Career Opportunity
Director, Special Gifts [DEVF-08]
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
Development Department, NY

OVERVIEW:
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national public interest organization devoted to the defense of the Bill of Rights. Since its founding in 1920, the nonprofit, nonpartisan ACLU has grown from a small group of civil liberties activists to a nation wide organization with offices in almost every state. With National Offices in New York and California, the ACLU has 53-staffed affiliates in major cities and a legislative office in Washington, D.C. The ACLU Foundation (ACLUF) is the national tax-deductible, 501(c)(3) arm of the ACLU. Its combined annual budget is approximately $100 million.

The ACLU is experiencing historic growth in its fundraising programs. The bulk of the annual budget is raised by contributions from individuals, i.e. members and donors. A majority of the budget directly supports litigation, legislation and public education programs and funds raised are shared with ACLU affiliates. Fundraising, management and administration costs account for a smaller portion of overall expenses. This level of efficiency consistently ranks the ACLU among the nation's best-run charitable organizations, with high approval ratings from industry watchdog groups.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Director of the Special Gifts is a key position in a rapidly growing Development Department. Reporting to the Deputy Director of Development, the Director of Special Gifts assumes a key role in the design and implementation of our nation-wide, high dollar, high-touch direct marketing program.

The solicitation and cultivation includes use of direct mail, telemarketing, e-marketing as well as personal stewardship vehicles. The Director will be responsible for creating gift clubs and other special programs to recognize this important group of supporters. The program raises funds from donors who give gifts between $250 and $9,999. The Director will:

• Develop and implement short- and long-term strategies to solicit giving from individual high-donors and prospects for annual and special support.
• Direct and manage vendors who handle production, creative, and data. Ensure that strategies are integrated with all relevant ACLU and ACLU Foundation development programs, particularly the intermediate “feeder” program and major gifts.
• Develop and maintain mechanisms for frequent and relevant non-solicitation communications with donors including special cultivation mailings, up-date conference calls, thank you phone calls, webchats, etc.
• Establish gift clubs and other vehicles for upgrading and recognizing supporters.
• Work collaboratively with the Fund Raising Database Manager and Admin/Finance, assure proper recording, tracking, reporting and distribution of gifts from donors. Maintain accurate and current data and paper files.
• Generate reports and analyses that aid in program evaluation and strategic planning.
• Determine list segmentation for each communication and retrieve data from database.
• Ensure high quality data including on-going hygiene of donor records.
• Liaise with affiliates to ensure consistency, adherence to solicitation policies, accuracy of records, and overall integration of marketing efforts nation-wide.
• Develop and implement systems and processes to carry out this work.
• Work collaboratively with Major Gifts, Membership and Gift Planning director and divisions to upgrade donors into special gifts and to assess division’s donors potential for major gifts and planned giving.
• Make recommendations to suggest giving potential from donors to the campaign.
• Supervise and assist the Deputy Director of Development with other functions as needed.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 5 - 7 years experience in developing measurably successful direct marketing solicitation and cultivation approaches with individual donors or equivalent experience.
• Strong interpersonal and supervisory skills.
• Ability to foster comfortable working relationships with donors, vendors and senior staff.
• Superb organizational and analytical skills; detail oriented with strong follow-through and the ability to multi task and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience developing successful marketing materials required.
• Experience creating and generating reports and using analyses for program evaluation and strategic planning.
• Computer proficiency, including database management, list segmentation, and retrieval of data.
• Knowledge of, or experience in national organizational setting preferred.
• Grace under pressure.
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU.

COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:
If you are a proactive and resourceful team player with a passion for public interest issues, please send a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume by email to hrjobs@aclu.org and copy Erich Karl Fuchs at efe230@aol.com. Reference [DEVF-08/WACLU] in subject line – or by mail to:

Human Resources
RE: [DEVF-08/WACLU]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18^th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Phone inquiries can be directed to Erich Fuchs Enterprises at (212) 866-4313. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Please indicate where you learned of this job posting.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”