Job Description

Overview

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY) seeks a committed and seasoned Executive Director of Development to raise financial support for this rising public institution.

Founded in 2006, and the only publicly-funded graduate journalism school in the Northeast, Newmark J-School has gained national recognition for its innovative approach to teaching the fundamentals of journalism reporting, writing and ethics, and all the visual, audio, data, investigative, and entrepreneurial skills needed to be a 21st century journalist. The schools mission is to serve the public interest and, as part of that mission, we believe it is critically important that newsrooms represent the voices of those who are underrepresented and often marginalized in the public sphere by training journalists who will bring much-needed diversity to the profession. The fast-paced transformation of the media compels the school to remain cutting edge by hiring additional faculty, expanding course offerings, increasing scholarships, and upgrading the facilities all to make Newmark J-School the most inclusive journalism education community in the country.

The Executive Director of Development will design, implement, and manage all fundraising efforts targeting these top priorities while upholding core values of teamwork, integrity, accountability, and respect. The incumbent will serve as a senior member of the leadership team at Newmark J-School and will report to the Dean. The Executive Director will also collaborate with faculty and staff to ensure that outreach to donors is coordinated and effective.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Leadership: develops and leads the implementation of a strategic plan for the schools fundraising, which could include a capital campaign;
• Prospecting: creates, executes, and manages a portfolio of donors and prospects; develops strategies and cultivates relationships that lead to solicitation and stewardship of major gifts, corporate and foundation fundraising, annual giving, and planned giving;
• Corporations and Foundations: partners with the Dean and faculty to build bridges and develop proposals to garner support from foundations and corporate entities;
• Stewardship: ensures the accuracy and timeliness of gift processing and acknowledgements, database management, foundation reporting, and donor relations;
• Scholarship Matching: collaborates with the Dean and the Admissions Office to ensure best match between scholarship recipients and donors; oversees communications between scholarship recipients and donors;
• Operations: manages the budget and financial reporting for development activities; supervises staff of the Development Office, primarily the Associate Director of Research and Development;
• Board Relations: supports the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism Foundation Board; assists the Dean with stewarding foundation board members, identifies potential board candidates, and supports the boards fundraising initiatives;
• Partners with colleagues on special projects and events as needed;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

This position is in CUNY's Executive Compensation Plan. All executive positions require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree and eight years' related experience.

A Preferred Candidate Should Have

• Masters degree.
• Experience in gift planning techniques from solicitation to closure.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Newmark J-School mission, an understanding of the trends in journalism, and a deep passion for the field.
• Track record of success in major-gift fundraising and experience in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-gift individuals.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Outstanding relationship building and project management skills, a clear interest and experience related to building strategy and creative problem solving.
• Experience with fundraising software and other CRM, including Raisers Edge, high proficiency in Google Apps and project management software.
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to prioritize and carry out projects and tasks.
• Strong entrepreneurial skills and ability to be creative, persuasive, professional and to exercise tact and confidentiality.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Compensation And Benefits

$160,000 - $180,000. Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

How To Apply

Please click on Apply Now which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply. Please submit a resume and a cover letter in Word or PDF format.

Closing Date

Open until filled with a review of applications to begin on October 6, 2025.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

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