Chronicle of Philanthropy Names Its First Chief Revenue Officer

As the Chronicle of Philanthropy gets ready to become an independent nonprofit this spring, it has hired veteran newspaper business executive Rodney Mahone as its first chief revenue officer.

Mahone is currently serving as managing director of the Pivot Fund, a venture-philanthropy organization dedicated to investing $500 million in independent BIPOC-led community news.

At the Chronicle, Mahone will be responsible for overseeing an ambitious plan to double revenue and staff over the next five years so that it can better serve the nonprofit world.

The Chronicle has raised more than $6 million from foundations to fund its transition to nonprofit status as its spins off from its parent company, the Chronicle of Higher Education. Its transition supporters are the Ford, William and Flora Hewlett, Conrad N. Hilton, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur, and Charles Stewart Mott foundations, along with the Heinz Endowments and Open Society Foundations. The Chronicle is also the recipient of a major grant from the Lilly Endowment to work with the Associated Press and the Conversation to better educate the public about philanthropy.

At the Chronicle, Mahone will oversee advertising, subscriptions, sponsorships, and philanthropic revenue as well as marketing and new product development.

Mahone held leadership roles for more than 13 years at McClatchy, most recently overseeing more than 200 sales leaders and account executives in 30 metropolitan areas, including Charlotte, N.C., Fort Worth, Kansas City, Mo., and Sacramento. He also served as president and publisher of McClatchy’s Georgia markets.

Mahone, who has been an active civic leader over the years, resides in Columbus, Ga., and is chair of the board of the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley.