Posted: April 14, 2025
Expires: June 13, 2025
Wayne State University
5475 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202
Please review and apply directly. https://waynetalent.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/2674?c=waynetalent
Job Purpose
The purpose of this position is to raise money for the general operations and special projects of WDET-FM 101.9, Detroit’s professional non-profit public radio station and premier source for news, much and conversation. Provide leadership and direction for the WDET-FM 101.9 Public Radio Development staff and for all employees engaged in advancing the station through philanthropy. Develop and manage a wide array of fundraising strategies, tactics and initiatives for the station; manage staff and office operations; cultivate, solicit and steward annual giving, major donor programs, corporate and foundation donors to meet established fundraising goals. This position reports to the General Manager of WDET.
Essential Functions
(Essential functions are the primary duties/major job responsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential functions are listed in order of importance.)
75%
Raise money through philanthropy. Collaborate with General Manager and other leadership staff identifying fundraising opportunities and priorities for Detroit’s Public Radios station, WDET. Lead and collaborate with direct reports to develop and implement fundraising plans and strategies and member engagement opportunities. Establish and implement realistic and achievable timelines; remain current with general fundraising trends and public media fundraising trends. Serve as a resource on successful development activities, techniques and methods. Oversee and serve as spokesperson for on-air campaigns and engage with listeners to grow membership at events and community gatherings. Develop giving clubs, incentives and appreciation methods. Create a culture of philanthropy – educating all station staff and contractors about their role in fundraising and why it is important for them to be part of the effort. Implement and oversees planned giving program and serve as spokesperson for on-air fundraising. Oversee adjacent programs that bring in profitable revenue such as planned giving, endowment growth, listener travel groups, vehicle donation program, drawings and swag sales.
Responsible for achieving annual fundraising goal allocating and prioritizing time and resources to achieve the greatest return on investment. Performance and productivity will be measured on the following core metrics as determined annually:
-Achievement of overall revenue goal
-Number of active members.
-Renewal rate
-Percentage of sustaining members
-Dollars raised for cash and in-kind gifts
-Number of Major Gift solicitations of $25,000+
-Number of Major Gifts closed at $25,000+
-Number of face-to-face meetings (visits) and other meaningful contacts each month
10%
Collaborate with WSU Development units (e.g., Corporate Relations, Foundation Relations, Annual Campaigns, Planned Giving, Donor Experience and Prospect Development) as well as other university units to ensure operational efficiencies within the station,
10%
Lead:
People - Supervise staff, effectively managing performance to meet individual and team initiatives; foster a collegial and highly productive work environment. Recruit, interview, hire, train, coach, evaluate, and discipline staff. Establish and communicate performance expectations in a manner that motivates and empowers staff to fulfill job duties. Encourage, support, and ensure employee participation in training and development programs.
Resources - Manage department’s annual expenditure budget. Develop revenue and expense projections, approve expenditures and monitor transactions for compliance with university policies and procedures.
5%
Special projects and other duties as assigned.
Work Context
The following characterizes the position scope.
Job Reports to: WDET General Manager, Mary Zatina Senior Director
Leadership Accountability: Develops policy and strategic plans
Supervisory Accountability: Supervises professionals and non-managers
Organizational Accountability: Manages department
Financial Accountability: Manages operating budget
Customer Accountability: Interfaces with officials and executives
Freedom to Act: Operates with significant autonomy
Unique duties:
Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor's degree
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in marketing, public relations, business administration or related field.
Ability and curiosity about data and how to apply it for continuous improvement.
Awareness and understanding of the mission and unique operating model of public media.
Positive disposition and effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Experience: Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-related experience)
Minimum of five (5) – eight (8) years’ experience working as a fundraising professional with some direct major donor solicitations in excess of $25,000.
Minimum of 4 years’ experience managing personnel, developing and implementing policies and procedures.
Direct experience with creating development fundraising plans and conducting major gift solicitations required.
Higher education development and prior volunteer management experience preferred.
Substantial experience managing a portfolio of major donors and potential major donors greater than $1 million per year, preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Communications Skills: Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally both orally and in writing. Strong verbal and interpersonal skills are a must. Ability to work successfully with persons from diverse backgrounds. Emotional intelligence and tact to sensitively handle listeners input and life situations.
Planning and Organization: Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, prioritize and plan work activities while meeting respective deadlines. Strong organizational and time-management skills required. Maturity, sound judgment and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment.
Analytical and Presentation Skills: Proficient in using data to guide strategy and implementation. Ability to evaluate, interpret, and present complex information effectively in professionally prepared documents or presentations. Must possess a demonstrated attention to detail in order to achieve a high degree of accuracy.
Technical Skills: Proficient in the use of complex administrative systems software, preferably in the higher education environment. Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and Teams. Ability to understand and translate complex concepts into lay terms. Ability to learn multiple donor relations systems.
Learning Agility: Independent and innovative self-starter who displays an ability to learn quickly and easily adapts to changing situations. Experience researching topics to gain knowledge and understanding when information gaps exist.
Leadership Skills: Demonstrated strong leadership skills that can influence and motivate individuals and groups to achieve results. Can manage a team, collaboratively influence peers and “manage up”.
Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the division and other units to gain full understanding of the project and desired outcome; ability to produce high quality and consistent results with assistance of team members; provide support to teammates when tackling complex projects.
Preferred Requirements
Proven ability to think strategically about fundraising in the non-profit community.
Knowledge and familiarity with public media, non-profit news/media philanthropy.
Strong relationship-building and donor strategy skills.
An unrelenting commitment to stewardship and gratitude.
Demonstrated results using giving clubs and tiers to move donors up into higher levels of annual support.
Experience with subscription services and a track record of positive results with renewal rates on annual giving.
Resiliency to stay calm and focused during periods of intensified activity and competing priorities.
Ability to work odd hours, weekends and calendar year-end and as needed during campaign and events.
A self-starting work style and strong work ethic.
Experience with events and capital campaigns.
Presentation preparation and delivery skills.