Fundraising Trainer, Local News Sustainability (Remote)

Are you ready to make a real impact in the world of journalism and our democracy? At Report for America, we're on a mission to rebuild local news in the U.S. by supporting the journalists and newsrooms that produce local news and the communities that depend on it. We're a dynamic nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the next generation of journalists and helping local newsrooms become more financially stable. We’re an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award-winning, independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization.

The Opportunity: 

Join us as a Local News Sustainability Fundraising Trainer, where you'll empower newsrooms to thrive through innovative philanthropic support. Working closely with the Director of Local News Sustainability, you'll engage in personalized mentorship and lead dynamic cohort-based fundraising training, both in-person and virtually. Help shape the narrative of local news by equipping newsrooms with the tools they need to secure funding and enhance their impact in the community. 

What You’ll Do:

  • Empower Local Newsrooms: Coach newsrooms to effectively identify and solicit funds from diverse local philanthropic sources, including individual, institutional, and corporate giving.
  • Cultivate Partnerships: Discover and facilitate fundraising opportunities within the local news ecosystem, fostering collaborations that drive success.
  • Develop Engaging Training Materials: Create comprehensive fundraising curricula, including templates, toolkits, and evergreen resources, to ensure newsrooms have the knowledge they need.
  • Ensure Organizational Continuity: Establish processes and documentation that promote seamless collaboration and knowledge sharing across the organization.
  • Foster Community Engagement: Support a vibrant community connection environment, encouraging active participation and sharing of resources.
  • Identify Expertise: Connect with external experts to fill training gaps, enriching the learning experience for participants.
  • Provide Ongoing Support: Host weekly office hours to offer guidance, answer questions, and encourage continuous improvement.
  • Highlight Success Stories: Track and promote the accomplishments of newsrooms and the broader local news landscape to inspire and motivate others.
  • Stay Ahead of Trends: Keep abreast of new fundraising and communication tools, ensuring our strategies are current and effective.

What You’ll Bring:

  • Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
  • Relevant Experience: 3+ years in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropic advising, or related fields.
  • Passion for Journalism: A genuine interest in local journalism and journalism philanthropy is a strong plus.
  • Training Skills: Experience in delivering training or mentoring in one-on-one or group settings, with a focus on engagement and skill-building.
  • Strong Communication: Excellent attention to detail, with robust communication and project management skills.
  • Collaborative Spirit: Ability to thrive in a cooperative nonprofit environment, working towards common goals.
  • Technical Proficiency: Knowledge of fundraising and communications tools including but not limited to Airtable, Calendy, Classy or similar donation platforms, Ribbon or similar fiscal sponsorship platforms G-Suite + GA4, Mailchimp or similar mail merge tools, Salesforce or similar CRM software, Slack, Survey Monkey, WordPress, Donor Search or similar wealth management tools, Zoom webinars
     

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000

About Report for America (RFA) is a transformative national service program dedicated to revitalizing local journalism by placing skilled journalists in newsrooms to cover under-reported issues and communities. RFA supports newsrooms by providing grant funds to cover the journalist’s salary, enabling newsrooms to leverage new reporters to engage with untapped audiences and generate additional revenue. In its mission to nurture both the next generation of journalists and newsrooms, RFA offers essential fundraising support, training, and peer engagement. These initiatives focus on critical topics such as philanthropy and innovative tools like AI, empowering newsrooms to sustain their operations and better serve their communities. In 2023 alone, RFA helped local newsrooms raise an impressive $7.4 million, contributing to a remarkable total of $30 million in local revenue generated since the program's inception. Join us in supporting the future of local journalism and ensuring that every community has access to the vital stories that matter most.


Join us in reshaping the future of local journalism! If you're ready to lead, inspire, and drive change, we want to hear from you. Apply now and become a crucial part of the Report for America mission!

The GroundTruth Project and Report for America is an equal opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

The GroundTruth Project and Report for America believes in fair and equitable pay. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location.

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