| BACKGROUND: PBS is a member organization that—in partnership with its 330 member stations—serves the American public with programming and services of the highest quality, using media to educate, inspire, entertain, and express a diversity of perspectives. PBS empowers individuals to achieve their potential and strengthen the social, democratic, and cultural health of the U.S. PBS offers programming that expands the minds of children, documentaries that open up new worlds, non-commercialized news programs that keep citizens informed on world events and cultures, and programs that expose America to the worlds of music, theater, dance, and art. It is a multi-platform media organization that serves Americans through television, mobile and connected devices, the web, in the classroom, and more. The PBS Foundation’s sole purpose is to support PBS, and by extension, its member stations all across the U.S. As the national fundraising arm for PBS, the Foundation helps donors realize their philanthropic goals by offering opportunities to make outsized impact. In supporting PBS, the Foundation seeks private funds from individuals, foundations, corporations, as well as certain government agencies for priority initiatives and carries out such activities as front-line fundraising and management of the prospect and donor population; researching prospects; writing proposals; convening board meetings; hosting events; and managing and stewarding donor gifts and funder grants. In collaboration with PBS, the Foundation is planning its first-ever major fundraising campaign. THE OPPORTUNITY: The Senior Director, Principal Gifts is a newly established role designed to expand upon the Foundation’s current major, leadership, and principal gift level support and to help advance a culture of high-level, sustainable leadership gift level philanthropy. The Senior Director will be expected to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of existing and new donors with the capacity of making gifts in the six- and seven-figure range. The Senior Director reports to the Foundation’s Senior Director, Individual Giving, Tia Graham, and will work closely with the Foundation’s Executive Director, Brian Reddington as well as with selected campaign committee and board members. A key player in the national build-out of a principal gift strategy in anticipation of the upcoming comprehensive campaign, the Senior Director position will join an exceptionally committed, passionate team dedicated to continuing and expanding the impact and success of PBS. Based in New York City, he/she/they will work remotely and will have sufficient administrative support from the PBS Foundation team, including prospect research, tracking, and proposal development/writing. FUNDING: PBS has a 2021 annual operating budget of approximately $350MM, largely funded through contributed resources. The federal government provides approximately 11% of the operating budget. A major campaign is currently in the quiet phase. |
