JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Gifts First and foremost, the Development Director will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive development program that focuses on major gifts with clear fund-raising goals and targets. He/she will:

Expand our pool of major donors with the capacity to make gifts of $10,000+;

Identify high-level prospects and work with existing supporters to secure and conduct meetings for effective qualifications, cultivations and face-to-face solicitations;

Partner with our executive director to support her work with her portfolio of prospects and donors;

Be responsible for the “back-end” work of a development shop and also be a key forward-facing member of our affiliate team;
Draft and send donor correspondence and gift proposals: ensure that contributions are acknowledged quickly and thoughtfully, all appropriate follow-up and stewardship is completed and gifts are recorded in a timely manner; and
Work with our staff, board of directors and other volunteers to nurture a culture of philanthropy.
Planned Giving In coordination with the national ACLU Planned Giving team, the Development Director will:

Steward existing planned giving donors;
Pursue strategies to expand membership in planned giving programs; and
Market planned giving opportunities to a range of aclu supporters.

Management Our Development Director will:

Maintain the accuracy, security and hygiene of our donor database and other development files, including individual giving histories, profiles, interactions, etc.;

Help transition to our new, more comprehensive donor/constituent management system in 2018;

Track development goals, prepare regular development reports (including those that analyze gifts, results, trends, projections, etc.) and communicate the results to appropriate audiences;

Oversee the production of related reports for internal and external purposes;

Enforce confidentiality and work quality requirements within the organization’s development functions; and

Oversee the creation and production of development-related
messages and materials.


The Development Director will:

Work effectively with ACLU of Arkansas staff to maximize success on specific goals and cross-department initiatives;
Take advantage of the support and resources offered by the National office of the ACLU to increase ACLU funding in Arkansas, and partner with National staff to further statewide and national goals most appropriately; and
Connect with peer staff at ACLU offices around the country to share resources and best practices.

Position Basics:
Full-time and based in Little Rock.
Requires regular travel within Arkansas and occasional travel out of state.
Occasional attendance at evening and weekend activities is required.

QUALIFICATIONS Strong candidates for the position will have:

A Bachelor’s degree and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
A successful track record of identifying, cultivating and soliciting gifts from individual major donors and prospects;
A personal commitment to civil liberties principles and an understanding of and appreciation for the ACLU’s values, mission and goals;
Commitment to diversity -- with a personal approach that values individuals and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance -- plus the ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and in the broader community;
At least three years of demonstrated experience in nonprofit fundraising with an emphasis on individual major gifts and/or work in developing and managing complex relationships with portfolios of customers/clients (knowledge of the Arkansas philanthropic community is a plus);
The exceptional initiative, vision and ambition needed to lead a vibrant and growing philanthropy program;
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in successfully directing people at all levels of an organization in executing development-related activities;
Strong attention to detail with thorough follow-through and the ability to meet tight deadlines;
The willingness and ability to work beyond a 9-5 workday as needed;
Knowledge of and comfort level with budgeting and financial management principles;
(desirable) experience working with advocacy and/or community-based organizations;
Proficiency in Microsoft’s Office suite, social media communications and fundraising databases; and
The ability and willingness to travel regularly in-state and occasionally out-of-state, with possession of a valid driver’s license or driver’s privilege card and a reliable vehicle.