Development director

The Director of Development will devise and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy that delivers ambitious annual goals in five areas:
Membership, Major Gifts, Underwriting, Grants, and Special Events.

WYSO Public Radio is the NPR affiliate for a 14‑county region in Southwest Ohio, including Dayton and Springfield, with a potential audience of more than two million. We transitioned from university to community ownership in 2019 and moved into new headquarters in 2026. On the air since 1958, we’re a funky, hybrid format, serving our community with independent news, music, storytelling and preservation.

This is a full‑time, exempt position. The Director of Development reports to the General Manager and is part of the senior management team that includes the directors of News, Music, the Center for Community Voices, and the Center for Radio Preservation and Archives. All other fundraising staff are direct or indirect reports to the Director of Development.

• Lead a team of 7 development staff and contractors, 4 of whom are direct reports (Director of Membership, Business Support Manager, Major Gifts Officer, and Development and Communications Coordinator/Grant Writer), to meet annual revenue targets. Work with the General Manager and Staff Accountant to set annual revenue targets.
• Work closely with leaders of editorial areas (News, Music and Center for Community Voices) to deeply understand their content in order to secure dollars to support their work; preserve the firewall between content and dollars.
• Fully leverage the capabilities of WYSO’s donor database, including effective use of the major giving module.
• Support and guide communications efforts related to year‑round fundraising messaging, including working closely with the Director of Membership on drive themes and seasonal initiatives (e.g. CYE and FYE solicitations).
• Manage and grow WYSO’s planned giving program, The Resonator Society, through the cultivation and closing of outright, irrevocable and revocable deferred gifts.
• Deploy the General Manager and board members for donor solicitation.
• Partner with the programming committee to ensure the appropriate pursuit of and follow‑through on opportunities to fund content.
• Partner with the Staff Accountant and Finance Committee of the governing board to ensure accurate and up‑to‑date acknowledgement, recording, and reporting of all funding sources.
• Oversee the development and application of private and governmental grants.
• Provide communications support within the organization to ensure the development of top‑quality fundraising collateral.
• Plan and collaboratively lead revenue‑generating special events, including but not limited to the creation of a signature annual fundraising event, quarterly WYSO Leaders cultivation events, and a schedule of Sustaining Member thank‑you events.

• Understanding of the mission of public media organizations, and the capability to articulate the mission to community partners and donors (Required).
• Ability to work respectfully and collaboratively with internal staff and external community partners (Required).
• Strong oral and written communications skills (Required).
• Excellent organizational, time management and teamwork skills (Required).
• Five years of relevant experience, with increasing responsibility, in non‑profit development (Required), preferably in public media (Preferred).
• Experience working and leading cross‑functional teams across an organization (Preferred).
• Three years of relevant experience in personnel and team management (Required).

• Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance coverage available from the first day of employment (75% paid by WYSO).
• WYSO paid life, AD&D, and STD/LTD insurance.
• Annual HSA Grants (if on high deductible plan).
• Retirement plans matched up to 5% by WYSO.
• Four weeks of paid vacation per year.
• Ten paid holidays per year.
• Generous sick leave policy.
• Salary range: $90,000–$110,000.

WYSO is an Equal Opportunity Employer with equity as a core value of our organization. We want our staff to reflect the community we serve. As such, people from all backgrounds, communities, races, religions, and expressed genders are encouraged to apply.