Director of Audio Fundraising

The Director of Audio Fundraising leads the strategy, planning, and execution of KQED’s audio-based fundraising initiatives, with a primary emphasis on radio pledge drives. This role is responsible for overseeing campaign development and project management for all audio-first fundraising efforts, while also contributing to broader membership and revenue-generating activities as needed.

As a key member of the Membership team, the Director collaborates closely with cross-functional teams across the organization. The ideal candidate is a strategic and creative audio professional with strong project management skills, a collaborative mindset, and a passion for public media. They bring a bold vision for growing on-air fundraising and spearheading the development of a digital audio fundraising strategy.

KQED envisions a public media organization with a culture that centers on human dignity, equity, and belonging. This will enable us to better serve and reflect the Bay Area through diverse and inclusive storytelling.

We value the contributions of marginalized people in society — including Black, Indigenous, and all people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people — and we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, and we strongly encourage members of these communities to apply.

KQED Code of Ethics

The mission that drives us:

KQED provide citizens of Northern California with a community-supported alternative to commercial media. We provide citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring the arts to everyone and engage audiences to share their stories. We help students and teachers thrive in 21st-century classrooms, and take people of all ages on journeys of exploration- exposing them to new people, places and ideas.

This role will work hybrid between working in KQED's newly renovated headquarters and working remotely. KQED requires employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Salary Information: $125,000-$156,000 Annually

Essential Functions :

• Lead On-Air Fundraising Campaigns
  • Plan, produce, and direct radio pledge drives to meet or exceed revenue goals.
  • Develop and manage all campaign materials, including messaging, scripts, and schedules.
  • Oversee staff scheduling, live talent coordination, and training for on-air hosts and producers.
  • Ensure message consistency across all channels, including radio, digital, email, and graphics.
  • Coordinate pre- and post-drive messaging, including spot production and post-drive reporting.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration
  • Partner with Programming and News leadership to balance editorial priorities with fundraising needs.
  • Coordinate with Development to align major donor gift opportunities with campaign messaging.
  • Work with Product, Operations, Data, and Analytics teams to ensure proper tracking and functionality of digital donation tools (e.g., Pledge-Free Stream, digital donor card).
• Audio-First Fundraising Strategy
  • Design and implement strategies to expand membership through podcasts and other audio-first platforms.
  • Manage the ongoing use of broadcast spot inventory to support year-round membership campaigns, including concept development, writing, production, and scheduling.
• Campaign Analysis & Reporting
  • Create and maintain regular performance reports to evaluate campaign outcomes (e.g., revenue, donor counts, gift averages, major donor impact).
  • Deliver post-campaign assessments and provide insights to inform future efforts.
  • Manage budget development and tracking for pledge-related revenue and expenses.
• Vendor & Project Management
  • Manage relationships with external vendors and freelance contributors for campaign production.
  • Maintain clear communication with internal teams and outside partners regarding project status, timelines, and deliverables.
• Strategic and Operational Oversight
  • Maintain and update the monthly radio spot schedule.
  • Write and produce new spots as fundraising priorities evolve.
  • Coordinate with production teams and radio operations to ensure proper placement and airing.
• Culture & Leadership
  • Foster a collaborative, creative, and results-driven work environment.
  • Support innovation and continuous improvement in audio fundraising approaches.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience
Professional Background

• 7+ years of experience in fundraising, public media, audio production, or related fields
• Proven success in managing on-air fundraising campaigns or similar broadcast-based fundraising/revenue initiatives.
• Strong track record of developing effective messaging and marketing strategies across audio and digital platforms.

· Technical and Strategic Skills

• Deep understanding of public media fundraising principles, audience behavior, and campaign strategy.
• Proficiency in project management, including staff scheduling, timeline development, and cross-team coordination.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and data tools for donor tracking, performance analysis, and campaign reporting (ROI Solutions preferred).
• Experience with audio production workflows, broadcast spot scheduling, and promotional messaging development.

· Collaboration and Communication

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with editorial, programming, digital, development, and product teams.
• Skilled at managing external vendors and freelancers to achieve high-quality deliverables on time and within budget.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling fundraising messaging and lead cross-functional meetings.

· Creative & Strategic Leadership

• Visionary thinker with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans for audio-first fundraising.
• Experience in fostering a collaborative, mission-driven culture with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.

· Mission Alignment

• Deep commitment to the values and mission of public media, including service to diverse audiences and communities.