Revenue Manager

Evanston Now is an independent, locally-owned news organization covering government, schools, housing and business in Evanston, Illinois. Founded by veteran reporter Bill Smith, Evanston Now recently marked its 20th anniversary. It has a full-time equivalent staff of three reporters and editors serving the community of 75,000 residents on Chicago’s North Shore, home of Northwestern University. Evanston Now is a member of the Local Independent Online News Publishers (LION) association and is fiscally sponsored by Report Local.

About the role

Evanston Now is seeking a Revenue Manager to lead and grow the organization's philanthropic and corporate sponsorship revenue, working in close partnership with its publisher, Bill Smith. This is the first revenue team hire and a full-time position. Over time, this person is positioned to take on a broader revenue leadership role and help lay the groundwork for potential expansion into additional communities.

This role is well suited to a mid-career development professional with a proven track record in fundraising, who is equally motivated to extend that experience into corporate sponsorship and events.

Responsibilities

• Mid-Level and Major Gift Fundraising
  • Build and manage a portfolio of mid-level donors, identifying and cultivating those with the capacity and inclination to grow into major donors over time
  • Refine the systems and processes needed to track, cultivate and steward donors, building out Evanston Now’s internal infrastructure
  • Draft donor communications, proposals and stewardship materials
  • Partner with the Publisher to develop and refine Evanston Now's donor strategy and pipeline
  • Generate regular fundraising reports and donor-specific analyses to inform strategy and campaign planning
  • Coordinate with the newsroom to source impact data and story examples that strengthen the case for support
• Corporate Sponsorship and Underwriting
  • Identify and cultivate business owners and companies invested in Evanston's civic and news ecosystem
  • Develop and manage corporate sponsorship and underwriting opportunities
• Events
  • Lead the planning and execution of cultivation events, from intimate donor gatherings to larger community moments
  • Bring creative strategy by exploring other engagement opportunities that deepen supporters' connection to Evanston Now

Requirements

• 3-5+ years of non-profit revenue experience, ideally including a proven track record in individual giving
• Thrives in systems-oriented work, comfortable refining internal infrastructure, and finds satisfaction in building processes
• A strong relationship-builder with great interpersonal skills across donors, stakeholders, and colleagues
• Experience with event planning, from logistics through post-event stewardship, and enthusiasm for hosting community events
• Experience with CRMs, with a commitment to maintaining accurate data
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-directed and comfortable operating in a small, entrepreneurial newsroom environment

Benefits

• 12 days of Paid Time Off
• 10 observed holidays (e.g., New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving)

Pay

Salary: $75,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience

Schedule

This is a full-time, remote position. Candidates must be based in the Evanston/Chicago area, with a strong preference for Evanston. No regular travel is required; occasional travel for industry conferences may be part of the role.

Reports to: Bill Smith