GENERAL SUMMARY

Are you passionate about the future of local journalism and skilled in fundraising? Join us as a Local News Sustainability Trainer, where you’ll empower newsrooms to thrive through innovative philanthropic support. Working closely with the Director of Local News Sustainability, you’ll engage in personalized mentorship and lead dynamic cohort-based fundraising training, both in-person and virtually. Help shape the narrative of local news by equipping newsrooms with the tools they need to secure funding and enhance their impact in the community. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Empower Local Newsrooms: Coach newsrooms to effectively identify and solicit funds from diverse local philanthropic sources, including individual, institutional, and corporate giving.
• Cultivate Partnerships: Discover and facilitate fundraising opportunities within the local news ecosystem, fostering collaborations that drive success.
• Develop Engaging Training Materials: Create comprehensive fundraising curricula, including templates, toolkits, and evergreen resources, to ensure newsrooms have the knowledge they need.
• Ensure Organizational Continuity: Establish processes and documentation that promote seamless collaboration and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Foster Community Engagement: Support a vibrant community connection environment, encouraging active participation and sharing of resources.
• Identify Expertise: Connect with external experts to fill training gaps, enriching the learning experience for participants.
• Provide Ongoing Support: Host weekly office hours to offer guidance, answer questions, and encourage continuous improvement.
• Highlight Success Stories: Track and promote the accomplishments of newsrooms and the broader local news landscape to inspire and motivate others.
• Stay Ahead of Trends: Keep abreast of new fundraising and communication tools, ensuring our strategies are current and effective.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Relevant Experience: 3+ years in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropic advising, or related fields.
• Passion for Journalism: A genuine interest in local journalism and journalism philanthropy is a strong plus.
• Training Skills: Experience in delivering training or mentoring in one-on-one or group settings, with a focus on engagement and skill-building.
• Strong Communication: Excellent attention to detail, with robust communication and project management skills.
• Collaborative Spirit: Ability to thrive in a cooperative nonprofit environment, working towards common goals.
• Technical Proficiency: Knowledge of fundraising and communications tools including but not limited to Airtable, Calendy, Classy or similar donation platforms, Ribbon or similar fiscal sponsorship platforms G-Suite + GA4, Mailchimp or similar mail merge tools, Salesforce or similar CRM software, Slack, Survey Monkey, WordPress, Donor Search or similar wealth management tools, Zoom webinars

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must occasionally travel to offsite locations outside normal business hours, or if traveling during business hours, the mode of transportation is the fastest option available so as not to impede normal business operations per company policy. 
• Must be able to exchange and communicate accurate information in response to questions posed via email, on the phone or in person. 
• Must be able to move items weighing more than 30 pounds. 
• Must be able to operate and use a computer such that tasks are completed within reasonable timeframes, meeting deadlines and commitments. 
• Must be able to work with all levels of management inside and outside of the organization.

ABOUT REPORT FOR AMERICA
Report for America (RFA) is a transformative national service program dedicated to revitalizing local journalism by placing skilled journalists in newsrooms to cover under-reported issues and communities. Report for America supports newsrooms by providing grant funds to cover the journalist’s salary, enabling newsrooms to leverage new reporters to engage with untapped audiences and generate additional revenue. In its mission to nurture both the next generation of journalists and newsrooms, Report for America offers essential fundraising support, training, and peer engagement. These initiatives focus on critical topics such as philanthropy and innovative tools like AI, empowering newsrooms to sustain their operations and better serve their communities. In 2023 alone, Report for America helped local newsrooms raise an impressive $7.4 million, contributing to a remarkable total of $30 million in local revenue generated since the program’s inception. Join us in supporting the future of local journalism and ensuring that every community has access to the vital stories that matter most.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job.  The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

*External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.