Associate Director, Major Gifts

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative — to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

The Associate Director, Major Gifts will have a key role within the Development Department, responsible for advancing the department’s strategic priorities including the identification, solicitation and stewardship of donors to LDF. This position will focus on strategic management of the prospect and donor pipeline to enable LDF to grow unrestricted annual support while promoting and assisting with opportunities for targeted gifts. The Associate Director, Major Gifts will work closely with the Executive Director, Individual Giving and ultimately the Chief Development Officer and key board members to support their efforts in cultivating top donors. S/he will assist in preparing LDF leadership for key donor meetings. The Associate Director, Major Gifts will also work to deepen the prospective donor pipeline and will maintain accurate and up-to-date information on LDF donors and prospects. 

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.

Responsibilities:

The Associate Director,  Major Gifts will be responsible for the following essential duties:

• Manage the “Prospect Pipeline” and ensure timely activity and progress toward fundraising goals and benchmarks.
• Manage all stages of giving, including cultivation, solicitation, follow up and stewardship.
• Support donor portfolios of the President and Director-Counsel and senior leadership, through these and other responsibilities:
  • Prospective donor identification and research,
  • Preparing briefing materials including prospect profiles and proposals for donor meetings, and
  • Ensuring prompt follow-up to close gifts and appropriate donor stewardship.
• Perform prospect research using a range of online tools and develop detailed profiles of both current and prospective donors.
• Craft funding proposals in coordination with relevant program staff, targeted for specific donors while matching their interests with LDF’s programs and giving opportunities.
• Develop personalized, correspondence including letters, invitations, briefings, and other mailings.
• Manage acknowledgment of individual and major donor gifts and arrangements for recognition, as appropriate.
• Assist with planning and coordinating fundraising-related events and dinners. 
• Assist the Executive Director, Individual Giving and Chief Development Officer to manage volunteer leadership and support them in cultivation and solicitation efforts.
• Develop individual donor strategies to secure, renew and increase major gifts; and
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director, Individual Giving and Chief Development Officer.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Three to five years of experience in development, preferably major gift fundraising.
• Bachelor’s degree. 
• Highly organized individual with strong project management skills and the ability to prioritize and manage deadlines.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with senior leadership and high-profile volunteer leadership. 
• Flexibility and ability to work independently and as a team player with a range of constituents and colleagues.
• Experience with fundraising databases; familiarity with Raiser’s Edge a plus.
• Commitment to the mission and growth of LDF.
• Experience with civil rights, human rights organizations a plus.

Excellent computer skills and advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Power-point, Word) programs.

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

The salary range for this position is $109,000 to $150,000.  

LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package. To learn more click the following link 2024 Benefits Overview. 

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