Director of Development

About Us

Blue Ridge Public Radio is an independent, nonprofit news and
culture organization producing award-winning journalism, podcasts
and events in service to 600,000 across 14 Appalachian counties in
Western North Carolina.    We create journalism that
informs, inspires, connects, and reflects the people and places of
Western North Carolina. 

BPR is an anchor of, and an established collaborator in, the
Western North Carolina news ecosystem. And we believe that local
journalism as public good required for a civil society. 
 

Our newly renovated, state-of-the-art studios are in downtown
Asheville, a city in the heart of the beautiful Appalachian and
Smoky Mountains. Regularly included in one of the most desirable
places to live in the country, Asheville offers a vibrant local
food scene, incredibly diverse live music landscape, and endless
outdoor recreation.

Given the organization’s robust and expanding base of support,
contributing supporters and growing pool of major donors, BPR is in
a unique position to grow over the next three to five
years. 

The qualifications below are an example of skills that are key
to this position. We welcome the opportunity to learn about other
skills and experience levels that would make this a mutual fit. We
are open to providing radio host training to candidates who bring
strong journalism management skills from another medium.

Summary

The Director of Development is responsible for all fundraising
efforts, supervising a team of three.  As a member of the
senior management team, reporting to the CEO/GM, the Director of
Development will work to develop strategies to support the
station’s annual plan through all the various revenue streams, to
include membership, major giving, events, planned giving,
foundations and grant making, as well as potential future capital
campaigns. The Director of Development will utilize a host of
effective established resources, processes, and tools to support
all areas of fundraising within the organization, while focused on
increasing contributed revenue to BPR. BPR’s annual budget is
approximately $3.4M, of which $1.8M comes from individual
giving.

The Director of Development also oversees external
communications (including weekly emails), marketing efforts, and
events.

We are eager to speak to candidates who are creative, possess
initiative, and who value and champion diversity, inclusivity and
equity in their own approach to leading teams and serving the
community.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Manage a development and membership team of three full-time
  employees.
• Develop, manage, and evaluate traditional as well as new
  digital fundraising strategies to meet the annual fundraising
  targets.
• Identify, cultivate, acknowledge, and retain a portfolio of 40+
  donors who support the work of the organization.
• Solicit (in person and writing) and close gifts beginning at
  $2,500 to increase overall major gift support.
• Build a culture of philanthropy and donor stewardship
  throughout the organization.
• Strategize with the membership and development team to support
  the department at all levels; to include, assisting with the
  marketing plan as well as working to resolve donor issues, database
  support and all membership operations.
• Work closely with the CEO/GM and Board of Directors to prospect
  and cultivate major donor prospects for funding future BPR
  initiatives.
• Plan and oversee all internal and external station events.
• Coordinate and direct donor communications.
• Design financial reports to regularly update CEO/GM and Board
  of Directors on fundraising progress and membership goals. Commit
  to using data analytics for transparent reporting.
• Oversee the development and application of grants to private
  and governmental agencies.
• Work with the senior management team and Board of Directors to
  evaluate, develop, and implement all annual, capital and planned
  giving campaigns the station may consider.

We’re looking for someone with: 

• An ability to influence and engage with a wide range of donors
  and foster genuine, long-term relationships.
• A strong entrepreneurial drive, combined with the ability to
  collaborate fruitfully as a team member.
• Strong presentation and data analysis skills.
• An ability to communicate the mission, goals, and activities of
  the institution and foster genuine, long-term relationships.
• Proven ability closing major gifts of $2,500 and up as well as
  make aspirational solicitations.
• Knowledge of budget management and preparation.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills
  demonstrate leadership and initiative, tact, diplomacy, attention
  to detail, creativity, and cultural sensitivity.
• Strong project management and organizational competencies with
  a demonstrated aptitude for multitasking, attention to detail, and
  meeting competing and overlapping deadlines.
• Outstanding communication skills ¬  interpersonal, verbal,
  and written.
• Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed goals and performance
  objectives in the planning, execution, and financial goals and
  fundraising targets.
• Fundraising and stewardship event planning experience.
• Grant writing and reporting.
• CRM experience, ability to analyze data and benchmarks.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, working in non-profit
  organizations.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
• Willingness to work in an office environment.
• Passion for Public Media.
• A sense of humor.

Education and Experience Preferred:

• Five years of experience in development and non-profit
  fundraising.
• Demonstrated experience managing a team of three or more.
• Track record of increasing contributed revenue.
• Proven ability to close major gifts of $2,500 or more.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Experience with external and internal communications a
  plus.
• Experience with events, internal and external, also a
  plus.
• All Microsoft Office platforms.
• BPR Currently Uses Allegiance as its Donor Database.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Employer Paid Health Insurance (BPR pays 80%, 20% pre-tax
  employee contribution)
• Vision and Dental coverage (BPR pays 80%, 20% pre-tax employee
  contribution)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan Match up to 5% after 90 days
• Smart/Mobile Phone Stipend
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• 12 days Paid Vacation in Year One, 17 days in Years 2-5 and 20
  days for Years 6+
• 10 days of Sick Leave per year
• 11 Paid Holidays per year

To Apply

Blue Ridge Public Radio is being assisted in this search by
Livingston Associates.

As part of your application process, you are asked to submit a
resume and a letter of introduction. These documents should be
uploaded when you apply.

Inquiries are welcome with Livingston Associates at (410)
243-1974.