Reports to: Chief Revenue Officer (with close collaboration with the Executive Director and Board Development Committee)
Location: Southwest/Southside Virginia (hybrid with office in Roanoke)
Status: Full-time, exempt

Position Summary

As Cardinal News prepares to expand its coverage across the Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, Southside, and far Southwest, philanthropic investment will be essential to supporting additional reporters and deepening enterprise journalism. The Major Gifts Officer (MGO) will help drive $600K-$1 million in new major gifts revenue over three years by building relationships with donors whose ties to specific communities, issues, and zones make them natural partners in Cardinal’s growth. An understanding of the region’s cultural and economic dynamics — and the ability to translate local journalism into compelling cases for support — will be central to the MGO’s success.

Cardinal News is moving from strong early-stage growth to long-term financial maturity. Cardinal News in four years has built a strong membership program and is now ready to build on those successes with a Major Gifts Program.

The Major Gifts Officer will design, build, and execute a major gifts program through cultivation and stewardship of individuals and families capable of making gifts of $5,000 and above. This role is central to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Cardinal News as it expands enterprise and place-based journalism across Southwest and Southside Virginia. The MGO will manage a growing portfolio of prospects and donors, working closely with the Executive Director, Chief Revenue Officer, Board members, and development colleagues to deepen relationships rooted in shared commitment to independent, nonpartisan local journalism.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder who understands philanthropy as partnership, is comfortable working both across a large rural region and in Virginia’s economic centers. Most importantly, the MGO will be able to translate Cardinal News’ impact into compelling cases for support tailored to donors’ interests in specific zones, issues, or projects.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts Strategy & Execution

  • Build and manage a portfolio of 75–125 major gift prospects and donors, prioritized through wealth screening and engagement data.
  • Develop and implement individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each prospect.
  • Actively solicit major gifts through in-person meetings, events, and virtual engagement, with clear annual revenue targets.
  • Partner with the Executive Director and Board members on donor strategy, joint visits, and solicitations.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

  • Build authentic, long-term relationships with donors grounded in Cardinal News’ mission, values, and journalistic impact.
  • Design meaningful stewardship practices.
  • Collaborate with editorial leadership to connect donors with reporting projects, zones, or issue areas aligned with their interests—while maintaining strict editorial independence.
  • Help establish systems and best practices for a mature major gifts program, including donor tracking and reporting.
  • Assist in developing planned giving and legacy giving strategies over time.
  • Contribute to planning for special initiatives, newsroom expansion, and multi-year growth priorities.

Collaboration & Culture

  • Work closely with the Membership Manager and other members of the development team to ensure a coordinated donor experience.
  • Participate in organization-wide planning and help foster a culture of philanthropy across Cardinal News.
  • Support Board Development Committee activities related to major gifts and individual philanthropy.

You Should Have

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in major gifts fundraising or related philanthropic roles, preferably in journalism, nonprofit media, education, or mission-driven organizations.
  • Demonstrated success in cultivating and closing five- and six-figure gifts.
  • Strong relationship-building, listening, and communication skills.
  • Comfort with travel across a large geographic footprint and with community-based fundraising.
  • Experience using donor databases, wealth screening tools, and CRM systems.
  • Alignment with Cardinal News’ mission of independent, nonpartisan journalism serving rural and underserved communities.

Preferred Attributes

  • Familiarity with Virginia philanthropy or rural/regional fundraising.
  • Experience working with boards and senior leadership in fundraising.
  • Appreciation for journalism’s role in democracy and civic life.

About Cardinal News

Cardinal News is a nonprofit digital news organization serving communities in Southwest and Southside Virginia. We were founded in the fall of 2021 to report the untold stories of these regions and strengthen the voices of the people in our communities who have been sidelined in the commonwealth’s political, economic and cultural conversations — simply because of where they live.

We were named Startup of the Year by the Institute for Nonprofit News in 2021, and LION Business of the Year by LION Publishers in 2025. We are continuing to grow rapidly, with expansion projects underway to deepen our reporting and broaden our local news network to better serve our communities.

We want our team members to feel supported in their work. We budget for training, travel, and the tools necessary to produce and support strong journalism. Our benefits include:

  • Competitive pay
  • Paid holidays and vacation time
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Contributions to health savings accounts
  • A matching 401(k) plan
  • Short- and long-term disability insurance
  • A collaborative, mission-driven team

We Value Diverse Perspectives

Cardinal News is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by law.

We also recognize that not all candidates will check every single box. If you have most of the qualifications listed above and are passionate about stewardship, accountability journalism, and serving rural communities, we would love to hear from you.

To Apply

Send a resume and a letter telling us why you are interested in working with Cardinal News and how you would approach building a new Major Gifts Program to jobs@cardinalnews.org.