Career Opportunity
MANAGER, PRINCIPAL GIFTS [DEVF-26]
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
Development Department, New York

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national public interest organization with over 50 affiliates countrywide devoted to the defense of the Bill of Rights. The Development Department of the National Office is seeking a full-time Manager of Principal Gifts.

OVERVIEW:
As a senior member of the Major Gifts department, the Manager of Principal Gifts leads a principal gifts program of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship with a focus on prospects with the ability to make gifts of $1 million and above. This position provides the opportunity to significantly develop and grow a portfolio of the organization’s leadership donors for a development department that has grown to 50 full-time staff and raises $100 million annually. Reporting to the Director of Major Gifts, this senior-level development professional will be responsible for developing a program for continued principal gifts (seven-figure range) and will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects to be cultivated, solicited and stewarded in partnership with select senior staff and volunteer leadership.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain oversight of the pool of principal gift prospects with potential for gifts in excess of $1M+
• Create and ensure implementation of cultivation and solicitation strategies for a portfolio with the capacity to donate 7-figure gifts.
• Drive principal gifts process by regularly meeting to review progress towards goals. Lead prospect management meetings when principal gift prospects are discussed or assigned.
• Develop detailed strategies and programs for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding principal donors.
• Assist Executive Director, President, senior staff and volunteer leadership with the cultivation and solicitation of principal prospects. Oversee and advise on briefings and strategies for key leaders involved with principal gift donors and prospects.
• Work with executive department to manage Executive Director time as it relates to major donor solicitations. Help determine Executive Director’s solicitation priorities.
• Accompany senior staff and volunteer leadership on prospect visits when appropriate.
• Personally manage a portfolio of principal prospects and develop long-term relationships with these individuals.
• Develop and strengthen the effectiveness of advisory groups. Organize national and affiliate cultivation events for principal donors.
• Manage a database of contacts and coordinate personal communications with principal donors and prospects. Maintain accurate and current data files and track interactions and income for portfolio.
• Determine and develop materials, including proposals, funding reports, and other communications required to cultivate and solicit principal donors. Draft correspondence to principal prospects.
• Must handle confidential materials with appropriate discretion.
• As a senior member of the development team, assists with and participates in other activities, as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 6 years experience in developing successful personal cultivation, face-to-face contact, solicitation approaches, and stewardship of individual prospects or equivalent experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience developing successful written donor communications.
• Relationship management experience with high net work individuals in positions of influence.
• Proven track record in cultivating and soliciting qualified prospects, closing principal gifts and stewarding major donors of $1 million or more.
• The ability to develop and master the relationships necessary to promote the trust and confidence of the organization’s leadership, including prospects and donors.
• Demonstrated creative problem solving, strategic abilities and excellent judgment.
• Ability to manage volunteers who are chief executives.
• Ability to interface with individuals at every level of an organization, both internally and externally.
• Strong interpersonal skills, poise, and ability to present ideas. Highest level of professionalism and people skills necessary for working with major donors, board members, high level volunteers and senior staff.
• Strong initiative, self-motivation and ability to work independently and in teams.
• Diplomacy and the ability to work in high-pressure situations.
• Strong work ethic, ability to handle multiple assignments and changing priorities as circumstances dictate.
• Superior attention to detail with strong follow-through and the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Computer proficiency, including use of fundraising database management systems.
• Must be driven and possess the determination to see work through to completion. Must be patient yet tenacious in driving the principal gifts process.
• Ability to successfully navigate and thrive in a complex institution. Experience in a non-profit institution of comparable complexity and scale is preferred.
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU.

COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:
If you are an exceptional strategic planner and innovative thinker, have strong follow-through skills, and a passion for public interest issues, please send a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume by email to hrjobs@aclu.org. Reference [DEVF-26/WACLU] in subject line – or by mail to:

Human Resources
RE: [DEVF-26/WACLU]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18^th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please indicate where you learned of this job posting

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.