Distinguished Gifts Engagement Specialist

Summary:

Provide the organization with strong, energetic, and strategic leadership in all matters related to donor stewardship. Plan, implement, and sustain a creative, comprehensive, and integrated stewardship program that supports fundraising and engagement goals. 

The Distinguished Gift Engagement Specialist is responsible for creating and implementing a stewardship program that moves major and midlevel donors toward a deeper involvement with SPLC. They will do this through strategies and communications – video, print, digital – that acknowledge and recognize the donor’s gifts and the impact of their philanthropy in creative, meaningful, productive, and personal ways.

Working with the major, midlevel, and planned giving and marketing teams, the Distinguished Gifts Engagement Specialist will ensure a fresh, compelling catalogue of stewardship tools, communications, and experiences and easy access to these tools and experiences for development officers and coordinators. They will participate in major giving strategy sessions for past, current, and potential donors, helping development officers maximize stewardship opportunities to advance the relationship towards a next gift.

Primary Job Functions:

• Develop, implement, and sustain a comprehensive, integrated stewardship plan with measurable goals and objectives that will provide appropriate levels of stewardship for major, midlevel, and planned giving donors;
• Create, implement, and manage a comprehensive stewardship calendar and corresponding budget;
• Provide a baseline of stewardship and accountability reports, letters and/or audio and visual information, and experiences to donors;
• Collaboration with development and creative teams in creating, maintaining, and refreshing stewardship materials and experience;
• Work closely with Development Officers, managers, researchers, and leadership to provide the most personal stewardship experiences possible for top donors;
• Participate in major gift strategy development, helping incorporate stewardship into donor engagement plans;
• Provides ongoing feedback to Development Officers and leadership on the incorporation of stewardship plans;
• Working with Development Officers and leadership to develop and implement best practices for the stewardship of SPLC donors;
• Test the effectiveness of the stewardship program through donor satisfaction surveys and other feedback mechanisms including retention and upgrade metrics;
• Stay informed on trends and developments within the industry;
• Continually review stewardship programs (Thankview, email, text, etc.) and suggest improvements and/or changes to make them more efficient and effective; and
• Assess annually the effectiveness of the stewardship program based on agreed upon metrics and goals.

Qualifications:

Education and Related Work Experience:

• Three years of experience in a nonprofit fundraising environment creating, implementing, and managing donor stewardship calendars and plans; and
• High school diploma or GED.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Understanding of non-profit fundamentals, including fundraising practices, concepts and techniques;
• Ability to use data to inform strategy and decisions preferred;
• Excellent verbal and writing communication and editing skills;
• Ability to balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with proven ability to manage multiple competing tasks and demands while prioritizing several projects at once;
• Ability to establish goals, objectives, timelines and meet deadlines under pressure;
• Strong organizational skills and be detail oriented;
• Must be flexible and able to change course when required;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop strong working relationships across teams;
• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality of donor and SPLC information;
• The ability to work independently and/or with a team;
• Commitment to ideals of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion; and
• Commitment to fostering an anti-racist work culture and to anti-racist principles and learning.

Other Special Considerations:

This job is performed under general office conditions, and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

This position is represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild.

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position.  These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

Due to COVID-19, our offices are currently closed, and staff is working remotely.  If the position is filled while our offices remain closed, the new employee will work remotely until the offices reopen.  We are not asking newly hired employees to relocate while the offices are closed.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, gender identity, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, national origin, or prior record of arrest or conviction.