The GroundTruth Project’s mission is to restore journalism from the ground up by supporting the next generation of journalists through field reporting that serves under-covered corners of the United States and the world. The GroundTruth Project is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected status. Interviews will be conducted via video conferencing.

Report for America is a national service program that places emerging journalists into local newsrooms to report on urgent under-covered issues and communities. It is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, an award winning, independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists. Report for America is a dynamic, rapidly-growing answer to America’s crisis in local news reporting. Report for America is a dynamic, rapidly-growing answer to America’s crisis in local news reporting.

The Role
As the Director of Philanthropy, you will play a pivotal role in growing and sustaining The GroundTruth Project’s mission by leading fundraising efforts, donor relations, and grant management. This is a full-time leadership position reporting to the Chief Development Officer. You will design and implement strategic fundraising initiatives, cultivate relationships with donors, oversee grant funding, and manage a team of development professionals.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan covering major gifts, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and planned giving.
• Cultivate and grow a diverse portfolio of donors, fostering long-term relationships and deep engagement.
• Oversee donor stewardship strategies, ensuring consistent communication, impact reporting, and engagement activities.
• Supervise the Grant Manager, ensuring alignment with programmatic needs and compliance with grant deliverables.
• Collaborate across teams to align fundraising strategies with organizational goals, messaging, and priorities.
• Manage a major gifts program and lead planned giving initiatives to secure transformational contributions.
• Use data-driven tools to track, analyze, and report on fundraising performance, providing insights to leadership and the board.
• Mentor and manage a high-performing development team, fostering collaboration and professional growth.

What You’ll Bring to the Team
We’re looking for someone who’s not just experienced but passionate about advancing local journalism.

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, or a related field (Master’s degree or CFRE certification preferred).
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with a proven track record of securing major gifts and meeting financial goals.
• Experience leading development teams and managing grant funding processes.
• Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in donor management systems and fundraising tools (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge).
• Strategic mindset with a data-driven approach to fundraising.

You’ll Stand Out If:

• You’re self-motivated, creative, and excel in building and maintaining relationships.
• You’re passionate about local journalism and committed to advancing our mission.
• You thrive in collaborative environments and can manage multiple priorities under pressure.

What We Offer
We believe in fair and equitable pay, offering competitive salaries based on experience, education, and organizational needs. Additionally, we provide:

• Paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and personal leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D
• 401K plan
• Access to free, online CEU-approved educational courses
• Employee Discounts program

Why This Role Matters
You’ll be at the forefront of sustaining local journalism, empowering newsrooms to produce impactful stories that strengthen communities.

Join us in reshaping the future of local journalism! If you’re ready to lead, inspire, and make a difference, apply now and become a crucial part of the Report for America mission.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The GroundTruth Project and Report for America are equal-opportunity employers. We welcome qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected factors.