MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

Posted 11/15/2022

ABOUT THE ACLU OF LOUISIANA

The ACLU of Louisiana is the local affiliate of the National ACLU. Founded in 1956 with a growing staff of 13, we are poised for growth and expansion. The Executive Director, Alanah Odoms carries on the affiliate’s legacy of defending the Constitution, with the new charge of refracting that work through the lens of racial and gender justice. 

The ACLU of Louisiana takes on the toughest civil liberties and civil rights cases in the state, litigating issues seeking to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. While recognized as one of the nation’s leading public interest law firms, the ACLU’s strength lies in an integrated advocacy approach, which requires collaboration between legal, advocacy, public education, communications and development staff on comprehensive strategies to maximize impact. The priorities of the ACLU of Louisiana include advancing racial and gender justice by holding police accountable for unconstitutional actions against people of color, ending mass incarceration, defending the rights of the asylum seekers and vulnerable immigrant communities, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ community, preserving the right to vote, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, and the defending the right to abortion. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The ACLU of Louisiana seeks a Major Gifts Officer to support the Development Department and affiliate in (1) meeting fundraising goals that keep the ACLU of Louisiana in a growth trajectory, by managing a portfolio of donors/prospects, (2) applying a community centered fundraising lens to our work, by cultivating members of our affinity groups such as our Arts & Business Council and Black Donor Network, and developing new programs that honor volunteerism and gifts of all sizes; and (3) planning inclusive events that support the affiliate’s fundraising goals. The Major Gifts Officer will spend most of their time directly interacting with donors – both in and out of the office –while helping drive resources to the ACLU of Louisiana. The goal for the Major Gifts Officer is to greatly expand the number of leadership gifts ($10,000 ) and planned gifts from ACLU supporters in Louisiana. The Major Gifts Officer reports into the Director of Development, and will work closely with our Development Coordinator, the Executive Director, and development colleagues at the national ACLU, as well as with program staff and volunteers, to foster a culture of philanthropy at the affiliate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Portfolio

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 donors who live across the state. 
• Meet an average of 8-10 donors per month, by Zoom or in person, based on the donor’s preference. Note that this will require travel across the state, particularly to Greater Shreveport, Monroe, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, as well as the North Shore and Jefferson Parish.
• Create individual goals for each account in the portfolio based on the donor’s history of giving and the organization’s knowledge of that donor’s potential.
• Directly solicit major and planned gifts, and partner with senior and program staff and/or volunteers on donor engagement opportunities.
• Track portfolio activity and progress each quarter and create reports as required. 
• Provide executive-level support to senior staff in preparation for solicitation or stewardship opportunities, including appropriate, concise briefing materials in advance of meetings with donors and prospects

Capacity Building

• Create and manage a comprehensive, scalable cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategy for different segments of donors in the portfolios
• Develop a qualification and assignment process for new prospects
• In collaboration with the appropriate staff, streamline the exchange of project information to develop fundraising materials directed at each donor segment to address donor interests, programmatic priorities, report requirements, etc.
• Lead regular department sessions to track progress and refine strategy

EDIB Fundraising Strategies

• Support the cultivation of members of ACLU of Louisiana affinity groups including our Black Donor Network and Arts & Business Council 
• Support the planning of the annual Ben Smith Fete gala, and other community and fundraising events, including The Soul of Philanthropy Exhibit, to launch November 2023 
• Develop the metrics and processes for measuring equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging of donor outreach efforts
• Where acceptable, work with donors to expand their knowledge on community centric fundraising
• Adapt Community Centric Fundraising into individual fundraising practices to further donor education and community development 
• Work with development colleagues of partner organizations in the social justice space to ensure fair representation of the organization’s collaborative work

Related Work

• Maintain working knowledge of national programmatic priorities and issues as they occur
• Maintain donor information in database by drafting contact reports and submitting to Development Coordinator
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to simplify complex themes and activities into a short, compelling presentation or written piece.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The Major Gifts Officer must have a strong understanding of and passion for the ACLU of Louisiana’s mission. They will have the ability to take initiative, problem-solve, multi-task, and work independently as well as to work with others on donor strategies as a part of a team in a collaborative environment. 

The position requires a person that is self-motivated and self-directed with the following qualifications:

• Minimum of three years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with progressive responsibility and a proven track record of soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts of $10,000 or more. Experience soliciting and closing six-figure gifts a plus.
• Experience soliciting planned gifts preferred.
• Strong people skills. The ability to communicate effectively and respectfully on the phone, via email/text and in person with donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and the public.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. Ability to develop long-term plans, set objectives, and track progress towards achieving goals.
• Experience with donor database management and systems to track campaigns and ensure complete, secure, and private donor and campaign records.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and a donor database (Salesforce preferred).
• Knowledge of both the Greater New Orleans and other philanthropic communities throughout the State of Louisiana preferred, but not required.
• Travel and flexible work schedule required.

COMPENSATION
Salary is commensurate with experience and within the parameters of ACLU of Louisiana’s salary scale.

About the American Civil Liberties Union:

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency, and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference, treats everyone equitably, and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The ACLU makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail careers@laaclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Please submit a letter of interest (Cover Letter), a current resume, and three professional references, identifying each reference’s relationship to you and each reference’s email address and phone number. (No references will be contacted unless a job offer has been extended.) Please apply via the BambooHR platform. 

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, previous criminal conviction, and veteran status.