to NPR’s President and CEO, NPR Foundation Board of Trustees, and NPR Board of Directors; as a mentor and role model for a team of development professionals and support staff; and as a lead ambassador to high-level partners and donors. The CDO will serve as the catalyst in strengthening a culture of philanthropy intended to permeate all areas of NPR, leading efforts to build and sustain relationships that advance NPR and its Member stations’ ability to provide high-quality, independent content that plays a critical role in the lives of the American public and of people around the world. The CDO will serve as chief campaign officer for any current and future NPR fundraising campaigns, including NPR’s current capital campaign surrounding the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2020. The CDO will develop processes and relationships to ensure that fundraising strategies are mutually beneficial to NPR and its Member stations, accomplishing both national and local goals and lifting the entire NPR system to new levels of giving.

The Chief Development Officer will work with the NPR President and CEO and the NPR Foundation Chair to ensure that the Foundation’s structure, governance, and operating model are organized to efficiently maximize future contributed revenue. The CDO must effectively leverage the diverse talents of NPR corporate leaders, the development staff, the extensive philanthropic contacts of the Foundation Board and other key volunteers, and the collective resources of the Member station network to achieve fundraising goals. Working in concert with Member stations across the country, the CDO will promote fundraising for public media generally, as well as for specific programming and operational needs, as flows from the collaborative efforts with stations. Overall, the CDO will undertake fundraising and related activities that promote and support an effective, stable, growing, and vibrant public radio ecosystem.

Required qualifications and experience:
- Commitment to NPR’s mission, the broader public radio landscape, and high-quality journalism.
- Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree or record of continuing education preferred.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in fundraising from individuals, families, foundations, and corporations, including major and planned gifts, as well as development operations and stewardship. Previous experience in an organization with an affiliate structure, and in planning and leading a large-scale fundraising campaign is highly desired.
- Minimum of 10 years of management experience, including staff oversight and designing and/or implementing world-class fundraising operations and donor stewardship programs.
- Keen understanding of the evolving nature and dimensions of philanthropy, including motivations for giving and for volunteering.
- Steeped in modern philanthropy best practices, including those pertaining to research, qualification, cultivation, and stewardship, as well as face-to-face solicitations and proposals.
- Strength in developing the case for support and strategic, complex, and innovative fundraising plans, and executing against those plans to achieve diversified funding and sustainable growth. Experience working directly with the most senior levels of an organization and the ability to effectively engage and strategize with various stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to strategically move individuals and institutions across the spectrum of prospect development. A history of securing six, seven, and eight-figure gifts, including cultivation through solicitation and stewardship, as well as experience working with strategies for grooming the next generation of major gift donors.
- Demonstrated ability in planning and executing strategic marketing and communications in support of philanthropic goals.
- Experience identifying, inspiring, nurturing, and motivating board members and other volunteer leaders, and a sophisticated understanding of their role in building an effective philanthropic network.
- Highly developed skills in organizational efficiency and project leadership, including demonstrated accomplishments while working with cross-functional teams.
- Ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about prospect/constituency engagement strategy and process.
NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive place to work that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
NPR is building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to success. NPR seeks leaders who have shown a demonstrated commitment to and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
NPR has retained Diversified Search to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) should be directed electronically to:

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Managing Director
Practice Leader – Development & Philanthropy
Diversified Search
The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10174
gerard.cattie@divsearch.com | 212.542.2587