Chief Development Officer

The Tulsa Flyer is seeking a Chief Development Officer (CDO) to oversee fundraising, external communications, and partnerships for an independent, community-centered, nonprofit news startup.

The CDO will be a strategic leader at the Tulsa Flyer as the key architect behind the organization’s fundraising strategy and systems in support of a $4.5m annual expense budget. They will build and lead a high-performing fundraising team, establish robust systems to support best-in-class fundraising practices, manage external vendors (e.g. marketing/communications consultants), and cultivate meaningful relationships with major donors, foundations, and organizational partners.

The CDO reports to the CEO, manages a full-time development manager, and works closely with an audience and membership director on individual donor campaigns.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced fundraiser, with a track record of raising significant funding from both major donors and institutional funders, an entrepreneurial mindset, and ability to work in a startup environment.

This is a unique opportunity to join an innovative, community-driven organization in its early stages and to play a critical role in building its base of support across Tulsa and establishing its long-term sustainability and ongoing community impact.

This role is based in our downtown Tulsa office and is expected to work in person on a regular basis.

The Tulsa Flyer is a startup nonprofit organization that has raised $14 million so far in service of a vision to give everyone in Tulsa the local news they need to live more informed and more connected lives. The newsroom produces high-quality journalism while engaging with residents to produce and distribute reporting, employing an innovative model for local journalism that is directly responsive to local information needs.

In addition to a team of editors and beat reporters, the Tulsa newsroom has best-in-class community engagement expertise, multimedia production, dedicated capacity for service journalism and research, and a program that trains citizens as government watchdogs called the Tulsa Documenters.

At the Tulsa Flyer, we value learning, curiosity and diverse perspectives. We are dedicated to equitable hiring and follow best practices to create an inclusive hiring process.

• Reporting to the CEO, the CDO will collaborate with a senior leadership team and board of directors to lead all aspects of the Tulsa Flyer’s fundraising efforts. Beyond securing contributions, the CDO ]will build critical infrastructure that will help solidify Tulsa Flyer’s future as a vital, sustainable force for community impact in Tulsa. The CDO will have one direct report to start, in addition to support from external vendors, and will have the following responsibilities:
• Develop multi-year revenue targets and corresponding structured goals to fully fund the Tulsa Flyer’s ~$4.5M annual budget and to grow operational reserves.
• Partner with the CEO to conceive and implement a comprehensive development strategy and infrastructure for long-term organizational sustainability.
• Lead prospecting, relationship building, proposal processes, and stewardship for major donor and institutional grants, including and specifically focused on new funders and those who are outside of traditional journalism funding spaces.
• Create a comprehensive foundation and individual donor operations plan that maintains and fosters strong relationships through personalized outreach, events and activities.
• Lead the development of fundraising materials including donor correspondence, and maintain primary responsibility for developing campaign messages, project plans, talking points and donor materials.
• Manage relationships with external partners, including marketing and communications consultants.
• Establish strategic partnerships with community partners to advance revenue goals, elevate brand awareness, and deepen community relationships.
• Brief and prepare the CEO and other key staff to advance development goals and secure funding.
• Build and oversee a development team, and coordinate with the editorial team as necessary to…