The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties seeks a dynamic, sophisticated full-time fundraiser to expand the affiliate’s fund development program. The ACLU fights for individual rights and fundamental freedoms for all, through education, litigation, policy advocacy, and organizing. The ACLU promotes and defends civil rights and civil liberties, including First Amendment rights, equal protection, privacy, and due process. In the past several years, our affiliate has led cutting-edge advocacy work to expand voting rights, immigrants’ rights, and criminal justice reform in our state.

The San Diego ACLU works closely with the national ACLU headquartered in New York, as well as with the ACLU affiliates headquartered in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Together, the three California affiliates have more than 100,000 members and 120 staff in California. Located in San Diego, our ACLU affiliate covers the length of California’s border with Mexico. It has 30 staff, 20 board members, and an annual budget of $3.9 million. San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. San Diego County has the third largest number of registered voters in California. Our affiliatealso spans Imperial County, which is the poorest county in California.

This an exciting time in the history of our organization. Leading up to its 100th anniversary in 2020, the ACLU is embarking on the most ambitious nation-wide comprehensive fundraising campaign the organization’s history, in which the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties will play a key role. The Centennial Campaign will provide significant opportunity to leverage the depth and breadth of the affiliate’s robust major donor prospect pool to increase leadership gifts to the organization, strengthen relationships with our supporters, and facilitate the expansion of our programmatic work. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned fundraiser to take analready strong development program to the next level.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Deputy Director/Chief Development Officer, the Associate Director of Development will be responsible for managing a comprehensive fundraising portfolio including annualand planned giving, with a focus on donors and prospects with the capacity to make annual gifts of $10,000+. The Associate Director of Development will secure individual and planned giftsthrough a process of identifying, qualifying, strategizing, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gift donors and prospects. This position offers great opportunities as our affiliate continues to grow.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Produce and implement a fundraising plan to retain and renew current donors while identifying and acquiring prospective donors;
  • Manage a portfolio of donors with capacity to make annual gifts of $10,000+. Serve as a primary contact for donors and make direct solicitations. This includes phone, mail and direct face to face contact, attending donor meetings and events;
  • Advise prospects on giving options available; develop gift proposals; and work with donors to complete transfers of funds;
  • Develop donor stewardship efforts, including individual donor correspondence and contact and develop a calendar for regular communications with donors;
  • Maintain fundraising schedules and objectives; ensure that plans are implemented, goals achieved, timely reports generated and information shared; ensure that fundraising is done in the most efficient and cost-effective way. Participate in strategic and operational planning within the development team.
  • Work collaboratively with program staff on fundraising activities germane to their policy area where opportunities exist for engaging donors;
  • Cultivate, steward, and sustain the planned giving program;
  • Work collaboratively with ACLU national office to cultivate and solicit planned gifts from members and donors;
  • Make full use of the organization’s databases and tracking systems;
  • Attend ACLU functions, such as the annual membership meeting and other ACLU events as requested;
  • Serve as a representative of the organization at external events and meetings, as needed;
  • Supervise the affiliate’s participation in national ACLU direct mail marketing efforts;
  • Collaborate withcommunications and organizing teams in membership development activities.

Additional Duties

  • Work collaboratively and cooperatively with other team members and volunteers to advance the goals of the organization;
  • Occasional public speaking;
  • Work evenings and weekends when necessary;
  • Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

  • An interest in and commitment to civil liberties ;
  • Bachelor’s degree;
  • Five years demonstrated experience in not-for-profit fundraising, including major ($10,000+) and planned giving;
  • A successful track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major individual donors;
  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills;
  • Knowledge of and successful experience with e-philanthropy strategies;
  • Advanced computer skills including experience with database management;
  • Demonstrated experience in responding and adapting to opportunities that arise;
  • Highly self-motivated, organized, adaptable.

Salary & Benefits: Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits.

Application Procedure: Interested individuals must send a cover letter, resume, list of references, salary history and a writing sample (no more than 5 pages), preferably by e-mail to or by mail to:

ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties

ATTN: Deputy Director

PO Box 87131

San Diego, CA 92138-7131

Please send application packageby August 14, 2015.

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

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