Senior Director, Institutional Advancement

Senior Director of Institutional Advancement

Leads WGTE's institutional advancement efforts with a primary focus on cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major donors to advance the organization's mission and long-term financial sustainability. Provides strategic leadership for fundraising initiatives and coordinates cross-functional advancement efforts by working in partnership with the leaders of Member Services, Business Development, Marketing/Communications and the contracted Grants Administrator to align fundraising, membership, sponsorship, grant and communication strategies with organizational priorities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Major Gifts and Philanthropic Development

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major donors and prospective donors. 
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations and community leaders to increase philanthropic support. Partner with the President & CEO on leadership gifts, major gift solicitations and transformational giving opportunities. 
• Develop and expand planned giving initiatives to strengthen long-term financial sustainability. 
• Maintain an active portfolio of major donor prospects and establish strategies for donor cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship. 

Fundraising and Institutional Advancement Strategy

• Align the organization's overall fundraising strategy, including annual giving, membership growth initiatives, major gifts, planned giving, corporate sponsorships, underwriting and grants.
• Coordinate institutional advancement initiatives across Member Services, Business Development, Marketing/Communications and the contracted Grants Administrator to ensure alignment with organizational priorities. 
• Partner with Member Services to develop strategies that retain existing members, recruit new members and expand Benefactor Circle participation.
• Identify new philanthropic, corporate, and community funding opportunities that diversify and strengthen revenue. 
• Monitor fundraising performance and recommend strategies that maximize contributed revenue. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Community Partnerships

• Represent WGTE with major donors, corporate leaders, foundation representatives, government officials, sponsors and community partners. 
• Cultivate strategic partnerships that strengthen philanthropic investment and community engagement. 
• Serve as an ambassador for WGTE by building relationships that advance the organization's mission and visibility throughout the region. 

Philanthropic Events and Donor Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership for philanthropic events that support donor cultivation, stewardship and fundraising objectives. 
• Collaborate with internal staff, volunteers, sponsors and community partners to develop and execute fundraising events that strengthen donor relationships and increase philanthropic support. 
• Partner with Marketing/Communications and Business Development to ensure fundraising events align with organizational messaging, sponsorship opportunities and community engagement goals. 
• Work with the President & CEO to identify opportunities for donor recognition, cultivation and stewardship through special events and organizational activities. 
• Evaluate the effectiveness of philanthropic events and recommend strategies to enhance donor engagement, financial performance and community impact. 

Marketing, Communications and Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partner with the Marketing/Communications team to align messaging and campaigns with fundraising and donor engagement strategies. 
• Collaborate with Business Development and Member Services to support sponsorship, membership and donor initiatives. 
• Coordinate cross-functional advancement efforts that promote consistent messaging, donor stewardship and organizational priorities. 
• Collaborate with organizational leadership to utilize audience research and community feedback in support of fundraising and advancement planning. 

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Collaborate with the President & CEO to develop and implement institutional advancement strategies that support WGTE's mission and long-term sustainability. 
• Serve as the organization's senior leader for institutional advancement, ensuring coordinated fundraising, donor engagement, sponsorship, membership, grants, and community outreach efforts.
• Advise the President & CEO on fundraising priorities, philanthropic trends, and major donor opportunities. 

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned by the President & CEO. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provides functional supervision of the Business Development and Institutional Advancement Specialist in collaboration with the Head of Regional Business Development and Partnerships.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited four-year college or university in fields such as business administration, marketing, communications or related field.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible fundraising or institutional advancement experience, including major gift development and donor stewardship.
• Working knowledge of, and proficiency with, donor management software and Microsoft Office platforms.
• Strong public speaking and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing grants and fundraising initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degrees in public or business administration, nonprofit leadership, media management, marketing and communications or a related field.
• Experience working in or with public broadcasting or educational media organizations.
• Developed network of key business, government, and other non-profit leaders within the community.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible fundraising or institutional advancement experience.

Salary: $105,000–$115,000/year

How to Apply
 
Submit a résumé and cover letter to employment@wgte.org. For full consideration, apply by September 4, 2026.