Manager of Individual Giving

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting - New York City (Remote) or DC (Hybrid) About the Opportunity

The Pulitzer Center seeks a strategic relationship builder to transform how individual donors connect with our mission of supporting independent journalism on critical global issues. This isn't about transactional fundraising—it's about building a movement of engaged supporters who see themselves as partners in strengthening journalism's role in democracy and global understanding.

As Manager of Individual Giving, you'll serve as a key driver in growing our individual donor program, creating pathways for people to move from first-time supporters to deeply invested advocates. You'll design engagement strategies and events that help donors see the direct impact of their support: journalists uncovering climate stories in vulnerable communities, students connecting global issues to local action, and communities accessing information that mainstream media overlooks.

This role is for someone who believes fundraising is fundamentally about relationships, storytelling, and shared purpose. Someone who can translate complex journalism projects into compelling donor experiences, who thrives on building genuine connections, and who sees data not as numbers but as insights into how people want to engage with our mission.

If you're energized by the challenge of building sustainable revenue streams while cultivating meaningful donor relationships, this role offers significant creative freedom and strategic impact.

Donor Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Manage and grow a portfolio of 150-200 individual donors giving $1,000-$25,000 annually
• Design and implement cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies tailored to donor interests and capacity
• Create personalized engagement plans that connect donors to specific programs, journalists, and impact stories
• Identify and qualify major gift prospects from existing supporter base and new networks
• Achieve annual fundraising goals while building sustainable long-term relationships

Donor Experience & Communications

• Craft compelling solicitation materials including appeals, proposals, and impact reports
• Design creative stewardship touchpoints that demonstrate impact and build connection: journalist updates, behind-the-scenes content, program spotlights
• Collaborate with Communications and Editorial teams to develop donor-facing content that showcases journalism quality and impact
• Organize donor engagement opportunities: briefings with journalists, exclusive events, virtual conversations on global issues
• Ensure all donor interactions reflect the organization's values and strengthen relationship momentum

Program Development & Innovation

• Build and expand mid-level giving program ($1,000-$9,999) with targeted strategies for acquisition and retention
• Develop creative giving vehicles: monthly sustainer programs, matching gift campaigns, legacy giving initiative
• Design engagement pathways that move donors up the giving ladder based on interests and capacity
• Test and refine approaches based on data analysis and donor feedback
• Collaborate with Development leadership to integrate individual giving with broader fundraising strategy

Data Management & Analysis

• Maintain accurate, comprehensive donor records in CRM system (Salesforce)
• Track metrics including retention rates, upgrade rates, average gift size, and portfolio productivity
• Analyze giving patterns to inform strategy and identify opportunities
• Generate reports for leadership on fundraising performance and trends
• Ensure compliance with donor acknowledgment timelines and organizational policies

• 3-5 years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success managing individual donor portfolios
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding annual fundraising goals
• Excellent relationship building skills with ability to cultivate donors across giving levels
• Experience in developing, producing, and managing fundraising and donor events.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to craft compelling narratives
• Strategic thinking combined with attention to detail and follow-through
• Experience…