Warren to serve as chief fundraiser; help create sustainable business model for local news

Baltimore, Maryland (February 11, 2022) –  The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization focused on delivering high-quality local journalism to the Baltimore metro, announced today Bill Warren as Chief Philanthropy Officer. Warren will lead all philanthropic and fundraising efforts, including major gifts, grants, institutional and corporate contributions and individual donations. 

Warren brings more than 25 years of fundraising expertise and experience most recently serving as Associate Vice President, Institutional Partnerships at The Catholic University of America. At the University, Warren helped define the strategic direction for philanthropic and public support for academic research and built a team and program to increase institutional revenue from foundations, government sources, and corporations to $10 million annually. Warren also helped design the University’s first-ever comprehensive campaign. Warren also served as Senior Vice President of Development at the National Geographic Society. He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University.

“We are pleased to have Bill Warren join our growing team at The Venetoulis Institute,” said Imtiaz Patel, Chief Executive Officer of the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism. “To build a sustainable model for local journalism, we will have to rely on multiple sources of revenue, including donations and contributions. We have always maintained that we will need new institutional partners and broad community support for The Institute to be successful. Bill will play a critical role leading our philanthropic and fundraising efforts.”

Stewart Bainum, Jr., Chairman of the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, and the organization’s founding donor, has committed to providing significant funding to establish initial operations. However, the Institute is seeking other donors and partners that appreciate the value of hyper-local, nonprofit news and its impact on the community. The mission of the Venetoulis Institute and the Baltimore Banner is to expand local news coverage in the Baltimore region and become an indispensable resource that strengthens, unites, and inspires the Baltimore community through unbiased, quality journalism.   

“I look forward to building on the foundational funding provided by Stewart Bainum, Jr. for The Venetoulis Institute and the Baltimore Banner,” said Bill Warren, Chief Philanthropy Officer. “The Institute and Baltimore Banner are committed to providing the community with quality journalism. To do so, we will build strong partnerships with community members, civic leaders, and philanthropic partners to provide Baltimore with the news it needs and deserves. This is an exciting time for local news innovation and philanthropy can and should play a major role.”

The Venetoulis Institute is currently hiring for several business and newsroom positions in Baltimore. To learn more about open positions, visit venetoulisinstitute.org.

###

About The Venetoulis Institute: A nonprofit local news organization dedicated to strengthening, uniting, and inspiring the greater Baltimore community.

Contact:
Rick Abbruzzese
410-790-5002
ra@kopublicaffairs.com