The Online News Association (ONA) is seeking an ambitious and relationship-driven Development Manager to manage and strengthen our fundraising efforts. This role will play a key part in advancing ONA’s new strategic plan, particularly the pillar focused on strategic and organizational resilience.

The ideal candidate is an experienced fundraiser, knowledgeable about and comfortable working with foundations, major donors and board members. The Development Manager will work closely with the Executive Director/CEO to develop, oversee and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that sustains our annual budget and supports year-round programs and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy and Portfolio Management

Further develop and refine a fundraising strategy aligned with ONA’s short- and long-term organizational goals.
Cultivate, manage and grow a portfolio that includes foundations, major donors, board members and other sources of revenue.
Guide and support the development of grant-funded programs and initiatives to meet impact goals.
Manage ONA’s fundraising calendar, including tracking deadlines, proposals, reports and stewardship touch points.
Produce formal and informal funder reports, ensuring clarity, accuracy and compelling storytelling.
Lead the collection and analysis of programming impact data to support reporting and renewal efforts.
Maintain consistent, meaningful relationships with funders and major donors.

Board and Leadership Engagement

Work with ONA’s Board of Directors to engage their networks in fundraising work.
Serve as staff liaison to the board’s Development Committee.
Collaborate closely with the leadership team to understand ONA’s programming, sponsorship and community engagement work in order to effectively advocate for it in fundraising conversations.

Campaign and Events

Oversee fundraising campaigns across ONA’s communication channels, including email and digital outreach.
Plan and execute occasional fundraising events, donor appreciation gatherings and community-based fundraising initiatives.
Ensure timely and meaningful donor recognition and engagement.

Operations and Culture

Oversee the use and practices of ONA’s fundraising tools and donor database.
Maintain accurate records and ensure strong reporting systems.
Represent ONA thoughtfully and intentionally with donors and partners.
Contribute to an equitable, collaborative and inclusive work culture.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Business, Nonprofit Management or a related field required
Minimum of 3 years of experience in nonprofit development with a proven record of securing gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations
Excellent writing and editing skills, and experience producing successful grants and reports
Experience managing foundation relationships
Familiarity with planned giving tools, fundraising platforms and grant funding sources
Ability to effectively present information to leadership, boards and external stakeholders
Experience planning and executing successful fundraising events
Background in journalism or experience working with newsrooms, journalism support organizations or media programs
Skilled communicator comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders
Strong project management and organizational skills
Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail
Must be willing to travel to in-person ONA events, including but not limited to the annual conference, regional events, fundraising events and board meetings
Comfort working independently, with strong self-direction, and also collaboratively, with colleagues and partners, in a remote environment
Comfortable working with the Google Suite, Salesforce, Slack, Notion, Mailchimp and Canva

Additional Details:

Reports to: CEO/Executive Director

Works closely with: Deputy Director andHead of Programs

Hours and location: Full-time, remote schedule. ONA has office space in Washington, D.C. but the staff works remotely from their homes around the U.S. Please note: This is a U.S.-based position, and candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Unfortunately, ONA is not able to provide visa sponsorship or support relocation outside the U.S.

About ONA

Founded in 1999, the Online News Association (ONA) is a nonprofit membership organization and the essential hub for adaptive leadership in journalism. We convene and equip changemakers in journalism with the insights, training and connections they need to shape the future of the industry. ONA’s members include journalism professionals in all functions and career stages and a network of supporters across industries, including philanthropy, technology, and academia. ONA offers virtual and in-person programs throughout the year, hosts an annual conference and administers the Online Journalism Awards.

ONA is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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