Application Guide

How to Apply for Major Gifts Manager

at States Newsroom

🏢 About States Newsroom

States Newsroom is the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, with reporters in every capital and a mission to provide free, nonpartisan coverage of policy and politics without paywalls or ads. With 230+ staff across 39 states and partnerships in the remaining 11, it offers a rare chance to support local journalism at scale while working remotely from anywhere in the US.

About This Role

As Major Gifts Manager, you will launch and manage a formal major gifts program for both the national organization and its state-based newsrooms, focusing on donors giving $1,000+. Reporting to the Development Director, you will build strategy, systems, and donor relationships while collaborating closely with state editors to identify and steward prospects. This role is pivotal in diversifying revenue and ensuring long-term sustainability for nonprofit news.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a virtual coffee meeting with a state editor to discuss potential donor prospects in their region, followed by updating the CRM with new research and drafting personalized outreach. Later, you could be on a call with a major donor to steward their gift, then collaborate with the Development Director on a proposal for a national funder. The role blends strategy, relationship-building, and systems work, all in a remote, mission-driven environment.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who States Newsroom Is Looking For

  • Proven experience building or growing a major gifts program from the ground up, ideally in a nonprofit news, media, or policy environment.
  • Strong track record of donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for gifts of $1,000+, with comfort personally managing a portfolio.
  • Skilled at prospect research and new donor identification, using tools like iWave, WealthEngine, or similar to uncover capacity.
  • Highly collaborative and relationship-driven, able to work effectively with remote state editors and national leadership to align fundraising with editorial priorities.

📝 Tips for Applying to States Newsroom

1

Highlight any experience launching or formalizing a major gifts program—States Newsroom explicitly wants someone to 'launch a formalized major gifts program,' so show you’ve done that before.

2

Emphasize your ability to work with editorial staff: mention specific examples of partnering with journalists or content teams to identify donor prospects without compromising editorial independence.

3

Demonstrate familiarity with state-level policy and politics—reference a few States Newsroom outlets (e.g., Florida Phoenix, Michigan Advance) and explain why their coverage matters to donors.

4

Quantify your fundraising results: include metrics like portfolio size, average gift, retention rates, or dollars raised in your resume and cover letter.

5

Address the remote nature of the role: show you can proactively manage relationships and systems across time zones, perhaps by citing experience with remote CRM tools or virtual donor meetings.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

In your cover letter, focus on: (1) your hands-on experience building a major gifts program, including strategy and systems; (2) your ability to collaborate with editorial teams to identify and steward donors; (3) your specific interest in nonprofit news and States Newsroom’s model of free, nonpartisan statehouse coverage; and (4) how you would approach launching a program that serves both national and state-level needs.

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore States Newsroom’s website to understand their state-by-state coverage, funding model, and recent investigative pieces that could resonate with donors.
  • → Research the leadership team, especially the Development Director and state editors, to understand their backgrounds and priorities.
  • → Look into the broader nonprofit news landscape (e.g., INN, NewsMatch) to see how States Newsroom fits and what major gift trends are emerging.
  • → Review States Newsroom’s recent annual reports or Form 990s to understand their revenue mix and growth trajectory.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a major gifts program for a decentralized network of state newsrooms, ensuring national and local alignment?
2 Describe your process for prospect research and how you’ve used data to identify new major donor prospects.
3 Give an example of a time you collaborated with non-development colleagues (e.g., editors or program staff) to advance a donor relationship.
4 What metrics would you use to track the success of a major gifts program in its first year?
5 How would you handle a situation where a donor’s political views conflict with a newsroom’s editorial stance?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on national fundraising and ignoring the state-level component—this role explicitly requires partnership with state editors and support for local newsrooms.
  • Using generic language about 'passion for journalism' without connecting it to major gifts strategy or the specific challenges of a decentralized news network.
  • Neglecting to mention experience with CRM systems or prospect research tools, as the role requires implementing systems to support a growing program.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to States Newsroom!

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