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Major Gifts Officer (Baltimore Region and Greater Maryland)

Baltimore, MD

Join one of Baltimore's Best Places to Work!

About Our Organization

The Baltimore Banner is a nonprofit newsroom founded to bring high-quality local journalism to the Baltimore metro area. We are creating a vibrant, strong, trustworthy, and sustainable news organization, seeking to re-imagine the future of local news. Using a multi-platform news operation, covering a broad range of topics from local government to culture and the arts. We tell stories that reflect the community, connecting neighbors, holding government institutions accountable, and making sense of the world. All this work is grounded in truth. We believe we can contribute to a more vibrant, informed, and whole Baltimore, surrounding counties, and the state of Maryland. 

About the Role

The Director of Major Gifts will lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals capable of contributing $10,000 or more annually, helping to build a strong pipeline of leadership-level support for The Banner. In addition to managing a dynamic portfolio of major donors and prospects, this individual will create and launch The Baltimore Banner’s first Legacy Giving Program, establishing a new channel of long-term philanthropic support.

This is a pivotal position within the development team and ideal for someone with deep relationship-building skills, a strong strategic mindset, and enthusiasm for building new fundraising programs from the ground up.

What You'll Do

Major Gifts Fundraising

  • Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 150 individual donors and prospects with the capacity to give $10,000+ annually, using disciplined moves management and personalized engagement.
  • Create and execute tailored cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to secure new and increased support.
  • Personally solicit and close major gifts through thoughtful outreach, compelling proposals, and clear alignment to donor passions and The Banner’s impact.
  • Partner closely with the Director of Major Gifts and Chief Philanthropy Officer to strategically engage high-priority donors and prospects.
  • Develop high-quality donor materials including proposals, briefings, impact updates, and stewardship reports that reflect The Banner’s voice and values.
  • Maintain timely and accurate records, contact reports, and next steps in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Major Gifts to identify and pursue planned giving opportunities, as appropriate.

 Regional Presence & Community Engagement

  • Build and sustain a visible, credible philanthropic network across Baltimore and Greater Maryland (including county-based communities and civic leaders).
  • Actively engage in civic, cultural, and community spaces to identify prospects, deepen trust, and strengthen The Banner’s presence.
  • Represent The Baltimore Banner at regional events and gatherings; serve as a relationship-builder and ambassador for our mission.
  • Stay current on local issues and philanthropic trends to connect donors to the journalism and community impact they care about most.

Team Collaboration & Strategy

  • Collaborate with the Senior Manager of Institutional Giving to surface institutional prospects and share research and community insights.
  • Contribute to annual fundraising planning and campaign strategy, with a focus on growing a culture of philanthropy among Banner readers and subscribers.
  • Work cross-functionally with colleagues to align fundraising priorities with organizational goals and newsroom impact.
  • Support donor events and cultivation opportunities in the region as needed.

What Success Looks Like (First 12–18 Months)

  • A well-qualified, actively managed portfolio with clear strategies, strong pipeline health, and consistent donor movement.
  • Increased leadership-level support across Baltimore and Maryland counties, including new major donors and upgraded commitments.
  • Strong donor retention and stewardship outcomes, with donors feeling informed, valued, and connected to impact.
  • A trusted community presence because of building relationships across Baltimore and Greater Maryland philanthropic, civic, and cultural circles.

What You'll Bring

Required

  • 5+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience with a strong focus on individual giving and relationship management.
  • Demonstrated success soliciting and closing $10,000+ gifts, including multiple solicitations at the major gift level.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills—comfortable building relationships with senior leaders, community stakeholders, and philanthropic partners.
  • Strong writing and presentation skills; able to craft persuasive proposals and donor communications.
  • Strategic, organized, and self-directed—able to manage priorities, track progress, and consistently follow through.
  • Deep alignment with The Banner’s mission, values, and commitment to community-centered journalism.

Preferred:

  • Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape across Baltimore and Greater Maryland as this role is key to expanding support in the region.
  • Experience working with Raiser’s Edge NXT (or comparable fundraising CRM) and best practices in moves management.
  • Comfort representing an organization publicly and building networks across diverse communities.

Salary Range: $110,000 - $125,000 Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by several factors including experience, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. We constantly review all teammates’ pay to ensure a great compensation package that is fair and equal across the board.

Our health and wellness benefits include:

  • Flexible Paid Time Off
  • Retirement savings - 401K plan offered through Human Interest, with a company match
  • Student Loan Debt Repayment Assistance for qualified employees
  • Full health benefits - medical, dental, vision, prescription, FSA/HSA., and coverage for family/dependents
  • Sick Leave eligible for rollover 
  • Commuter Benefits
  • 11 Paid National Holidays
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Generous Parental Leave
  • Company paid access to a wellness platform to support mental, financial and physical wellbeing

Our Core Values:

  • Do what’s right. Honesty, morality, respect and the mission guide our actions and decisions. By doing the right thing, we inspire others to believe.
  • Work together. We collaborate to create something special. Together we challenge assumptions, trust each other, take risks, and foster transparent and direct communication.
  • Listen to be heard. Our stories are trustworthy. They are inspired by and created for our readers. Their story is our story. Communities are at the center of our journalism, and everything we do.
  • Deliver impactful results. Acting as one accountable team and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we deliver bold and innovative results. We act fast, execute and learn. We celebrate great outcomes.
  • Be inclusive. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and act by curating a culture that leverages diverse perspectives as the key to fulfilling our mission. The Banner is for all of us.

The Venetoulis Institute embraces diversity and inclusion, and we are wholeheartedly committed to being proactive in inspiring a culture of inclusion across our organization. We are dedicated to establishing an organization that reflects the fundamental respect for different ways of working and living, and we assure every employee the opportunity to reach their full potential.

We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation due to a disability to participate in the application process, please contact careers@thebanner.com to request accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, adjustments in the application process, modifications or assistance regarding job interviews, and accommodations to enable access to our facilities. We appreciate the value that individuals with disabilities bring to our workforce and encourage applicants with disabilities to disclose their needs for accommodation to facilitate a smooth and inclusive recruitment experience.

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