Chief Partnerships Officer

About the Role The Chief Partnerships Officer (CPO) will serve as the chief architect of Accelerate Change's external growth, transforming philanthropic capacity to match the network's digital footprint. As a primary public face to the funding ecosystem, the CPO will secure scaled, movement-level capital to expand the nation's largest mission media network, which currently reaches half of all U.S. adults monthly. By bridging traditional philanthropy with innovative digital narrative strategies, you will manage the handoff from principals, eliminate fundraising bottlenecks, and unlock resources to support network partners. This hire aims to ensure that BIPOC and low-income communities have sustainable, independent media infrastructure required to build lasting civic power and reshape dominant public narratives. What You'll Do

• Executive Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Scaling
• Lead comprehensive central strategy: Design and execute a broad fundraising framework to scale a $25M+ media network, moving major institutional and civic engagement funders to catalytic action.
• Own specialized funder portfolio: Personally manage and scale a robust funder pipeline and portfolio.
• Pitch major funders nationally: Represent the organization at key donor conferences and high-level retreats to secure large-scale funding for core media network and pro-democracy initiatives.
• Movement Pitching & Narrative Translation
• Inspire through experimental proof points: Effectively translate complex audience data, algorithmic shifts, and randomized control test data into undeniable investment proof points for traditional donors.
• Target core funder segments: Focus core cultivation and pitching on general operations, civic engagement (political), and media funders, while selectively engaging a targeted pool of large, cross-cutting narrative donors.
• Internal Leadership
• Oversee and mentor the Development team: Directly manage and provide strategic direction to the Director of Development Operations and the Senior Director of Partnerships, shaping frontline leadership capacities.
• Model cross-functional collaboration: Serve as a core member of the Executive Team, partnering with senior leadership to design long-term organizational strategy.
• Goal setting: Set ambitious and achievable goals, and support the team to meet and exceed those goals, tracking progress and adjusting course as needed
• Mission and Values
• Stewardship
• Promote Inclusive Leadership and Cultural Humility: Embody a deep commitment to organizational equity, ensuring an environment where all staff identities are respected and affirmed. Bring a high degree of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relational maturity to navigating cross-cultural dynamics within a diverse, majority-BIPOC team and across external funder networks.
• Support the Broad Partner Ecosystem: Act as an accessible fundraising resource for partner media properties, sharing key donor takeaways to help network partners monetize and scale their platforms. What We're Looking For
• Executive Fundraising and Network Leadership
• 10+ years of progressive fundraising or executive leadership experience, including preferably at least 5 years in a role such as Chief Development Officer, VP of Advancement, or Executive Director.
• Demonstrated success managing institutional funder portfolios and securing renewals aligned with a $25M+ organizational budget.
• Institutional Partnerships and Issue Translation
• Strong understanding of the media landscape, coupled with a mastery of how digital media drives the formation of narratives around issue areas, and the ability to articulate and describe online phenomena to both "online" and "offline" stakeholders
• Proven ability to translate complex digital media metrics, audience reach, and randomized control test proof points into compelling, persuasive narratives for funders.
• Public Presence and Movement Alignment
• Exceptional public speaking and presentation skills, with the credibility, poise, and expertise required to serve as a primary public face on national stages and at m