Philadelphia, PA

The Organization
For nearly one hundred years, the ACLU has been at the forefront of every major civil liberties fight in our country’s history. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy provisions for our digital age or preserving the right to vote, we work in the courts, legislature and in communities to take on the toughest civil liberties issues to protect and strengthen individual freedoms and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (ACLU-PA) is a strong, growing organization. With offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, we are a fast-paced environment that addresses headline-making issues with powerful personal stories and dynamic, precedent-setting advocacy. The ACLU-PA has 9 volunteer chapters, approximately 15,000 members and 20 full-time employees, and operates with a $2.8 million budget. We are a passionate, highly motivated group of lawyers, public policy and advocacy experts, community organizers and fundraisers, and we are looking for exceptional talent to join our team, working out of the Philadelphia office.

For more information on the ACLU, please visit our website at www.aclupa.org.

Position Overview
This is an incredibly exciting time in the ACLU’s history that presents an unparalleled opportunity for a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced fundraising professional.  Having completed, in 2010, an aggressive and unprecedented nationwide campaign to raise $400 million in major and planned gifts, the ACLU is now embarking on its first major comprehensive fundraising campaign, tentatively set to run up through the organization’s 100 year anniversary in 2020.  The ACLU of Pennsylvania is part of this most ambitious fundraising campaign – with a goal of over $1.2 billion nationwide – in the ACLU’s history. The Director of Philanthropy will leverage Pennsylvania’s role in this comprehensive campaign to increase our affiliate’s revenue stream to support significant expansion of our influence and impact over the next five to ten years. Building on existing donor relationships and a robust major donor prospect pool, and partnering with our national office on key leadership gift strategies, the Director of Philanthropy will have a significant opportunity to increase investments in the ACLU-PA and to play a major role in an organization that continues to make a real difference in people’s lives. The right candidate will provide visionary, strategic leadership to build and strengthen relationships between donors and the organization, toward the goal of generating leadership gifts to support the ACLU’s current and future strategic goals.

The Director of Philanthropy, a member of the senior staff reporting to the Executive Director, is charged with developing and overseeing the program to raise funds, including identifying prospects that have both the capacity and demonstrated interest in investing in the ACLU to generate longstanding, tangible victories. Working closely with the Executive Director and key lay leaders and national ACLU staff, the Director of Philanthropy is responsible for planning, supervising and executing development programs to: 1) reach our annual and long-range fundraising goals, and 2) develop strategies to support the growth and expansion of the organization. The Director of Philanthropy supervises the Major Gifts Officer and Annual Fund Manager.

The position is based in Philadelphia, which has topped many lists for quality of life, urban renewal and must-see destinations. Philadelphia has the recent distinction of being the US’s first and only World Heritage City (joining the ranks of Cairo, Paris and Jerusalem). Accessible to both New York City and Washington, D.C., it is home to a burgeoning restaurant and arts scene, with world-class museums and music venues. Host to many national and international conventions, the city has recently witnessed significant investment in its green spaces and remains an affordable and sought after place to live.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive work plan that focuses on major gifts and includes specific fundraising goals and targets for face-to-face solicitations of individual donors, proposals, appeals and campaigns
• Expand the number of leadership gift ($10,000+) supporters in Pennsylvania
• Manage relationships for a portfolio of 75-100 donors and prospects with the capacity to make annual contributions of $10,000+, including those assigned to the Executive Director
• Develop goals, strategies, and cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for each donor, ensuring that they receive frequent personalized “touches”Engage in face-to-face solicitations and other direct engagement with donors and prospects, and arrange and support engagement for the Executive Director, senior staff, and select lay leaders
• Generate and analyze data, to ensure that fundraising is done in the most efficient and effective ways
• Utilize the organization’s nationwide database and other systems to track, evaluate, and report on performance
• Draft donor correspondence and maintain primary responsibility for developing the messages, strategy memos, talking points, and materials for all of our development efforts
• Partner with colleagues from the national ACLU to advance key donor relationships
• In partnership with national ACLU staff, conduct prospect research and actively lead identification of major gift prospects to bring new supporters into the organization
• Produce an annual development plan that builds momentum for increased giving that supports organizational growth
• Develop an annual fundraising case statement which incorporates long- and short-range goals and identifies major donor efforts
• Work strategically with, and provide progress reports to,  volunteer Development Committee and the Board of Directors
• Provide goals and projections to inform the budgeting process

Planned Giving

• Work collaboratively with national ACLU staff to pursue strategies and market planned giving opportunities to expand membership in planned giving programs
• Track, cultivate and sustain planned givers

Foundations/Grants

• Build portfolio of foundation/grant prospects and supervise the writing of grants
• Maintain foundation grants calendar of submissions and reporting cycles

Management

• Maintain accurate, confidential records of progress of all giving campaigns for the Executive Director and the Development Committee of the Board of Directors
• Be proficient in national ACLU policies
• Supervise the  Major Gifts Officer and Annual Fund Manager
• Participate in the Development Department budget planning and monitor expenditures
• Prepare quarterly development reports for the Board of Directors
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least five years’ experience in fundraising
• Demonstrated success in major gift solicitation ($10,000+) for an advocacy or community-based organization
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and quickly gain the respect and support of various and diverse constituencies, including board members and other lay leaders, affiliate and national staff members, donors, and high net worth prospects.
• Experience with multi-faceted campaign planning, implementation and management
• Database and record-keeping proficiency, including donor database/CRM  experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and ease working with donors, volunteers and staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and diplomacy; experience developing successful marketing materials
• Superb organizational skills; detail-oriented with strong follow-through and the ability to meet tight deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, lead and collaborate with colleagues and volunteers in positive, team-oriented approach
• Sound judgment in maintaining confidentiality of donor information
• Firm commitment to the mission and principles of the ACLUA commitment to diversity

Compensation and Benefits:  Salary is based on experience.  Excellent benefits provided.