Be at the forefront of building something new.
About Our Organization
The Banner is a nonprofit newsroom founded to bring high-quality local journalism to the Baltimore metro area. We are creating a vibrant, strong, trustworthy, and sustainable news organization, seeking to re-imagine the future of local news. Using a multi-platform news operation, covering a broad range of topics from local government to culture and the arts. We tell stories that reflect the community, connecting neighbors, holding government institutions accountable, and making sense of the world. All this work is grounded in truth. We believe we can contribute to a more vibrant, informed, and whole Baltimore, surrounding counties, and the state of Maryland.
About the Role
The Banner is building a sustainable model for local news, powered by readers, community trust, and philanthropic investment. The Regional Philanthropy Officer, Capital Region will lead the growth of The Banner's philanthropic presence throughout Maryland's Capital Region by cultivating relationships, expanding our community of supporters, and growing a sustainable fundraising program that supports the organization's long-term success.
This is an entrepreneurial fundraising role for someone who enjoys building something new. While managing a portfolio of leadership donors is an important part of the position, success will also require networking, community engagement, strategic thinking, and identifying opportunities to expand The Banner's visibility and philanthropic support throughout the region. As The Banner's primary philanthropic ambassador in the Capital Region, this individual will build meaningful relationships that advance both our mission and our fundraising goals
What You’ll Do
Regional Development & Pipeline Growth
- Develop and execute a regional fundraising strategy that expands The Banner's donor community and strengthens long-term philanthropic support throughout Maryland's Capital Region.
- Contribute to organization-wide fundraising planning and campaign strategy, with a focus on growing a culture of philanthropy among Banner readers and subscribers throughout the Capital Region.
- Grow the Founding Member program ($2,500–$9,999 annual giving) by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership annual donors throughout the Capital Region.
- Build a robust pipeline of philanthropic supporters, moving individuals from initial engagement through leadership annual giving and major gifts.
Major Gifts
- Using disciplined moves management and personalized engagement, manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 150 leadership-level donors and prospects, with an emphasis on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $10,000 or more.
- Develop and execute personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to secure new and increased philanthropic support.
- Personally solicit and close leadership and major gifts through thoughtful relationship-building, compelling proposals, and meaningful donor engagement.
- Partner closely with the Director of Major Gifts and Chief Philanthropy Officer to strategically engage high-priority donors and prospects.
- Develop proposals, briefing materials, impact reports, and stewardship communications that reflect The Banner's mission and values.
- Maintain accurate and timely donor records, contact reports, and next steps in Raiser's Edge NXT.
- Collaborate with the Director of Major Gifts to identify and pursue planned giving opportunities, as appropriate.
Community Engagement & Regional Presence
- Build and sustain meaningful relationships with civic, business, philanthropic, nonprofit, and cultural leaders throughout the Capital Region.
- Represent The Banner throughout the region by actively participating in community events, networking opportunities, donor gatherings, and identifying new opportunities to expand our visibility and philanthropic presence.
- Stay informed about local issues, philanthropic trends, and community priorities to connect donors with the journalism and impact they care about most.
Team Collaboration & Strategy
- Collaborate with the Senior Manager of Institutional Giving to identify institutional prospects throughout the Capital Region, share community insights, and contribute to foundation grant proposals and reports as needed.
- Partner with colleagues across the organization to identify opportunities to engage readers, subscribers, event attendees, volunteers, and community partners as philanthropic supporters.
- Work collaboratively across departments to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and audience growth.
- Share community insights and fundraising opportunities that inform The Banner's long-term philanthropic strategy in the Capital Region.
- Represent The Banner at donor events, community gatherings, and regional initiatives as needed.
What Success Looks Like (First 12–18 Months)
- Established The Banner as a trusted philanthropic presence throughout the Capital Region.
- Increased the number of Founding Members, leadership-level annual donors, and major donors across the region.
- Built a healthy pipeline of new philanthropic supporters with clear strategies for long-term engagement.
- Developed meaningful relationships with civic, business, nonprofit, and cultural leaders that create new fundraising opportunities.
- Successfully secured new leadership and major gifts while laying the groundwork for transformational future support.
- Built partnerships, and community connections that position the Capital Region for sustained philanthropic growth.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience with a strong emphasis on relationship-based fundraising.
- Demonstrated success securing leadership annual gifts and/or major gifts through thoughtful cultivation and solicitation.
- Experience building new relationships, expanding donor communities, or growing fundraising efforts in an emerging market or entrepreneurial environment.
- Excellent interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills.
- Strategic, organized, self-directed, and comfortable balancing long-term planning with day-to-day execution.
- Comfortable representing The Banner publicly and serving as a visible ambassador in the community.
- Passion for local journalism and a strong commitment to The Banner's mission and values.
- Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and is comfortable building new systems, testing ideas, adapting as the organization grows, and exercising sound judgment amid ambiguity.
Salary Range: $110,000 - $125,000 Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by several factors including experience, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. We constantly review all teammates’ pay to ensure a great compensation package that is fair and equal across the board.
Our health and wellness benefits include:
- Flexible Paid Time Off
- Retirement savings - 401K plan offered through Human Interest, with a company match
- Student Loan Debt Repayment Assistance for qualified employees
- Full health benefits - medical, dental, vision, prescription, FSA/HSA., and coverage for family/dependents
- Sick Leave eligible for rollover
- Commuter Benefits
- 11 Paid National Holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Generous Parental Leave
- Company paid access to a wellness platform to support mental, financial and physical wellbeing
Our Core Values:
- Do what’s right. Honesty, morality, respect and the mission guide our actions and decisions. By doing the right thing, we inspire others to believe.
- Work together. We collaborate to create something special. Together we challenge assumptions, trust each other, take risks, and foster transparent and direct communication.
- Listen to be heard. Our stories are trustworthy. They are inspired by and created for our readers. Their story is our story. Communities are at the center of our journalism, and everything we do.
- Deliver impactful results. Acting as one accountable team and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we deliver bold and innovative results. We act fast, execute and learn. We celebrate great outcomes.
- Be inclusive. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and act by curating a culture that leverages diverse perspectives as the key to fulfilling our mission. The Banner is for all of us.
The Venetoulis Institute embraces diversity and inclusion, and we are wholeheartedly committed to being proactive in inspiring a culture of inclusion across our organization. We are dedicated to establishing an organization that reflects the fundamental respect for different ways of working and living, and we assure every employee the opportunity to reach their full potential.
We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation due to a disability to participate in the application process, please contact careers@thebanner.com to request accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, adjustments in the application process, modifications or assistance regarding job interviews, and accommodations to enable access to our facilities. We appreciate the value that individuals with disabilities bring to our workforce and encourage applicants with disabilities to disclose their needs for accommodation to facilitate a smooth and inclusive recruitment experience.
