The Organization
Our mission: To create and serve a more informed public.
Our vision: Broaden conversations. Deepen understanding.
A BETTER FUTURE BEGINS WITH AN INFORMED PUBLIC.
KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio is Seattle’s NPR news station. We are an independent, nonprofit news organization that produces award-winning journalism, innovative podcasts, engaging community events and more.
Our work is about truth. We were founded with the idea that everyone should have free access to honest, fact-checked information – as well as stories that broaden conversations and deepen understanding of the world around us. We work every day in service of our mission to create and serve a more informed public, because we believe an informed public is essential to a thriving community, a vibrant democracy, and a better future.
We are one of the nation’s founding NPR member stations, broadcasting from the Puget Sound region continually since 1952. KUOW acknowledges that we occupy the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands of the Coast Salish people.
OUR COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY
Racial equity work is critical to achieving our mission of creating and serving a more informed public. As a public institution, we must serve our entire community – not just a subset – and that requires challenging the way KUOW and public media have operated. Achieving racial equity in our programming and in our workplace is a comprehensive process that requires transformation in ways of thinking, ways of doing, and accountability to our colleagues and the public we serve. Learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion at KUOW >
OUR FUNDING
KUOW is a community-funded public service. More than 90% of our funding comes from individual contributors and local business supporters who share our belief that an informed public makes our community stronger. The vast majority of KUOW’s revenue goes directly into our local, national and international programming. Learn more about our funding and the impact of community supporters in our latest Impact Report.
Position Overview
KUOW has an exciting opportunity for a fundraiser. Serving in the role of Relationship Officer, Major Donors, you will build meaningful relationships with a portfolio of very generous supporters of KUOW. As Relationship Officer, you will work with an exceedingly successful and ever-growing team to identify, nurture and secure donations from a portfolio of roughly 150+/- donors. This opportunity is ideal for ‘people persons’ who find fulfillment in genuine whole-hearted human connection. You will work to establish authentic relationships with your portfolio and with that, strive to establish a lifetime of loyalty and support so that KUOW has the financial resources needed to deliver the important news, information, and facts that our listeners depend on. The ideal candidate for this position is eager to do great work, charismatic and enjoys meeting new people and developing trusting relationships with them.
BASIC FUNCTION
Identifies, manages, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of 150+/- major donors and prospects to increase annual, special, and transformational contributions to KUOW. Provides research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities for individuals and foundations. Conducts personal visits with donors.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Frontline Fundraising (80%)
- Administers major gift fundraising activities that support KUOW’s overall health and growth.
- Develops and implements activities to advance individuals in portfolio through all aspects of the gift cycle: initiating contact, developing appropriate cultivation strategies, drafting proposals, moving potential donors in timely fashion to solicitation and closure, providing stewardship.
- Works with Philanthropy colleagues to identify, research, solicit, cultivate, steward, and communicate with major donor prospects.
- Contributes to the planning and execution of targeted events for the Major Donors within and beyond assigned portfolio.
- Supports efforts to identify and cultivate estate and planned gifts.
- Records all cultivation activities, inbound and outbound, within donor database of record.
- Works with staff to create and produce communication materials to support major donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities, including writing proposals, case statements, grant requests and solicitation letters.
- Actively supports the activities of Membership and Marketing campaigns, securing challenge and matching gift opportunities from within portfolio that may be leveraged to incentivize giving from other KUOW members.
Program Management (15%)
- Contributes to and supports the creation of annual plans and develops personal annual plans which align with KUOW’s strategic impact framework and with the Philanthropy Dept. Annual Plans.
- Prepares regular reports and analysis to monitor productivity and health of portfolio.
- Adheres to KUOW’s established methodology for major donor fundraising including qualification and disqualification, stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation policies. Contributes to the continued enhancement of these policies.
- Attends meetings and conferences as program representative.
- Assists with events, pledge drives, general membership programs and other duties as assigned.
Other Duties as Assigned (5%)
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Position reports to the Director of Development.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Occasional task-oriented work-study or part-time employees and volunteers.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience, including three or more years of professional fundraising experience with demonstrated success in cultivating donor relationships and soliciting and securing major, ultimate and/or special gifts.
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate successfully in writing, by phone or in person.
- Proven ability to work professionally, collegially, and effectively with donors or other constituents, colleagues, and the public.
- Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, and handle multiple projects and deadlines in an organized and professional manner.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team-oriented setting and commitment to providing quality
- Competency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Familiarity with and appreciation of public radio programming a strong plus.
- Working knowledge of fundraising databases desirable, preferably Salesforce.
- Multi-lingual
How To Apply
The University of Washington and KUOW have retained Livingston Associates to assist in this search. For consideration, please submit a letter of introduction and a resume by following this link.
Inquiries are welcome with Livingston Associates at (410) 243-1974.
Applicants who are selected to proceed with this search will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.