Life Stories is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media and education organization that believes in the transformative power of visual storytelling as a catalyst for learning, civic dialogue, and connection. Life Stories seeks an accomplished and innovative Chief Development Officer (CDO) to help diversify its funding streams and explore the potential for resource generating initiatives. The CDO will play a key role in shaping this next chapter, helping to grow a philanthropic community that shares a belief in the power of story to educate, build connection, and inspire, in an era where the world needs it most.
Dedicated to capturing and sharing the stories of people whose lives inspire meaningful change, Life Stories has an expansive archive of over 500 in-depth, eyewitness, open-source interviews, a growing catalog of acclaimed films and docuseries, and curated educational resources that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture. This content explores what guides the moral leadership of individuals behind social movements, illuminates overlooked histories, reveals the inner workings of cultural institutions, and captures the changes that have unfolded in our nation during times of struggle.
Founded and led by the Kunhardt family—award-winning producers of documentaries that have introduced generations of audiences to artists and cultural, political, and civil rights leaders, Life Stories brings a deep commitment to integrity, historical truth, artistry, and public purpose. Personal accounts from John Lewis, John McCain, Gloria Steinem, Warren Buffett, Joan Baez, Bryan Stevenson, Dolores Huerta, David Brooks, and George Takei, as well as historical portrayals of former U.S. presidents and hundreds more inspire audiences with the different paths they’ve taken to lead meaningful lives. By experiencing these stories and engaging in conversation about them, Life Stories’ audiences find the passion and purpose in their own lives and deepen their understanding of humanity—particularly in times of collective change.
In this age of rapidly evolving technology and fractured media landscapes, the need for reliable information that preserves and expands understanding of ourselves and the world is vital. Life Stories serves as a hub for trustworthy historical information and accessible learning experiences used by educators, historians, archivists, and students across the country to explore themes of democracy, justice, civil rights, and social change. Through curated teaching resources, partnerships with schools, libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations, Life Stories is fostering critical thinking, historical inquiry, and civic dialogue both in and beyond the classroom. Life Stories’ educational programming reaches 25,000 students annually, and their films and interviews have been viewed more than 20-million times on their website and YouTube channel. To reach a larger audience they have formed thoughtful partnerships with groups like 826 Digital who reach young writers, and are working with Edovo, a platform that will distribute their content to close to one million, currently incarcerated men and women to help inspire reflection, upskilling, and personal growth.
Life Stories is at an exciting inflection point. Having fully transitioned from a hybrid production model to full nonprofit operations in 2024, the organization is building toward long-term sustainability while remaining agile, mission-driven, and creatively ambitious. Major support from a few well-known philanthropists to establish a reserve fund has helped create and deliver award winning work. As a recipient of a Bloomberg Digital Accelerator grant, Life Stories is building an intuitive, tech-forward platform with features like AI-powered search and metadata tagging that will make content more discoverable and contextualize interviews within broader historical narratives. Users will be able to search, engage, and interact with the archive in meaningful and customizable ways. The new platform will make it possible for Life Stories to scale beyond its foundational model, driving exponential audience engagement and equipping more arts, civic, and educational institutions with powerful storytelling and learning tools.
Application Instructions
Life Stories has partnered with Talent Citizen to assist in this recruitment. Please contact President Tracy D. Welsh and Senior Associate Eva Kotilinek to share your resume and cover letter via email at: LS-CDO@talentcitizen.com.
Life Stories adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
