Digital Fundraising Specialist

The Poynter Institute is seeking a talented and motivated Digital Fundraising Specialist to launch and manage a robust membership and online giving program that better connects the institute with the more than 40,000 alumni Poynter trains each year.

This newly created position seizes on the momentum of seven years of growth and coincides with new technical advances and partnerships that position Poynter to better engage with its audiences. It also builds upon the successes of PolitiFact, Poynter’s Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking service, which already operates a significant online membership program.

Poynter has a nearly 50-year history of building individualized solutions to grow better journalists and strengthen journalism in countries around the world. 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 its programs aims 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 currently passively accepts donations through Poynter.org, in addition to the membership program for PolitiFact.com. The Digital Fundraising Specialist will primarily oversee the development of a more comprehensive online fundraising campaign and strategy for Poynter.org in anticipation of our 50th anniversary in 2025, and play a key role in supporting PolitiFact’s online membership program by providing support to the PolitiFact team.

The Digital Fundraising Specialist will report to Poynter’s Vice President, Sales and Strategic Partnerships.

Key Responsibilities:

Digital Fundraising Strategy:

• Contribute to and execute a comprehensive digital fundraising strategy, including a donor membership program and a membership stewardship plan, aligned with organizational goals and priorities for Poynter.
• Create focuses around Poynter training alumni.
• Support the digital fundraising strategy for PolitiFact.com.
• Identify opportunities to leverage digital platforms, including email campaigns, social media, crowdfunding, and online events, to engage donors and drive donations.
• Monitor industry trends and best practices in digital fundraising to inform strategy development and optimization.
• Oversee alumni relations

Online Campaign Management:

• Plan, write and execute digital fundraising campaigns, including campaigns related to Poynter’s 50th anniversary, and special initiatives, to maximize donor acquisition, retention, and revenue.
• Lead efforts for the development and delivery of all donor-related communications to include newsletters, social media, website content, annual appeals and online fundraising asks.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, including marketing, communications, and programmatic teams, to ensure alignment and integration of digital fundraising efforts with organizational initiatives.
• Work with external programmatic partners, including our key partner the News Revenue Hub, on campaign execution.

Donor Engagement and Cultivation:

• Develop and implement strategies to cultivate and steward online donors, including personalized communication, acknowledgment, and recognition efforts.
• Utilize data analytics and segmentation to tailor messaging and engagement strategies to different donor segments and maximize donor lifetime value.
• Perform fulfillment activities as necessary, for both PolitiFact and Poynter donors

Digital Fundraising Operations: 

• Oversee the implementation and optimization of digital fundraising tools and platforms, including CRM systems, donation processing software, and online fundraising platforms, for both Poynter.org and PolitiFact.com (Salesforce, Mailchimp, Stripe).
• Work closely with Poynter and PolitiFact’s fundraising operations partner, the News Revenue Hub, to ensure success.
• Manage digital fundraising budgets, track performance metrics, and provide regular reporting and analysis to inform decision-making and strategy refinement.
• Maintain Poynter’s About Us and Funder content on poynter.org. Support related efforts on PolitiFact.com.

Collaboration and Team Support:

• Collaborate with colleagues across departments, including development, marketing, editorial, and IT, to integrate digital fundraising efforts with broader organizational initiatives and campaigns.
• Provide support and training to staff and volunteers involved in digital fundraising activities, ensuring alignment with best practices and organizational standards.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant certification in fundraising, marketing, or a related field highly preferred.
• Success in developing and executing digital fundraising strategies, campaigns, and initiatives, with a track record of achieving revenue targets and donor engagement goals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage all aspects of an email marketing campaign (content creation, email segmentation, CRM automations and workflows, reports and analytics, A/B testing).
• Proficiency in digital fundraising tools and platforms, including CRM systems, email marketing software, social media platforms, and online fundraising platforms.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data-driven decision-making, including the ability to track and analyze key performance metrics and optimize fundraising efforts accordingly.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messaging for online audiences and engage donors effectively through digital channels.
• Passion for the mission and values of The Poynter Institute and a commitment to advancing excellence in 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
• One of the better-paid parental leave plans in journalism
• The last two weeks of the calendar year off
• Hybrid work schedule

Reports to the Vice President, Sales and Strategic Partnerships

EOE

No phone calls, please.

Annual salary range: $55,000-$60,000, negotiable based on experience

Send resume and cover letter to DFSjob@Poynter.org

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule: Monday to Friday

Experience: Fundraising: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute: Saint Petersburg, FL (Required)

Ability to Relocate: Saint Petersburg, FL: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person