Executive Director, Principal Giving

Overview

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR.

Application Deadline: 11:59 pm EST June 15, 2026

Intro to Position

NPR seeks a strategic and entrepreneurial Executive Director of Principal Giving to lead and expand the organization’s principal gifts program. This role will focus on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors capable of making transformational commitments of $5 million and above.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Development, the Executive Director will play a central role in building a robust pipeline of principal gift prospects and guiding strategies that align donor passion with NPR’s mission to create a more informed public. The role requires exceptional relationship management skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to partner closely with senior leadership, newsroom leaders, and the NPR Board.

The Executive Director will personally manage a portfolio of the organization’s significant philanthropic relationships while building systems and strategies that deepen the pipeline for future transformational giving.

Responsibilities

Principal Gift Strategy

• Lead strategy for NPR’s principal giving program, focusing on gifts of $1M+.
• Work with the Senior Vice President for Development to define fundraising priorities and build compelling philanthropic opportunities aligned with NPR’s journalism, cultural programming, and civic mission.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop bold philanthropic initiatives capable of attracting transformational investment.

Pipeline Development

• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of principal gift prospects, identifying individuals capable of seven- to nine-figure commitments.
• Conduct high-level prospect research and strategy development to uncover new principal-level prospects across media, technology, philanthropy, arts, and civic leadership networks.
• Develop long-term cultivation strategies designed to move prospects from discovery to transformational commitment.
• Collaborate with major gifts, foundation relations, and digital philanthropy teams to identify donors who may evolve into principal gift prospects.

Donor Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of 40-50 principal gift prospects and donors.
• Design and execute customized cultivation and solicitation strategies that involve senior leadership, board members, and editorial leaders when appropriate.
• Personally solicit and close principal gifts in partnership with the Senior Vice President and CEO.

Cross-Institutional Leadership

• Serve as a trusted partner to NPR’s development leadership, helping translate the organization’s strategic vision into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Work closely with newsroom, program