The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the leading publication coveringnonprofits, foundations, donors, and others involved in work toadvance the common good, seeks a tested, entrepreneurialleader with a strong digital background who can expand onits successful content and advertising revenue business while alsoinnovating to develop new products and partnerships that can besold to nonprofit professionals or underwritten by companies andfoundations.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy was founded in 1988 as adivision of The Chronicle of Higher Education Inc. CoP currentlyreaches a loyal and influential audience of 338,000 people monthlyacross print, online, and newsletter channels.

To maximize its impact and better serve the growing and diversesocial sector, in May CoP announcedits plans to become an independent nonprofit organization,announcing that it has raised more than $6 million fromphilanthropic sources to advance an ambitious growth plan.

The chief revenue officer will act as a partner with CoP’s CEOand other organization leaders to focus on the continued evolutionand transformation of CoP’s revenue streams with the goal ofdoubling revenue earnings in the first five years of operation andcontinuing to build its donations from private foundations andothers.

The Chronicle has a long history of increasing its revenue, butuntil now it has not had the senior business or technologyleadership to fulfill its potential.

The chief revenue officer will take a leadership role inexpanding the team of professionals who contribute to ourrevenue-generating efforts, including our ad sales director and ourdirector of learning products, while also getting support andmentorship from the Chronicle of Higher Education’s business teamin the first years of the Chronicle’s operations as an independentnonprofit.

Key Responsibilities Developing a clear vision and strategy and executing a plan forthe organization’s revenue growth across multiple products –including devising a subscription strategy that meets today’sneeds, working with the Chronicle’s product leader to develop newdigital products, live events, and other valuable content thatnonprofit and foundation professionals need and will pay for.Working in collaboration with the CoP’s sales director and itsdirector of learning products, the CRO will become an expert on theChronicle’s audience and community, and ways to expand itsreach.Driving revenue growth and audience engagement while deliveringon all revenue goals. This will be measured by revenue growth(including philanthropic revenue), market and audience sharegrowth, and building and sustaining year-over-year growth andretained earnings.Leading the diversification of revenue streams for theorganization by shaping the business development for new productsand services that leverage and build CoP capabilities and deliverhigh value for its audience and other consumers of its information.Key measures of success will include strong adoption of new and/orevolved products by nonprofit professionals, advertisers, andothers.Establishing a disciplined, digital forward, data-driven, andmetrics-based approach to the management of the business bydeveloping and using compelling audience and business intelligenceto support priority-setting and decision-making.Building and leading an effective business organization thatdelivers exceptional results to fuel the Chronicle’s mission ofinforming nonprofit and foundation professionals and expandingpublic understanding of the role nonprofits play in solvingproblems. The publisher must work collaboratively with theChronicle’s journalists and technologists to determine and providethe services and products that will best serve audience needs andthat advance the CoP’s commitment to editorial integrity.Ensuring a productive and efficient relationship with theChronicle of Higher Education, which will provide transitionservices in technology and other key business activities as CoPworks to build its own approaches. The publisher will play a keyrole in making sure CHE provides services in a timely way, and workwith technology team members to transition to a streamlined,cost-efficient independent structure.Overseeing work to attract donations from foundations, donors,and corporations and to build upon existing efforts to attractunderwriting for content-driven products.

Core Experience and Key Competencies

Experience Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree preferred (MBA orsimilar degree).15+ years of experience in sales management, marketing, and/orgeneral business or publishing management in a similar- sizedorganization.Broad experience with a content-focused digital business ishighly desired, as is experience with subscription andadvertising-based businesses. Previous experience at a nonprofit isnot required but is a plus.Proven success helping organizations achieve revenue growth aswell as shaping strategy and the business aspects of new products,including product- market fit, pricing, distribution, marketing,and sales approach.

Key Competencies A strategist who has proven ability to shapesmart organizational and product strategies that achieve revenuegrowth, expand market share, and serve audiences, advertisers, andother stakeholders well, especially in a digital marketplace.A mission-driven leader who is inspired byCoP’s work to move readers from learning to action for social goodand has deep appreciation for journalism and other forms ofcontent.A builder who thrives in creating entirely newteams and approachesA doer who takes great pride in rolling uptheir sleeves and energetically getting things done.An entrepreneur who is innovative andcomfortable working in a constantly evolving marketplace.Intellectually curious with a profoundinterest in the missions of philanthropy and nonprofits, and afocus on what’s coming next for the audiences we serve.A strong communicator with excellent verbaland written communications skillsA collaborative and inspirational leader whobuilds bridges and works seamlessly with colleagues in all parts ofan organization.A values-anchored leader with impeccablepersonal values and a commitment to integrity and honesty in allactivities, especially in preserving the Chronicle’s journalisticindependence. The Chronicle of Philanthropy is dedicated to equalemployment opportunities for all applicants and employees. TheChronicle of Philanthropy encourages people of all races, colors,national origins, ancestries, creeds, religions, genders, ages,disabilities, veteran status, sexual orientations, and maritalstatuses to apply.

The New CoP

The new CoP is expanding its journalism to better lift updiverse voices and stories of local nonprofits and deepening itsexplanatory journalism to help nonprofits and foundationsunderstand what it takes to achieve strong results. It is alsoworking to build a commons for sharing ideas that bring togetherpeople at nonprofits and foundations who don’t often haveopportunities to learn from people with diverse ideologicalperspectives and experiences.

Stacy Palmer, who played a key leadership role in founding CoPin 1988 and will become CEO of the new nonprofit organization,explains:

“We are boldly reimagining ourmission to both amplify our role as a trusted source of informationfor social sector professionals but also to double down onour collaboration with other global news outlets to ensure thepublic better understands the trillion-dollar world of nonprofitsand foundations.”

“We believe the nonprofit world mustplay an essential role in rebuilding our nation amid thepandemic, economic and racial inequality, spiking gunviolence, and high inflation, threats to democracy, andhyper-partisanship across the political spectrum,” Palmer said.“By expanding our staff and lifting ambitions, we can helpovercome the problems that have deprived nonprofits of theresources, tools, and talent they need to change theworld.”

The Chronicle of Philanthropy is well positioned toaccelerate growth and innovation as it transitions to anindependent entity serving a broader, more diverse audience.Significant accomplishments have already been achieved: The formation of an independent founding board of directorswhich includes: Trabian Shorters, CEO and founder of BMe Community;Ana Marie Argilagos, president and CEO, Hispanics in Philanthropy;Amanda Barrett, vice president and head of news audience,Associated Press; and Anna Nirmala, vice president of portfoliosuccess, American Journalism Project. Also serving on the board arethe Chronicle of Higher Education Inc.’s Chair of the Board ofDirectors Pamela Gwaltney and President and Editor in Chief MichaelRiley.The securing of more than $6 million in philanthropic funding,in addition to CoP’s current strong earned revenue streams, tosupport its new mission and growth. Grant commitments have comefrom some of the nation’s foremost foundations including theWilliam and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Ford Foundation, CharlesStewart Mott Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Open SocietyFoundations, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, ConradN. Hilton Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments.

If you are interested in applying for the CRO position, pleasecontact the Talent Consultant below with a one to two page letterexpressing your interest in the role:

Susan Gluck Pappajohnspappajohn13@gmail.com

The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Keywords: Chief Revenue Officer, Location: Washington, DC - 20037

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