C-SPAN has named Adele Hixon-Day as its first Chief Development Officer, a role that involves an expansion of the network’s philanthropic support efforts, the organization said on Wednesday.
The move comes as C-SPAN works to generate revenue from more than just fees charged to cable and satellite partners: Hixon-Day will be responsible for also helping the network secure philanthropic commitments in order to sustain its public-service mission for years to come.
“Adele joins C-SPAN at a pivotal moment,” C-SPAN CEO Sam Feist said in a statement. “For decades, the cable and satellite, and recently the streaming industry has made C-SPAN’s unique public service possible, and that support remains vitally important. At the same time, we need to broaden the community of individuals and organizations invested in C-SPAN and its future.”
As Chief Development Officer, Hixon-Day will lead C-SPAN’s philanthropic strategy and work with foundations, major donors and individual supporters. The role will focus on building support for C-SPAN’s mission of providing direct, unfiltered and nonpartisan access to government and the political process.
C-SPAN said philanthropic support will also be developed around the organization’s journalism, civic education efforts, digital innovation and preservation and modernization of its video archive.
Hixon-Day has more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development and organizational leadership. She previously served as Chief Advancement Officer at the Smithsonian Institution and as Vice President of Development at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“C-SPAN occupies a truly unique place in American civic life, and I’m excited to help strengthen that public service for the future,” Hixon-Day said. “There is a tremendous opportunity to connect people and organizations who care about democracy, civic education and access to trusted information with C-SPAN’s mission.”
C-SPAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives no government funding. Its television networks and digital platforms provide access to Congress, the White House, the Supreme Court, campaigns and elections, public policy discussions and American history without commentary or editorializing.
“C-SPAN was created with a remarkably durable idea: give the American people direct access to their government and let them make up their own minds,” Feist said. “Building a strong philanthropic program will help ensure that C-SPAN — and our commitment to Democracy Unfiltered — remains strong for the next generation.”
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