Development Director
Southern Legal Counsel (SLC), a leading public interest law firm based in Gainesville FL, is searching for an experienced Development Director to join its leadership team to expand SLC’s development activities and community engagement statewide. SLC litigates cases across Florida primarily in constitutional law, special education, disability law, LGBTQ rights, homeless advocacy, and governmental accountability. Funding sources for SLC’s work include grants, private contributions, and prevailing party attorneys’ fees.
About Southern Legal Counsel
Since 1977, SLC has stood up on behalf of Floridians whose constitutional, civil and human rights have been infringed or violated by state and local governments, and others. SLC’s purpose is to ensure justice to those who have been wronged, access to those who have been denied, and opportunity for all types of populations. From its inception, SLC has fought to close abusive institutions, stop discriminatory and unconstitutional practices, and compel changes in laws and policies to strengthen the rights of children, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, people experiencing homelessness, and other individuals who would not otherwise have access to the justice system. For more information, visit www.southernlegal.org.
Job Description
The Development Director will successfully execute annual and long-term fundraising campaigns and meaningfully engage the community to support the mission of SLC through philanthropic support. The position will serve as the lead in cultivating and developing strategic resource development including, but not limited to, individual and major gifts program, grants, and special events. The Development Director will play a leadership role within the organization reporting directly to the Executive Director, and will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to support the overall mission of the organization, and to assure that ample unrestricted and program funds are generated to support the growth, sustainability, and strategic goals of the organization.
- Collaborate with Executive Director, Board of Directors, Communications Consultant and Social Media Consultant to establish messaging and materials for donors, including solicitation materials to support fundraising and electronic materials for social media and other outlets as appropriate
- With Executive Director and Board of Directors, craft, enhance, and implement the overall strategy for growing revenue
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive individual donor and major donor pipeline and major gifts program, including donor identification, cultivation, acknowledgment, and donor relations
- With SLC staff, manage donor database and track donor metrics
- Plan, organize and manage development-related events
- Attend staff and Board meetings, advocate meetings, task forces, conferences and other community meetings when requested by the Executive Director or the Board.
- Undertake special projects as assigned
- Full-time
- Position located in Gainesville (some flexibility for hybrid/remote)\
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Benefits
- Salary is $75,000
- Generous leave policy
- Health, life & long-term disability insurance for employee is 100% employer-paid
- Spouse or Dependent health insurance partial employer-paid
- 403(b) retirement available
- Section 125 cafeteria plan available
Qualifications /Skills
- Minimum 5 years of direct development experience and solicitation, including major donor fundraising, preferably in a nonprofit environment
- Knowledge of fundraising techniques, grants and other sources of funding for nonprofit organizations
- Demonstrated success in meeting organization fundraising goals through diverse funding, grants and stewardship
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
- Excellent organization and management skills
- Ability to lead and manage a donor portfolio and multiple related projects, often under deadline pressure, with attention to detail and prioritization, and with sound judgment, diplomacy, and problem-solving skills
- Sound judgment in maintaining confidentiality of donor information
- Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts
- Ability to travel as needed (primarily in-state though occasional out-of-state)
Send cover letter, resume, documents demonstrating previous fundraising success, and a minimum of 3 references to slc@southernlegal.org, with “Development Applicant” in subject line. Rolling deadline until position filled.