Managing Director of Development

Mountain State Spotlight is hiring a Managing Director of Development to lead our long-term revenue strategy and build the fundraising operation needed to sustain and grow a nonprofit newsroom serving West Virginians.

This is a senior leadership role for a strategic, relationship-driven fundraiser who believes independent, nonprofit journalism is essential to strong communities and who wants to help build a durable institution in West Virginia. This role is focused first and foremost on strategy, leadership, and systems.

About Mountain State Spotlight

Mountain State Spotlight exists to help West Virginians make our state better through rigorous, independent accountability journalism. We investigate how power is exercised, expose wrongdoing and systemic failures, and provide the sustained reporting communities need to demand change and build a more just future.

Since our founding in 2020, we have grown into a 12-person newsroom producing deeply reported, powerfully told journalism that helps West Virginians better understand the most urgent challenges facing our state.

We are different from other news organizations in West Virginia. We lift the curtain on who holds power, provide sustained coverage of injustices until reforms are made, amplify voices too often excluded from decision-making, and explain complex issues while illuminating solutions.

The need for this work continues to grow. Guided by a new strategic plan, Mountain State Spotlight is building a broader movement of supporters who believe in our mission and want to invest in the future of independent journalism in West Virginia.

About the Position

Mountain State Spotlight seeks an experienced development leader to serve as Managing Director of Development and to design and lead a sustainable fundraising operation capable of supporting a $2 million annual budget by 2030.

As Managing Director of Development, you will be the primary architect of Mountain State Spotlight’s long-term revenue strategy and financial sustainability. You will set direction, establish priorities, and build the systems, structures, and relationships needed to ensure the organization is fully funded now and positioned for continued growth in the years ahead.

This is a strategic leadership role responsible for designing, leading, and scaling a comprehensive revenue operation. While the Managing Director of Development will remain actively engaged with donors, participate in fundraising efforts, and make personal solicitations, the primary focus of the role is to build and oversee the development function, including supervising the Development Officer. In close partnership with the Founding Editor-in-Chief and President, the Board of Directors, and staff, the Managing Director will integrate revenue strategy into the organization’s broader vision and strategic plan.

Responsibilities Include

• Lead Mountain State Spotlight’s revenue strategy, building and executing a diversified fundraising program that supports long-term sustainability and growth.
• Expand and steward a robust major donor program, leading individual donors through the giving cycle to secure four- and five-figure gifts, with an emphasis on long-term partnership rather than one-time contributions.
• Lead foundation fundraising efforts, strengthening relationships with national, regional, and West Virginia-based funders and overseeing proposal strategy, reporting, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with, manage and mentor the Development Officer, setting clear priorities and ensuring a coordinated and effective approach to fundraising across the organization.
• Oversee donor stewardship and engagement across all giving levels, ensuring supporters feel informed, valued, and connected to the impact of their investment.
• Report to and partner with the Founding Editor-in-Chief, Board of Directors, and staff to support fundraising efforts, including prospect strategy, preparation of donor materials, and relationship management.
• Use fundraising data and systems to guide strategy and measure progress, supporting effective decision-making and continuous improvement.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven ability to design and implement multi-year fundraising strategies and translate big-picture goals into actionable plans.
• At least five years of professional fundraising experience, including a minimum of three years building long-term donor relationships, soliciting and closing gifts of $10,000 or more, and managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors.
• Demonstrated success managing a donor pipeline, from identification and qualification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to create persuasive cases for support and clearly articulate Mountain State Spotlight’s mission and impact to inspire investment.
• A collaborative work style and comfort working with staff and board members to steward donor relationships.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office, with familiarity using fundraising databases. Salesforce experience preferred.

This Role Is for You If

• You believe access to reliable, independent local news is essential to strong, informed communities.
• You see nonprofit, reader-supported journalism as the future of local news.
• You are motivated by mission, relationships, and long-term impact, not just short-term revenue goals.
• You want to help build a sustainable journalism organization rooted in and accountable to West Virginia.

Work Environment

This position is based in downtown Charleston, West Virginia.

Work schedule flexibility is required. Some travel and evening or weekend hours should be expected.

Compensation and benefits

• Full-time, competitive salary. Our range for this position is $75,000 to $100,000 and is based on relative experience
• Benefits include health, vision, dental and life insurance, and 401K.
• Five weeks of paid time off, major holidays and a week paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s.

Application process: Submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your vision for this position and explaining why you are the right person for the role to jobs@mountainstatespotlight.org.