Donor Relations Manager

Application Deadline: June 8, 2023  

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a Donor Relations Manager (DRM). Reporting to the Associate Director of Individual Giving, this position will build relationships with supporters, expand who we are reaching out to, and grow our philanthropic revenue in support of ACLU’s mission. The DRM will play an important role in identifying major donor prospects—high net wealth supporters with whom to explore deeper relationships.

The DRM will create and implement a program to maintain and grow donations from the mid-level portfolio, donors giving annual gifts between $1,000-$10,000. Through cultivation opportunities and regular communication, virtual and in-person meetings and small group events, the DRM will keep donors engaged and aware of the organization’s work. This role compliments the solicitation and cultivation activities of ACLU National while providing opportunities for deeper connections to the staff and work being done in Washington.

OVERVIEW

The ACLU-WA is one of the largest affiliates of the nation-wide ACLU. We work in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect and extend American rights to freedom, fairness, and equality. The ACLU is both nonprofit and nonpartisan. We have a staff of 50+ and nearly 60,000 supporters statewide.

The ACLU-WA is committed to ending racism in Washington State and throughout the country. This includes how we work with each other, and with our partners and allies in the communities we serve. We are committed to bringing anti-racism to all aspects of ACLU-WA's internal and external functions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring and human resources, strategic planning, ally, donor, and volunteer relations, Board and committee processes, and deciding what cases to litigate. We are looking for candidates who share this commitment to advancing racial justice, both internally in our organization and externally in the communities that we serve.

The ACLU-WA Development Department nurtures meaningful relationships with supporters of high financial capacity to fuel the defense and expansion of civil liberties. Our role is to connect them to the mission and work of the ACLU in order to inspire, guide, and grow a generous philanthropic partnership. We are committed to integrating an understanding of the intersections of race, class, power, and privilege in our development work, particularly through our engagement with donors.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participation in ACLU-WA’s race equity work. This may include utilizing ACLU-WA race equity tools, adopting ACLU-WA race equity practices, etc.

Prospect Qualification (30%)

• Identify high net wealth donor prospects through virtual and in-person meetings, personal touchpoints, and cultivation events. Once a supporter has been identified as a major donor prospect, ensure that they are successfully handed-off and appropriately assigned.

Donor Engagement (50%)

• Be the point of contact for mid-level donors - approximately 1500 accounts statewide. Keep them engaged and updated on the work of the organization through cultivation touches, regular communication, and small group events.
• Create small donor gatherings for the high priority segments of the mid-level portfolio.
• Solicit all mid-level donors by the end of the year in-person, virtually, on the phone, email, or through the year-end mail appeal.
• Thank donors in the mid-level portfolio as well as any new, unassigned donors when we receive their gifts (via phone, email, or card).
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate database records for the mid-level portfolio.

Event Management (20%)

• Manage all donor events (in-person and virtual) including program briefings, house parties, court visits, etc.
• Manage the calendar of all donor cultivation activities which includes updating it with engagement opportunities offered by other ACLU-WA departments.

QUALIFICATIONS

We know that no one can specialize in everything. If the position sounds like a good fit, please do not let fear of not having every qualification deter you from applying.

Ideal candidates will have:

• An awareness of, and willingness to engage in, the difficult and transformative work of challenging systems of oppression, institutional and structural racism, and implicit bias.
• A minimum of three years of experience in nonprofit work. The most competitive candidates will have a background in fundraising.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills.
• Personal initiative, problem solving capabilities, and willingness to manage-up when necessary.
• A collaborative approach and a strong team-oriented style that recognizes and appreciates how their work impacts others on the team and in the organization.
• Strong organizational skills. Ability to develop long-term plans, set goals, and track progress towards achieving them.
• Computer proficiency, including Word and Excel. Proficiency in Salesforce or other CRMs is preferred.
• Familiarity with the ACLU’s mission and work.
• Some event management experience preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The ACLU-WA observes a hybrid workstyle, with some staff working primarily remotely while others work in the office several days a week. Our office is generally open between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and is located in downtown Seattle. The physical demands and work environment described below represent those required and encountered by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Able to input information into a computer for long periods of time.
• Able to remain stationary for extended periods.
• Able to assess information communicated through a computer.
• Able to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Able to periodically work long and extended hours.
• Able to travel locally/regionally/across the state, as needed.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. The ACLU-WA reserves the right to change the content of this posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ACLU-WA is dedicated to centering equity in all aspects of the organization and, as such, has adopted a salary scale for measuring how to best compensate its employees. The salary range for this position is $89,474 - $107,166. A range indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale.

Benefits include three weeks of vacation, thirteen sick days with an additional ten days given in 2023, fifteen holidays, fully paid employee medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, an employer contributed retirement plan, student loan reimbursement, family care and adoption assistance, life insurance, paid office closures, and an ORCA card, the regional transportation pass.

ACLU-WA provides laptops, home office supplies, certain equipment, and technology support. You will need an effective WiFi connection and a way to reach you by phone. This position is eligible for either a work phone or phone stipend, as well as an additional $100 stipend each month to help cover any additional costs while working from home.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, please submit a cover letter and résumé on our online job portal. In your cover letter, please explain the ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include in their letter information about how their background and/or experience could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.

Applications will be accepted until noon on June 8, 2023, at which time the job announcement will be displayed as closed on our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers.

TIMELINE

We will schedule interviews with qualified candidates after the close date and hope to have the selected candidate start in early August.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction. We do not conduct criminal background checks on our candidates. People of color, women, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.