Lead Campaign and Major Gifts Manager

Company Description
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.

The Reporters Committee serves news organizations, reporters, editors, documentary filmmakers, media lawyers, and many more who use our online resources

Job Description
The Organization

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press was founded by leading journalists and media lawyers in 1970 when the nation’s news media faced an unprecedented wave of government subpoenas forcing reporters to name confidential sources.  Fifty years later, we are the only national organization focused on providing pro bono legal services to reporters and news outlets.  Our mission is to protect the right to gather and distribute the news; to keep government accountable by ensuring access to public records, meetings, and courtrooms; and to preserve the principles of free speech and unfettered press, as guaranteed by the First Amendment.  Our experienced staff attorneys are respected for their rapid response and have become indispensable resources, helping thousands of journalists and news organizations in the areas of access, freedom of information, libel, reporter’s privilege, and other restrictions on publishing and newsgathering. In 2020, the Reporters Committee launched the most ambitious expansion in its history with the Local Legal Initiative. Through this new project, we hired attorneys in each of five states to provide pro bono legal services to journalists in those local media ecosystems.

The Position

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a national legal services nonprofit organization seeks a Lead Campaign and Major Gifts Manager to play a key role in developing and advancing donor relationships within the framework of a national endowment campaign.

This new position joins a small, vibrant fundraising team and reports directly to the Director of Development. The Lead Campaign and Major Gifts Manager will oversee the day-to-day planning, coordination, and management of the campaign to raise $10 million+ in endowment funds for the Local Legal Initiative and will support the organization’s long-term sustainability by developing future major donors from our growing annual donor base.  The manager will work closely with staff and volunteer leaders to help set strategy as well as execute all aspects of a multi-faceted, multi-year, multi-phased endowment campaign. The effective fundraiser is creative, kind, juggles multiple projects simultaneously, pays very close attention to detail, and communicates clearly verbally and in writing with a variety of audiences. The ideal candidate will demonstrate these qualities and will be motivated by the Reporters Committee’s mission and will contribute to the expansion and sustainability of the organization.

Job Specific Responsibilities

• Manage all activities required for successful major gifts/endowment campaign including logistics, stewardship and cultivation and development of campaign related materials in coordination with development, operations, and communications teams as well as with the executive director, volunteer fundraisers, and the steering committee.
• Assist in managing and optimizing our Salesforce database to ensure an organized, data-driven endowment campaign pipeline.
• Conduct donor research, craft strategy, and prepare staff and volunteer solicitors for donor engagement throughout the quiet, major gift, and public phases of the endowment campaign.
• Write and continuously refresh donor materials including Campaign Briefing, stewardship pieces that support donor engagement, and solicitation materials.
• Support volunteers and staff solicitors with meeting preparation, strategy and debriefs.
• Engage with donors to solicit meaningful gifts.
• Develop stewardship plans to acknowledge and recognize donors.
• Adhere to the principles of the AFP Code of Ethics and Donor Bill of Rights.

Team Member Responsibilities

As an employee of Reporters Committee, the Lead Campaign and Major Gifts Manager is expected to:

• Actively participate in the organization’s overall mission, objectives and strategies, staff meetings, work group meetings, and committees, and other organizational activities of the Reporters Committee.
• Effectively organize and manage work to finish assignments on time, set priorities, arrange necessary involvement with others, effectively juggle tasks.
• Timely and accurately employ appropriate software including Salesforce, the organization’s management software and other necessary office systems and technology.
• Appropriately work independently and in accordance with Reporters Committee’s policies and best practices, and to seek supervision or assistance when necessary.
• Analyze what needs to be done to get the task done well and propose creative solutions to do it.
• Affirmatively think about how to improve or accomplish your work and the work of your team(s), engaging in creating the vision and work plan for your team(s) and the Reporters Committee.
• Contribute to positive, supportive relationships with work colleagues; communicate as necessary with colleagues and supervisor(s); work cooperatively with your team(s); give and receive constructive criticism; Do what you say, be where you say you’ll be, be prepared for meetings or forewarn people if you cannot.
• Develop useful contacts with people outside the Reporter Committee; develop and maintain professional relationships; provide appropriate information, advice, and referral; communicate with appropriate Reporters Committee staff about potential issues or problems dealing with others.

Assignment, Supervision and Professional Development

• This is a position where one can grow as a professional. Candidates who are interested in gaining skills and helping this team build diverse and sustainable revenue streams will be most suited for this position.
• The Lead Campaign and Major Gifts Manager works as a member of the development team and is supervised by the Director of Development. The team co-creates an annual team workplan and regularly evaluates progress to goals, revising the workplan as necessary. Each team member also creates, with their supervisor, a professional development workplan and regularly evaluates progress toward goals.
• The development team values collaboration, communication, and excellence.

Compensation

• A competitive annual base salary (range $85,000 - $95,000 based on experience and location) with 2 weeks paid time off in addition to most federal holidays, plus the week the office is closed for winter break.
• Membership in Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• A retirement savings plan, including a 5% employer match from date of hire.
• Comprehensive employer paid insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision, life and disability.
• Ability to use pre-tax dollars for dependent care and commuting expenses.
• A collaborative and inclusive work environment.