The Opportunity
This is a full-time leadership role for a relationship-driven fundraiser and connector who knows how to grow revenue through partnerships, grants, and community engagement. You’ll work directly with the Executive Editor and Advisory Board to expand Planet Detroit’s financial base while deepening trust with donors, sponsors, and grassroots partners.
What You’ll Do
Revenue & Partnerships (Primary Focus)
- Own our annual revenue goal across grants, major donors, sponsorships, and membership, with sub-targets for each stream.
- Grow Planet Detroit’s member revenue by 15%–20% year-over-year.
- Establish and steward sponsorships and partner relationships that align with our mission.
- Build and manage a strong donor/sponsor pipeline, meet weekly prospecting and call targets, and deliver quarterly board-ready dashboards.
Grants & Donor Stewardship
- With support from the Executive Editor, research, write, and submit compelling grant proposals and reports, managing deadlines and communication with key funders.
- Retain donors by creating consistent communication touchpoints (impact reports, thank-yous, events).
- Represent Planet Detroit at a minimum of two events per month.
- Develop, manage, and promote Planet Detroit-led donor stewardship events (webinars, workshops, discussions, live/virtual), with a minimum of 10-12 per year.
Systems & Strategy
- Ensure accurate data and efficient donor communications.
- Leverage tech tools, partners, and systems for pipeline management, segmentation, and retention strategies to scale Planet Detroit’s revenue growth.
- Be willing to write a handwritten thank you and engage staff in doing the same.
What Success Looks Like In This Role
- You’ve closed multiple new partnerships and sponsorships within six months.
- Members and donors are growing steadily, with high retention.
- Grants are secured and submitted on time, with new institutional funders added to the mix.
- Planet Detroit is visible at key civic events and hosts consistent, well-attended development-related programming.
- Our advisory board has clarity and confidence in revenue projections through your dashboards.
What We’re Looking For
- 4+ years of experience in fundraising, partnerships, or development.
- Proven success in securing donors, sponsors, or corporate/community partnerships.
- Experience building inclusive partnerships across diverse communities; ability to incorporate feedback from community members into outreach and stewardship.
- Strong grant writing and stewardship track record.
- Skilled communicator: persuasive writing and confident public speaking.
- Organized and systems-driven: adept with CRMs, ESPs, and donor management platforms (we use HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, and Donorbox).
- Entrepreneurial: both a strategic thinker and a hands-on doer.
- Passion for civic engagement, climate, and environmental health.
- An understanding of the media business is desirable.
About You
- You’re a natural connector who inspires trust.
- You have a growth mindset and love the challenge of growing revenue for mission-driven work.
- You’re energized by building partnerships that make a difference in Detroit.
- You balance vision with execution — and you’re excited to roll up your sleeves.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $75,000 – $85,000 base, with potential performance incentives tied to growth.
- Benefits: Health, 401k match, PTO + more.
- Schedule: Full-time, flexible hybrid. Some evening/weekend meetings and occasional travel. We work out of a shared coworking space in Midtown Detroit.
- Reports to: Executive Editor.
How to Apply
Send your resume and a brief cover letter to connect@planetdetroit.org. In your cover letter, tell us about the biggest revenue or partnership win of your career — and why it mattered. Use the subject line Revenue Director. This position will be open until filled.