Senior Major Gifts Officer

American Civil Liberties Union•Pittsburgh, PA

3d•$96,044 - $96,044•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of Pennsylvania is seeking a full-time Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO) in the Pittsburgh region to expand the organization’s fund development program and sustain its presence and programmatic impact across the state. The SMGO is a key member of a five-person fundraising team and helps raise transformative gifts that support the organization’s programmatic goals. Under the direction and guidance of the Director of Philanthropy, the SMGO manages donor relationships, engages supporters, and identifies and secures new major-gift donors. The role manages a portfolio of approximately 100 donors, each with an estimated capacity to give $10,000 or more, and develops sophisticated giving strategies that may include blended gifts, complex assets, and planned gifts. The position calls for an entrepreneurial, highly autonomous fundraiser who may mentor junior development staff and engage executive leadership and board members to increase philanthropic revenue. The SMGO serves as a trusted advisor to the Director of Philanthropy, helps shape development strategy, and leads a statewide development initiative. Much of the role involves interacting with donors virtually, by phone, and in person to connect their interests with giving to the ACLU and expand leadership-level and planned gifts across Pennsylvania. The position is hybrid, with a suggested two days per week in the office, and requires occasional evening, weekend, and irregular hours, as well as travel within the state as needed. The ACLU of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest organization dedicated to defending and enhancing constitutional and civil liberties through litigation, legislative advocacy, and community education. It has three offices, ten volunteer chapters, more than 40,000 members and donors, 40 employees, and a $5.3 million operating budget. The SMGO is an employee of the ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania.

Requirements

At least three years of experience in major-gift fundraising and prospect development.
Commitment to the ACLU-PA’s mission and core priorities, including criminal legal reform, voting rights, First Amendment rights, immigrants’ rights, LGBQ&T equality, privacy and security, and racial justice, and experience centering people directly impacted by these issues.
Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, valuing individuals and respecting differences in race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances.
Dedication to ethical fundraising through a racial justice lens, centering directly impacted individuals and avoiding tokenism or white-savior narratives.
Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully to resolve obstacles or conflicts.
Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and irregular hours and to travel within Pennsylvania as needed.

Nice To Haves

Nonprofit development experience; transferable experience in other fields will also be considered.
Direct experience soliciting donors and closing and stewarding major gifts.
Understanding of and commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and the ACLU of Pennsylvania’s mission.
Excellent computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Strong interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for building professional relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and the public.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to discuss the potential impact of philanthropic investments compellingly with donors.
Experience with Salesforce.
Knowledge of the Philadelphia philanthropic community.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of approximately 100 donors with estimated giving capacity of $10,000 or more, qualifying, cultivating, and soliciting major and planned gifts.
Create and execute individual cultivation and solicitation strategies for qualified donors.
Solicit major and planned gifts in person and virtually, partnering with the Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy on key solicitations.
Develop stewardship opportunities and participate in broader donor cultivation events.
Work with program staff to obtain project information and create personalized materials aligned with donor interests and programmatic priorities.
Maintain working knowledge of local and national programmatic priorities and issues.
Partner with colleagues from the national ACLU to advance key donor relationships.
Engage members and donors in supporting the organization through their time, talents, and connections.
Assist with events and donor communications about the ACLU-PA’s mission, activities, and successes.
Center equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in fundraising, program development, and organizational practices and processes.
Complete other special projects as necessary.
Record meaningful donor interactions, qualification assessments, donor strategies, and follow-up actions in the donor database on a timely basis.
Manage a fiscal-year portfolio plan and prepare accurate reports on portfolio activity and performance as required by management.
Contribute to comprehensive fundraising strategies, the organization’s major-gifts strategy, and special organizational initiatives.
Prepare the Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy for high-level donor interactions and staff them at major cultivation events.
Help plan and execute major-gift donor events.
Partner with prospect research and data analytics to identify emerging high-net-worth prospects and elevate donors into principal-giving tiers.
Contribute to the planning and design of a statewide development initiative and lead its execution.