Director of Development, Public Media

KSPS PBS has served the Inland Northwest for nearly 60 years, connecting communities through trusted public media. We are seeking a strategic and collaborative Director of Development to lead a strong, established fundraising program generating approximately $4.8 million annually.

A note for candidates watching the public media landscape:
With the 2025 loss of federal funding nationwide, some assume every public media organization is in financial distress. KSPS is the counterexample. Our revenue has always come overwhelmingly from donors and community support across the Inland Northwest and Western Canada - not federal dollars. We hold $12.1 million in total assets, $9.3 million in net assets, and more than two years of liquid operating reserves, with five consecutive years of operating surpluses and net assets that have more than doubled since 2019.

Our current fiscal year is running 11% ahead of fundraising goals.

Don’t take our word for it! Our Form 990s are public on Pro Publica’s Nonprofit Explorer (search “Friends of KSPS”), and we encourage you to look.

The position is open due to internal advancement. The previous Director of Development was recently promoted to President and General Manager after three successful years in the role, following a predecessor who served as Development Director for ten years.

This is not a turnaround role. In response to the loss of federal funding, supporters across the Inland Northwest and Western Canada have stepped forward in remarkable ways, substantially narrowing the resulting revenue gap. The next Director of Development will build on that momentum by retaining and deepening relationships with these new supporters while leading efforts to replace approximately $1.2 million in lost federal funding through diversified philanthropic revenue over the next three years.

This work will be supported by an eight-person team, a deeply loyal donor base, an engaged board, and a President who previously held this very role.

Reporting to the President and General Manager, the Director of Development leads an eight-person team responsible for membership, major giving, corporate underwriting, and development operations. This is both a leadership and frontline fundraising position. The President previously served as Development Director, ensuring strong executive partnership and deep organizational commitment to philanthropy.

The next Director will help guide the organization through a period of strategic growth and opportunity. As public media adapts to the loss of federal funding nationwide, KSPS PBS is pursuing a proactive strategy to diversify revenue, deepen donor relationships, modernize fundraising systems, expand major and planned giving efforts, and position the organization for significant future philanthropic opportunities. The organization has the full support of its board and leadership team as it moves through this period with clarity and purpose.

You’ll inherit a strong, experienced team and a loyal donor base with real depth. You'll also inherit a growing major gifts program, a maturing planned giving program supporting an endowment approaching $5 million, and fundraising performance that is already exceeding expectations. The foundation is here, and this role is about building on it.

• Lead and inspire a talented development team, setting clear goals and building a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute strategies to replace approximately $1.2 million in lost federal funding over 36 months while strengthening diversified revenue streams across membership, major gifts, corporate support, foundations, and planned giving.
• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 25 to 40 major donor prospects, partnering closely with the President and General Manager on cultivation and solicitation strategy.
• Strengthen donor stewardship, retention, and moves management processes to deepen relationships and increase long-term donor engagement.
• Oversee a $1.6 million annual development budget and ensure fundraising strategy aligns with the organization’s 2024–2026 strategic plan.
• Evaluate and…