Director of Principal Gifts

• Secure principal gifts through a discrete portfolio of major donors and foundations, playing a lead role in achieving the annual fundraising goal of $3.4 million.
• Manage and supervise the fundraising department, including hiring, training, setting performance goals, and providing ongoing feedback.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director & Publisher to set philanthropic scope and direction, and foster a culture of collaboration and belonging.
• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan, manage the fundraising budget, and report regularly to senior management and the board.

This role directly supports High Country News' mission to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West's diverse natural and human communities by securing critical philanthropic funding that sustains independent, in-depth reporting on the Western United States.

• 7+ years of fundraising experience with a proven track record of closing 6- and 7-figure gift commitments and legacy gifts.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public relations, marketing, or equivalent experience; CFRE certification, grant writing, and donor data research experience strongly preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of fundraising techniques including major donor cultivation, moves management, grant writing, campaigns, monthly giving, and planned giving.
• Proven experience supervising and leading a team, with in-depth understanding of performance management.

Full-time, exempt position with employer-funded medical benefits (employee only), optional dental and vision; paid vacation (12 days/year), 11 paid holidays, paid sick and family leave; “TK Time” (one paid half-day off per month); monthly remote work stipend and IT start-up stipend; 401k with employer match; salary range $101,286 to $106,913 annual equivalent.

High Country News is the nation's leading independent source of thoughtful, in-depth reporting on the Western United States, established in 1970. Its mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West's diverse natural and human communities.