Director, Development, Western Region

Director, Development, Western Region

Vera Institute of Justice

Los Angeles, CA

www.vera.org

The Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) is a justice reform change agent. Vera produces ideas, analysis, and research that inspire change in the systems people rely upon for safety and justice and works with government and civic leaders to implement concrete reforms. Vera has unique breadth of impact, with expertise across a variety of substantive areas – securing equal justice, ending mass incarceration, and strengthening families and communities. Currently, Vera works on 60 projects in 47 states. Conducted in partnership with leaders in the public sector, Vera’s projects drive change by advancing new knowledge about justice reform and implementing solutions on the ground.

Vera’s goal is to secure $68 million in philanthropic funding over the next three years. To achieve this ambitious goal, Vera is shifting from its historical funding model, which relied on project-specific public (and private) funds, to a new funding model with greater emphasis on unrestricted philanthropic revenue. Vera is investing in its development capacity with an emphasis on expanding its Western Region philanthropic presence. The Vera Institute of Justice launched Vera California in 2019 to help reduce incarceration and increase investment in community-based systems of care in California, starting in Los Angeles County.

Vera seeks a passionate, inaugural Director, Development, Western Region (Director) who will be located in the Los Angeles office with oversight of the Western philanthropic region. The Director will create and execute the strategy to expand philanthropic support in the Western Region of the United States. The successful candidate will have the stature and demonstrated ability to generate excitement about Vera’s mission, programs, and initiatives both in the Western Region and nationally. S/he/they will provide the inspired strategy and leadership to create a comprehensive development operation for Vera California and maintain best fundraising practices, with a commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and excellence. The ideal candidate will provide an entrepreneurial approach to secure support from Western Region individuals, foundations, and corporations for Vera’s national programs and initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have California philanthropic experience and a demonstrated track record of expanding and building philanthropic constituencies in the Western Region. S/he/they will work with high-net-worth individuals and possess significant experience in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and institutional gifts. The Director will carry a portfolio of individual and institutional prospects and donors in the Western Region, where the donor constituency is not immediately obvious.

The Director will report to the Vice President, Development. S/he/they will help create and implement Vera California’s fundraising strategy, which include both quantitative and qualitative goals. The successful candidate will collaborate with Vera’s national development staff on development plan implementation. S/he/they will partner with Vera’s executive team and program leaders to engage and solicit prospects and donors. The Director will engage the President & Director, as appropriate, in Western Region fundraising initiatives and programs. The candidate will partner with Vera’s Development events team to design Western Region cultivation events to engage and involve prospects and donors. S/he/they will manage day-to-day development activity nationally in the Vice President’s absence.

The Vera Institute of Justice retained Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC to facilitate this executive recruitment. Please send confidential inquiries and applications directly to Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC via e-mail at VeraCalifornia@glfreeman.com.