Description
The Campaign Legal Center (CLC), a nonprofit organization that protects and strengthens the U.S. democratic process across all levels of government through litigation, policy analysis, and public education, is looking for a talented Chief Development Officer. CLC seeks a future in which the American political process is accessible to all citizens, resulting in representative, responsive, and accountable government.
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will be instrumental in leading the CLC to meet its current annual fundraising goals, while continuing to grow and diversify its funding base. The CDO will be responsible for formulating and implementing an overall development strategy that includes a robust foundation portfolio (representing 90% of CLC’s annual revenues), a growing major donor program and online fundraising presence, and enhancing an organizational culture of philanthropy. The CDO will supervise two development staff, oversee and manage day-to-day development operations, and engage staff and board in expanding revenue streams to support current and new initiatives. The CDO is part of the executive leadership team and will report to the President and the Vice President of Litigation & Strategy.
Responsibilities include:
General Development Strategy and Implementation:
- Develop a comprehensive development strategy, including annual and long-term revenue goals and plans to diversify and increase organizational budget from foundation and individual donors (major donor, smaller-level donors, online, etc.), as well as other appropriate sources.
- With the Communications team, lead and engage senior management in developing effective, coordinated development messages and campaigns for new and broader donor audiences.
- Support and mentor Board, leadership, and staff in their development efforts.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization that educates and effectively engages staff and board members in the development process.
- Serve as a member of the senior management team and provide key development insights as CLC’s programmatic goals are crafted.
Foundations:
- Work with the Foundations Manager and senior team to craft annual foundation goals and implementation strategies.
- Manage key foundation relationships as appropriate, including outreach and substantive presentations to prospective funders about CLC’s current programs and future projects.
- Oversee the Foundations Manager’s work in stewarding current foundation funders and identifying and securing new foundation support.
- Coordinate, develop and track budgets and budget narratives with relevant CLC staff and Foundations Manager for existing and proposed grant projects.
Individual and Major Donors:
- Work with CLC senior leadership team to formulate yearly individual donor goals and implementation strategies.
- Lead efforts to identify and secure new donors at all levels.
- With the President, Vice President, and other relevant staff, maintain and strengthen relationships with current donors to increase gift size, frequency and retention through individualized stewardship, donor events, social media, online and direct mail, and informal communication.
- Support President, Vice President, other staff and board members in their efforts to build and strengthen donor and prospect relationships and soliciting gifts.
- Build and maintain relationships with appropriate prospects and individual funders.
Board Relations:
- Prepare development reports including plans, accomplishments and challenges for the President in advance of board meetings.
- Coach, support and encourage the Board’s development efforts.
Management and Administration:
- Supervise and strengthen the capacity of the Development team.
- Coordinate all development activities with staff and track progress against annual development work plan and calendar.
- Manage and strengthen development processes, infrastructure and systems, including recordkeeping, database management, gift acknowledgments, renewals, mailings and calendar.
- Develop an annual budget for development department and work with the finance department to develop an annual organizational budget and track progress against revenue goals.
Qualifications include:
- A minimum of 7-10 years of senior development experience.
- Mission-driven, creative results-focused, with a deep commitment to a fair and just democracy.
- Demonstrated experience in managing and implementing a successful, comprehensive fund development program and preparing an annual development work plan and calendar to achieve goals for an actively evolving organization.
- Hands-on fundraising experience in the policy, research, legal and/or democracy building arena is preferred.
- Experience with coordination and preparation of organizational and project budgets.
- Demonstrated success in identifying and securing new foundation grants of five-figures and up.
- Demonstrated success with generating increased funds from individual donors, both major donors ($10,000 and higher) and annual appeals, through a coordinated, strategic approach.
- Knowledge of planned giving and experience with online fundraising preferred.
- Hands-on experience with one or more donor databases/software, such as DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge, etc., as well as with Microsoft Office suite and QuickBooks. Experience with wealth screening software preferred.
- Understanding of and experience with digital fundraising landscape and approaches.
- Demonstrated success in arranging for organizational leadership to meet with prospective donors, successfully preparing them for meetings and determining follow-up steps.
- Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategies to engage prospective donors and audiences, retain current donors and move them to increased giving levels.
- Exceptional writing skills, especially for grant proposals, reports and related fundraising materials.
- Strong oral communication, relationship building and “people” skills.
- Honed organizational skills, ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously and work independently.
- Direct experience working with nonprofit boards is preferred.
- Ability and availability to travel.
To Apply
Send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to: settleson@gmail.com, subject line: CLC-CDO.
No phone calls please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only qualified candidates will be contacted after submitting a full application.
The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, height, weight, or marital status in employment or the provision of services and benefits.