Director of Individual Giving

Description

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) seeks a Director of Individual Giving to join its fundraising leadership team. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this person manages the daily operations of SELC’s major gifts and special events program. The heart of this position is supervising a regional team of development officers, coordinating with them and the development operations team to build portfolios that encompass four- to seven-figure donors and prospects, and guiding their approaches and solicitations to broaden SELC’s funding from individuals and family foundations with a special focus on $10,000+ gifts. The successful candidate will have proven management skills, a deep connection to SELC’s mission, at least ten years in a professional fundraising program, and personal experience in developing prospect strategies; working with high-net-worth individuals; mobilizing board members; and identifying, engaging, and soliciting new prospects.

It is an exciting time to join SELC’s development team, which is currently going through a strategic refresh and expansion to support the organization’s long-term goals. The Director of Individual Giving, in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer, will advance our multi-faceted fundraising and engagement program with the goal of broadening and deepening our base of annual funders. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation.

This is a full-time, exempt position with a preference for the individual to work in our Charlottesville, VA headquarters office, but we will consider other SELC offices for any qualified applicants unable to relocate to Charlottesville. SELC currently has a hybrid work model that offers employees the flexibility to work at home up to two days a week. This is a position with region-wide focus and responsibility that requires some travel. All employees must reside in our region. SELC will provide relocation reimbursement for those relocating for an SELC position.

Primary Responsibilities:
Support the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and the Executive Director (ED) in the accomplishment of organizational goals. Provide annual plan to CDO outlining the individual giving team’s strategy for contributing to these goals.
Supervise the nine-person philanthropy team with responsibility for major gift fundraising, planned giving, and mid-level giving. Inspire, mentor, and motivate this group of professionals. This will include being responsible for and measured by their retention and success.
In partnership with the CDO and leadership team, set goals, metrics, and strategies for team members. Provide regular feedback and coaching to direct reports and others.
Serve as the lead strategist for securing gifts of $2,500+ from individual donors. Create and realize a multi-faceted fundraising program that continues to broaden and deepen SELC’s base of individual support. Provide insight and recommendations to the CDO and ED on individual donor giving levels and related staffing structure of the philanthropy team.
Travel across the region to engage in person with direct reports and the larger team.
Work as a member of the development leadership team including the heads of the Operations team, and the newly forming Donor Relations, and Annual Giving teams to ensure that strategies and systems are well-coordinated and aligned.
Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 60 donors.
Required Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum ten years of professional fundraising experience.
Previous experience managing frontline fundraisers, preferably during a period of revenue growth or institutional expansion.
Strategic thinker. Demonstrated ability to think strategically, particularly in the context of donor/prospect actions. You have intellectual curiosity, and the ability to quickly grasp and thoughtfully articulate complex concepts.
Strong communicator and writer. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. At ease with picking up the telephone and welcomes face-to-face contact.
Collaboration skills. You have a proven ability to work with a wide range of individual styles, both in the office with colleagues, and externally with donors and volunteer leaders.
Adaptability. Experience facilitating change and adjusting to changes in work processes and environments. Open to receiving new ideas and perspectives.
Highly organized. Demonstrated success in setting priorities, coordinating multiple projects, handling details, and working effectively under pressure.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. You have a genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and foster a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. You engage in ongoing personal learning and are eager to contribute to our organizational efforts in this area
Commitment to environmental, climate, and environmental justice issues. Familiarity and experience engaging donors about climate change and energy issues is a plus, or a willingness to quickly learn and develop knowledge on these issues.
About SELC:
The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of over 200, including more than 130 policy and legal experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, DC.

At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe in an equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region and allows diverse perspectives to come to the forefront. We approach our work with the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves to high standards with an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic, and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful results. We believe in these values and in the power of SELC. We hope you consider joining us. Learn more at https://www.southernenvironment.org/.

Compensation & Benefits:
SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent benefits package. The starting salary range for this position is $150,000-$170,000, commensurate with experience. For more details about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page.

SELC is a PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) eligible employer.

SELC will provide relocation reimbursement for those relocating for an SELC position, up to a specific dollar amount and contingent on the move being at least 50 miles from the current primary address.

To Apply:
To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. The initial deadline for receipt of complete applications is April 12, 2024. However, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please state SELC office preferences in your cover letter, if not Charlottesville.

APPLY NOW
SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment. We are eager to welcome new team members who share this commitment. We still have much progress to make, but our goal is to create and maintain a staff that, at every level, reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of the communities where we work and the clients that we serve. Persons of all backgrounds—including people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ candidates—are strongly encouraged to apply.