About Institute for Nonprofit News
About INN
INN is building a nonprofit news movement.
INN strengthens and supports more than 425 independent news organizations in a new kind of news network: nonprofit, independent and dedicated to public service. Members of the INN Network tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy. INN programs help these news organizations develop revenue and business models to support strong reporting, collaborate on editorial and business innovation, share services and advance the diverse leaders who are forging a new future for news.
The field of nonprofit news is in a time of rapid expansion. As many commercial news organizations struggle against economic headwinds, nonprofit news continues to grow, generating great interest and philanthropic investment. In contrast to commercial news organizations, more than 90% of INN nonprofit members survive their startup phase and emerge ready to grow.
INN's Network of news organizations field over 6,000 journalists across North America, with staff demographics that largely mirror the American workforce, revenue of more than $600 million and content that reaches millions of Americans directly and through thousands of media partnerships. INN is comprised of a growing cohort of journalism leaders reimagining the field and working collaboratively to test and bring to life a new vision for news that is community-based, produced as a shared public resource, inclusive in coverage and equitable in serving all communities.
Mission & Values
INN’s vision is to build a nonprofit news network that ensures all people in every community have access to trusted news. To that end, INN pursues its mission of providing education and business support services to its nonprofit member organizations and promoting the value and benefit of public-service and investigative journalism. INN believes that:
- Nonprofit journalism serves people and communities.
- Independence builds public trust.
- Equity is fundamental to all our actions and news coverage.
- Antiracism work is necessary in journalism.
- Collaboration, camaraderie and mutual respect are the basis of a positive work culture.
Program & Priorities
INN’s programming focus areas include: capacity-building programs; nurturing and running member mutual aid networks; developing and managing shared services that advance growth; and developing reporting alliances and consortia that expand the public impact of the Network’s reporting.
Grounded in behind-the-scenes data and the lived experience of its members, INN has an unparalleled depth of knowledge about nonprofit news: what drives it; how it’s funded; who it serves and how to continue expanding sources of high-quality information for the public. This work culminates in the annual INN Index, the most comprehensive ongoing study of this emerging field. INN uses its informed perspective to design services with transformative potential for its members and the field more broadly.
Through the widely celebrated NewsMatch program, a groundbreaking collaborative funding initiative, INN has helped newsrooms generate more than $270 million in community support and create a new, diversified base of philanthropic support for public interest journalism.
INN’s top priorities — each of which contributes to the overarching goal of journalistic excellence — are to:
- Elevate journalism as a philanthropic cause, creating sustainable revenue for members.
- Center diversity, equity and inclusion as field norms.
- Sponsor experimentation that allows nonprofit news models to adapt and grow.
- Invest in the talent and human capital that drive sustained change in an emerging field.
For more information on INN and its programs, please visit www.inn.org.
The Opportunity
INN is currently seeking a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is an opportunity for a bold and visionary leader to take the helm of the nation’s premier field-building organization dedicated to the nonprofit news movement and the growth and reinvention of public service journalism. In partnership with a dedicated board of directors and highly talented and expert staff, the CEO will guide INN in further refining its value to the field and strategic plan, playing a critical role in further establishing INN’s role in shaping the future of journalism. Working closely with key supporters and peer organizations, the INN CEO will be a key leader in influencing a new era of news in North America and globally.
The CEO will be responsible for:
Visionary Leadership: The CEO will be responsible for synthesizing the many viewpoints and interests of stakeholders in the field, evolving a clear vision and strategy for how INN can continue growing and strengthening nonprofit journalism against a backdrop of shifting priorities, new technologies and other major forces.
Network-Building: The CEO will be focused on developing the full potential of the INN Network, playing a key role in organizing members and rallying industry support. The CEO will continue to foster the growth of the network while ensuring existing members, and members of varying sizes and stages, are supported and vested in the mission.
Development: In addition to fundraising for INN's $6 million operating budget, INN is responsible for raising $7-8 million per year (some in partnership with other funders) that goes directly to INN members via NewsMatch, editorial collaborations and other programs. Working closely with INN’s fundraising team, board and allies, the CEO will continue to grow philanthropic support.
Organizational Leadership: Leading a highly skilled team of 22 staff, the CEO will manage and empower staff, ensuring they are provided with the necessary direction and resources to realize INN’s strategic and operational goals. The CEO will continue to build staff capacity and incubate a productive, positive and inclusive virtual culture across a fully remote workforce.
Fiscal & Operational Management: The CEO will support INN’s short and long-term financial goals, ensuring it operates as a sustainable and financially sound organization. Working closely with the COO and other senior managers, this leader will evaluate opportunities to diversify revenue streams and ensure productive and efficient operations, evaluating the continuous improvement of and investment in systems and resources to support organizational growth.
Program Design & Direction: The CEO will work with members and staff to evaluate, design and set program priorities, ensuring quality and effectiveness. They will enhance and diversify INN’s offerings and programs to address the changing needs of its members and the field overall.
Advocacy & Movement-Building: The CEO will be a public face and advocate for the nonprofit news field, galvanizing philanthropic and other support of the movement. The CEO will frequently speak and present publicly, representing INN and the field.
Supporting Journalism Standards: The CEO, in partnership with a highly skilled team and board, will ensure journalism standards in the INN Network and organization are sustained in a way that builds public trust, supports equity in news coverage and access, and are adapted to reflect core principles of journalism independence and transparency in the emerging field of philanthropically supported news media.
Candidate Profile
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. INN is seeking a CEO who brings a set of skills and experiences that align with the areas of focus listed above and a genuine passion for the work INN does and the values it seeks to uphold. We strongly encourage women, BIPOC individuals, returning citizens, LGBTQ+ folks, immigrants and people with disabilities to apply.
INN staff is currently remote and geographically dispersed. The CEO may be based in any US location, with a preference for the East Coast/Mid-Atlantic. Significant travel for conferences, fundraising and other strategic engagements is expected.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $175,000 to $220,000 with a generous benefits package.
Contact
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Molly Brennan and Corina Benitz of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing Molly and Corina directly at inn_ceo@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
About Koya Partners
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. For more information about Koya Partners, visit https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/koya-partners/.