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The Marshall Project is a nonprofit news organization covering America’s criminal justice system. Our newsroom has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize twice, and has won most of the country’s top awards for journalism. We maintain a rigorous independence from the world of advocacy, but our work has a measurable impact on criminal justice, rendering the system more fair, effective, transparent and humane.
The business model for journalism, and for investigative journalism in particular, faces huge challenges. The Marshall Project has been successful in building philanthropic support for a news organization focused on a single, urgent issue of social justice. We draw support from communities who care about criminal justice, as well as communities who care about the survival of independent media and therefore, of democracy itself.
We’ve been growing rapidly every year since our founding ten years ago, and have ambitious plans to grow further, according to a strategic plan laid out in 2022:
We are setting up five local news operations focused on criminal justice, and have so far established teams in Cleveland and Jackson, Mississippi, with more to come. We’re also launching a toolkit for local journalists this summer, to help reporters across the country cover criminal justice better.
We have invested deeply in audiences behind bars, with a regular magazine and video series designed especially for them.
Our national newsroom needs to produce more of the top-quality investigative journalism that has an impact on criminal justice.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
We seek a Chief Development Officer who is ambitious, experienced, and creative. The position will report to the President and be a thought partner on strategy and execution of the organization’s fundraising plan. They will be responsible for guiding the growth and expansion of our funding, through thoughtful stewardship, aggressive prospecting, and strategic leveraging of the current network of The Marshall Project. The Chief Development Officer is a central player in building a sustainable and successful organization that produces quality journalism, continues to grow its audience, and has a measurable impact on the system. This is a job for an entrepreneur.
The Chief Development Officer will work with:
The President, in articulating the case for The Marshall Project broadly and building its support base
The Chief Financial Officer, to build budgets that are both ambitious and realistic, and that ensure the smooth financial operations of The Marshall Project overall
The Chief Strategy Officer, to coordinate our efforts in marketing and branding and to deploy her talents as a representative of the organization in developing our local and national networks
The Publisher of The Marshall Project Inside, to build support for our unique journalism products for incarcerated and justice-affected audiences
The Board of Directors, helping them to operate as ambassadors for the organization
The Editor-in-Chief and other editorial staff, to leverage their expertise with our donor base and to help them understand the operations of a nonprofit media outlet, while respecting the division of the business and editorial sides of the house that safeguards our journalistic integrity
The Chief Development Officer will lead a team of high-performing fundraising professionals and must have excellent management skills. Currently comprising six people plus consultants, the team must grow in tandem with the growth of The Marshall Project overall and the Chief Development Officer will be responsible for scouting new fundraising talent. The team has responsibilities both for national and local fundraising and must manage The Marshall Project’s revenue strategy in new markets.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership, Management, and Strategy
Guide and direct all fundraising efforts, including major gifts from individuals and foundations and a digital membership program
Oversee and develop a team of development professionals responsible for major gifts, membership, grant-writing, and development operations
Build a growth plan, engaging both national donors and those based in cities and regions where The Marshall Project seeks to establish news operations
Work in coordination with the CFO to set annual budgets and fundraising goals
Guide and oversee an exceptional donor stewardship program, including event and committee participation
Board and Donor Relations
Work with the President to plan board meetings, work with select board committees, build strategy and execute board development activities, and deepen board members' engagement in our activities and our mission
Maintain relationships with top donors and prospects
Ensure that all deadlines are met, acknowledgements are sent and potential supporters are engaged
Marketing and Donor Communications
- Review marketing materials and top-level grant proposals and reports, articulating a persuasive case for support
Industry Knowledge
Collaborate with others in the nonprofit media world to share experiences and learning among a dynamic cohort of independent journalism organizations
Attend industry conferences and Marshall Project events across the US
QUALIFICATIONS
We seek candidates with at least 12 years' experience in development and fundraising, including experience managing, building and supporting teams, especially if geographically dispersed.
The successful candidate will have a proven track record of identifying, personally soliciting and closing major gifts, including in the six- and seven-figure categories. S/He should be familiar with the operations of a successful nonprofit board and has experience in managing board engagement with the organization and its mission.
The successful candidate will also bring a creative approach to the position and the organization. This attribute will be critical to identifying new potential donors, devising unique approaches to outreach and engagement, and elevating the work of The Marshall Project beyond its current audience. Candidates should have at least a B.A. degree, and familiarity with the tools and systems commonly used in nonprofit fundraising. Knowledge of and experience with Salesforce is preferred.
WHO WE ARE
The Marshall Project is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering America’s criminal justice system. In 2016 and 2021, The Marshall Project was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. We have also been honored with the Goldsmith Prize, multiple National Magazine Awards, and for General Excellence from the Online Journalism Awards. We are not advocates—we follow the facts and we do not pander to any audience—but we have a declared mission: to create and sustain a sense of urgency about the criminal justice system. We do not generally cover breaking news (although we curate the reporting of other news outlets in our morning newsletter). Our work includes investigative and explanatory projects and shorter pieces aimed at highlighting stories that other news organizations miss, underestimate or misunderstand. To assure our work reaches a larger audience we partner or co-publish with other media outlets on almost all of our work; we have partnered with more than 200 newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and online sites.
We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity. We welcome qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, age, physical abilities, genders and sexual orientations, including people who have been incarcerated or otherwise involved with the criminal justice system.
The Marshall Project works remotely, with physical office space in New York. Applicants from all regions of the U.S. are welcome to apply, as long as they are willing to travel. A base in New York or northern California preferred.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This job is full-time, with a competitive salary and benefits including:
Annual Salary Range: $210,000 to $250,000
100% employer-paid medical, employer subsidized vision and dental insurance; matching traditional and Roth 401k (immediate vesting). Voluntary benefits include: Health and Dependent Care FSA, commuter benefits, pet insurance, short and long term disability insurance, employee and dependent life insurance, AFLAC accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness coverage, legal benefits, personal excess liability insurance, and employee discount marketplace. We also observe 17 days of paid time off each year (in addition to office closure between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2), and provide paid parental leave.
We are headquartered in New York City. This job operates in a remote working environment, with one retreat per year that is mandatory for all staff. Other retreats for smaller teams may also be organized throughout the year. If the director is located in the New York City region, they will be encouraged to join colleagues in our midtown Manhattan offices on a regular, but not daily basis.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, use this form to send a cover letter and resume.
Due to the expected volume of applications, we will follow up with the most promising candidates, but cannot respond individually to all applicants. Please know it usually takes us more than a month to review applications.