Revenue Manager

Revenue Manager
Evanston Now
Evanston, Illinois
Remote (in Chicago area)
About Evanston Now
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 covering the community of 75,000 residents on Chicago’s North Shore that is the 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.
Evanston is a diverse and highly engaged community with a strong tradition of civic participation, precisely the environment in which independent local journalism can thrive.
Two decades in, Evanston Now is a trusted civic institution, and this role offers the opportunity to help define what its next twenty years will look like.
The Opportunity
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 a full-time revenue role: the Revenue Manager, the first revenue team hire, will be responsible for mid-level and major gift fundraising, corporate sponsorship and underwriting, and donor and community events.
Over time, this person is positioned to take on a broader revenue leadership role within the organization and to 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.
What You'll Do
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
Who You Are
● 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
Compensation & Benefits
● Salary: $75,000–$85,000, commensurate with experience
● Location: Remote; candidates must be based in the Evanston/Chicago area, with a strong preference for Evanston
● Travel: No regular travel required; occasional travel for industry conferences may be part of the role
● Reports to: Bill Smith
● 12 days of Paid Time Off
● 10 observed holidays such as New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving etc.
Evanston Now is a small, independent newsroom, and we are continuing to build out our benefits offerings as we grow.
Hiring Timeline
● Active search: 30–90 days from job posting
● Target hire date: October 1, 2026
How to Apply
To apply for the Revenue Manager position, please complete the online application at evanstonnow.com/revenue-manager. The application will ask you to provide information about your experience, qualifications, and interest in the role. We look forward to learning more about you.