Overview

New York Focus is seeking a full-time development manager to help lead fundraising efforts, manage our institutional and individual giving programs, and create new opportunities for sustainable revenue streams.

New York Focus is the only statewide nonprofit news organization in the Empire State. We reveal how decisions are made in Albany and how they impact communities throughout the state, from Buffalo to Long Island to the North Country. We tell the story of who runs New York, hold policymakers and power brokers accountable, and give citizens the tools they need to participate in their democracy. Our stories have spurred legislation, shaped regulation, and driven national news cycles.

After launching in late 2020, New York Focus is set to double in size this year and ramp up our operations and coverage, growing to a team of 12 full-time staff. We fill a crucial gap: nearly half of New York’s newspapers have shuttered in the last two decades, and few of the survivors have the capacity to pursue accountability reporting – especially focused on the state capitol. Our ability to provide reliable, in-depth coverage is urgent and essential.

We’re looking for someone who will help us sustain our rapid growth and find new opportunities for support. This position will work closely with our publisher and editor-in-chief to think strategically and creatively about development goals and new revenue streams, to deepen relationships with our current supporters, to prospect for new funders, and to ensure proper stewardship of gifts to New York Focus. They will also work with our audience engagement editor to devise strategies to increase support from our readers and subscribers, to manage biannual membership campaigns, and to grow a sponsorship program for our newsletter.

The ideal candidate will have a background in nonprofit development work; a knowledge of and interest in local news; the ability to balance high-level strategic thinking with close attention to detail; and a drive to help bring a mission-oriented nonprofit into the next phase of its growth.

This position can be based anywhere in New York state. Please submit a résumé, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three references to hires@nysfocus.com. Please include how you heard about the job as well. We’ll be considering applications on a rolling basis.

THE ROLE

You will be a crucial part of the team that is responsible for ensuring Focus’ sustainability and growth. On a day-to-day basis, your role will entail:

  • Prospecting for new supporters and helping to execute outreach to potential donors; working with team members to craft external messaging
  • Meeting with potential supporters, cultivating relationships and dynamically communicating the urgent mission of New York Focus, alongside the publisher and editor-in-chief
  • Helping to craft fundraising appeals for our biannual membership drives
  • Helping to plan events and fundraisers to garner new support and engage existing readers
  • Monitoring incoming donations and ensuring proper stewardship of each gift, including timely receipt issuance and acknowledgements
  • Working with our editors and publisher to publish an impact report, an annual impact report, funder updates, and pitch decks
  • Leading efforts to pursue new revenue opportunities, in concert with the audience, and editorial teams
  • Overseeing a nascent newsletter sponsorship program by reaching out to potential sponsors, developing and maintaining marketing materials that convey the value offered by New York Focus

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate will have:

  • A belief in the power of local news and a drive to help rebuild the New York media local news ecosystem
  • An entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for working in a mission-oriented nonprofit where everyone wears multiple hats
  • At least three years of experience working in a development role at a nonprofit
  • The ability to work collegially on a close-knit team
  • The ability to think creatively and strategically around new revenue opportunities while paying close attention to detail
  • Strong writing skills

COMPENSATION

$60,000 to $85,000 annual salary, commensurate with experience, plus great benefits.

TO APPLY

Please submit a résumé, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three references to hires@nysfocus.com. Please include how you heard about the job as well.

We are committed to an inclusive workspace, and we strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, lgbtq people, and people with disabilities. Consistent with federal, state, and local law, we are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, or other protected categories.

About New York Focus

Launched in October 2020, New York Focus publishes in-depth journalism that explains how the state really works.

As the state’s only nonprofit statewide newsroom, our goal is to help rebuild a local news ecosystem that has faced years of relentless cuts: Almost half of New York’s newspapers have died in the last two decades. We focus on decisions made in Albany and how they impact communities around the state; Albany is the state’s center of power but receives a fraction of the scrutiny it warrants.

We’re guided by the belief that politics is not a sport. Decisions made in New York’s executive mansions, legislative chambers, state administrative offices, courts, nonprofits, union halls, and campaign headquarters don’t stay there. They determine how many New Yorkers sleep on the street each night; how large public college classes are; how many hospital beds are available during a pandemic.