Application Guide

How to Apply for Vice President of Development

at Deep South Today

🏢 About Deep South Today

Deep South Today is a nonprofit news network focused on serving communities across the South with rigorous, independent journalism. As a remote-first organization, it offers the chance to shape the future of local news at scale. Working here means joining a mission-driven team dedicated to closing news deserts and strengthening democracy through trusted reporting.

About This Role

As Vice President of Development and Partnerships, you will lead philanthropic revenue strategy across the entire Deep South Today network, reporting directly to the CEO. You will manage and coach Senior Directors of Development in local markets, while also carrying a personal portfolio of major donors and institutional funders. This role is pivotal in scaling fundraising capacity and ensuring long-term sustainability for local newsrooms.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve coaching a Senior Director on a major donor strategy, reviewing fundraising metrics across markets, and personally meeting with a high-net-worth donor or foundation program officer. You'll balance strategic planning with hands-on relationship building, all while ensuring your remote team feels supported and accountable.

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🎯 Who Deep South Today Is Looking For

  • Proven track record of leading and coaching fundraising teams in a multi-market or decentralized nonprofit environment.
  • Experience managing a personal portfolio of major donors and institutional funders, with a focus on six- and seven-figure gifts.
  • Strong strategic planning skills, including setting annual and multi-year fundraising goals and benchmarks.
  • Familiarity with the philanthropic landscape in the Southern U.S. and a passion for supporting local journalism.

📝 Tips for Applying to Deep South Today

1

Highlight your experience managing remote fundraising teams and supporting Senior Directors across different markets.

2

Quantify your fundraising results—include specific revenue targets met or exceeded and the size of gifts you personally secured.

3

Demonstrate knowledge of Deep South Today's network and local markets; mention specific outlets or regions in your cover letter.

4

Show your ability to balance high-level strategy with hands-on donor work; provide examples of both in your resume.

5

Emphasize any experience with nonprofit news or media organizations, as this sector has unique funding dynamics.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your leadership philosophy for coaching and developing fundraising teams in a remote, multi-market setting.', 'A specific example of how you built or grew a major donor program, including the strategies you used and results achieved.', "Why you are passionate about supporting local journalism in the South and how you align with Deep South Today's mission.", 'Your approach to collaborating with a CEO and local market leaders to set and achieve ambitious fundraising goals.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Deep South Today's website to understand its network of local news outlets and the communities they serve.
  • → Research the philanthropic landscape for nonprofit news, including major funders like the Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and local community foundations.
  • → Look into recent fundraising announcements or campaigns by Deep South Today or similar nonprofit news networks to understand their funding model.
  • → Investigate the CEO's background and public statements to align your vision with their leadership style and priorities.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How you would structure and support a remote team of Senior Directors to ensure accountability and success.
2 Your strategy for identifying and cultivating major donors who could support the entire network, beyond local markets.
3 How you would balance network-wide fundraising priorities with the specific needs of individual local newsrooms.
4 A time you had to turn around an underperforming fundraising market or team—what steps you took and the outcome.
5 How you stay informed about trends in philanthropic giving to journalism and how you would apply them at Deep South Today.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on your personal fundraising successes without demonstrating how you've enabled others to succeed.
  • Ignoring the remote, multi-market aspect of the role—failing to address how you build relationships and manage teams across distances.
  • Using generic language about 'passion for journalism' without connecting it to the specific challenges and opportunities in the South.

📅 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 Deep South Today!

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