Corporate Giving Officer

The Poynter Institute is seeking a dynamic and experienced Corporate Giving Officer to join our Development team. The Corporate Giving Officer will play a pivotal role in securing financial support for the institute by cultivating relationships with corporate sponsors and other Tampa Bay-area donors to support Poynter’s long-term sustainability and growth. The Corporate Giving Officer will develop and steward corporate relationships to produce substantial gifts and sponsorships of Poynter programs, support fundraising and sponsorship efforts related to Poynter’s annual gala, the Bowtie Ball, and assist the Chief Development Officer in the cultivation and stewardship of major gifts donors.

This newly created position seizes on the momentum of seven straight years of growth at Poynter, and coincides with Poynter’s upcoming 50th anniversary.

Through Poynter, journalists, newsrooms, businesses, technology companies and everyday people convene to find solutions that promote trust and transparency in news and stoke meaningful public discourse. Each of our programs aim to teach, empower and convene communities around good journalism. In doing so, Poynter strives to create healthier, sustainable information ecosystems, to build trust in journalism and to strengthen democracies around the world.

In addition to supporting journalists, Poynter also leads a number of initiatives to address misinformation and disinformation. Poynter is home to the International Fact-Checking Network, an organization that supports and certifies more than 150 fact-checking platforms across the world. Poynter is also the home of MediaWise, an innovative, peer-to-peer digital media literacy program that has partnerships with the leading technology platforms and operates today in seven different countries. Poynter is also the home of PolitiFact, the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking organization.

The Corporate Giving Officer will help support all of those critical missions. They will report directly to Poynter’s Chief Development Officer and support fundraising efforts across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Donor Cultivation and Relationship Management:
• Identify and cultivate relationships with a portfolio of prospective Tampa Bay-area major corporate donors, and as appropriate, foundations, and individuals.
• Develop personalized cultivation strategies to engage corporations and major donors, and build meaningful, long-term relationships.
• Establish and maintain a high-level yet personalized communications schedule with prospects and donors to highlight key accomplishments, and milestones, and articulate the need for continued support.
• Communicate Poynter’s mission, impact, and funding priorities effectively to inspire philanthropic and sponsorship support.

Gift Solicitation and Stewardship:

• Develop and execute fundraising campaigns and initiatives to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Solicit major corporate gifts, sponsorships, and individual commitments through strategic outreach and engagement efforts.
• Ensure timely and personalized acknowledgment of gifts, including ongoing stewardship to foster donor loyalty and engagement.
• Solicit sponsorships and gifts to Poynter’s annual Bowtie Ball, a year-end celebration of the free press and its impact on our lives, or other events. Poynter honors an esteemed journalist each year with the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism. Previous recipients include Anderson Cooper, Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, Lesley Stahl, Chris Wallace, Katie Couric, Lester Holt, Judy Woodruff, Tom Brokaw and Bob Schieffer.

Prospect Research and Pipeline Development:

• Conduct prospect research to identify potential corporate donors and funding opportunities aligned with Poynter’s mission and programs, primarily within the Tampa Bay region.
• Manage a portfolio of prospects, track interactions, and strategically move donors and corporations through the cultivation cycle.
• Collaborate with colleagues to leverage existing relationships and networks.

Collaboration and Team Support:

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across departments, including programmatic staff and leadership, to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities.
• Provide support for donor-related events, meetings, and communications, including Poynter’s Bowtie Ball.
• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging opportunities in philanthropy and fundraising.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced degree, or relevant certification in fundraising, nonprofit management, or a related field highly preferred.
• Minimum of 4-6 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a documented track record of success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Documented experience working in a CRM (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Charity Engine, etc.), including the ability to generate and interpret reports and analytics, proficiency in setting up automation rules and workflows, knowledge of how to integrate the CRM system with other tools and software applications, and the ability to efficiently input, organize, and manage large volumes of data.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and inspire confidence with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and implement effective fundraising strategies and initiatives.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Commitment to the mission and values of The Poynter Institute and a passion for supporting quality journalism and media literacy.

In addition to salary, we offer:

• Excellent professional development opportunities and the ability to progress in both your craft and career
• Benefits offerings to include medical, dental, vision plans, and life insurance
• Paid holidays
• One of the better-paid parental leave plans in journalism
• The last two weeks of the calendar year off
• Hybrid working models

Reports to the Chief Development Officer.

EOE

No phone calls, please.

Annual salary range: $65,000-$70,000, commensurate with experience

This position will work in a hybrid model, out of our St. Petersburg, Florida office. Therefore, preference will be given to candidates residing in the Greater Tampa Bay Area

Send resume and cover letter to CGOjob@Poynter.org

Resumés will be accepted until the position is filled