Sr. Major Gifts Officer I

Earthjustice is the nation’s leading environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. We are here because the Earth needs a good lawyer.

Driven by a passion for justice, inclusion, partnership, and excellence, our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected.

The Senior Major Gifts Officer I (SMGO) plays an exciting lead role in the expansion of the Los Angeles Metro and Southern California markets featuring a significant pool of prospects, as well as current major gift supporters. They possess deep fundraising knowledge and experience in the Los Angeles Metro market and bring an entrepreneurial approach to grow Earthjustice’s profile through networking, outreach, and partnership with Volunteer and Program leadership. They develop and implement strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors capable of making a major gift (minimum of $100k over three years). They conduct initial exploratory meetings with donors, prospects, and their advisors to determine capacity and interest for major giving and builds and manages a portfolio of major donors. They are responsible for an eventual minimum fundraising goal of $2 million+ per year.

The SMGO understands and applies complex principles to develop donor strategies. They are responsible for direct solicitations for Earthjustice and Earthjustice Action to meet funding and organizational needs. They feature organizational priorities in detailed terms, understanding campaign and project budgets, and capitalizing on funding opportunities utilizing this knowledge. They discuss assets and explore opportunities for gifts of assets or other non-cash gifts and confidentially discuss planned giving opportunities. The SMGO builds constructive and effective relationships with partners in Development, Program, and Volunteer leadership, keeps them apprised of interactions, issues and/or concerns, and addresses questions as needed. They are required to use Earthjustice’s donor database and develop proposals.

This is a non-supervisory position that reports to the Director of Major Gifts.

The Senior Major Gifts Officer I is expected to work a full-time (37.5 hours/week) schedule and may work hybrid or remote from the following location: Los Angeles, CA Metro Area.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

Core Fundraising (40%)

• Manages an active portfolio of 40-50 major gift donors and advisors; builds relationships via personal visits, phone calls, ongoing written contact, events, immersion experiences, and engagement with Earthjustice’s leadership and program staff.
• Develops and implements strategies for major gift donors and their advisors that lead to transformative gifts in support of annual revenue and multi-year campaign targets.
• Responsible for meeting revenue, solicitation, visit, and outreach goals set forth in annual work plan and regularly discussing progress with supervisor, with an eventual annual fundraising revenue target of $2 million+ for Earthjustice and Earthjustice Action.

Fundraising Discovery and Development (40%)

• Builds and grows a portfolio of 40-50 major gift prospects through qualification efforts for active engagement and contribution to annual fundraising targets for Earthjustice and Earthjustice Action.
• Develops and deploys expert familiarity with regional/national/international programmatic needs and priorities to help grow Earthjustice’s base of support in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area, Southern California, and Hawaii.
• Guides and supports Program leadership, Volunteer leadership, and Program staff in strategy development, and the identification and cultivation of prospective major gift donors.

Communications and Partnership (15%)

• Contributes to the creation of personalized funding collateral, budgets, and correspondence that demonstrate opportunity, impact, recognition, and engagement of supporters.
• Regularly collaborates with team members across different units within Development, cross-departmentally, and regionally, to strategize and implement tactics that maximize fundraising opportunities.
• Collaborates with Gift Planning team to develop complex non-cash funding strategies for ultra and high net worth donors.

Professional Development (5%)

• Promotes an interdisciplinary culture of philanthropy and fosters a respectful and productive working environment.
• Pursues professional growth opportunities that are relevant to industry trends, regional/programmatic priorities, and organizational values and mission.
• Integrates the above understanding into work projects and interactions by recognizing and addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on groups and individuals within the context of job responsibilities; Evaluates processes and systems at Earthjustice to ensure equity.

Ongoing Learning

• Actively pursue professional development and contribute to a culture of learning by building skills and sharing knowledge.

Please note that the percentage breakdowns provided above serve as a guideline and that other duties may be assigned as part of the job’s requirements.

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Seven years demonstrated successful experience in fundraising with a focus on major gift prospect identification, relationship building, and solicitation, including proven track record working in the Los Angeles Metro and Southern California philanthropy markets, with experience in the entertainment, technology, and financial services verticals.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with CRM databases.
• Working knowledge of current trends in charitable giving, particularly in the areas of major and principal gifts and gift planning.
• Proven experience directly soliciting and closing six and seven-figure gifts from individuals.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing initiatives in support of a multi-million-dollar campaign and annual fundraising targets.
• Skill in absorbing and synthesizing complex program information and translating it into a compelling case for external audiences.
• Well-developed written and oral communication, negotiation, and organizational skills, and the ability to drive projects both autonomously and collaboratively.
• Proven experience in using effective interpersonal skills, listening, diplomacy, and tact to build strong relationships with donors, volunteers, and all disciplines and levels of staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to Earthjustice’s values of Justice, Excellence, Inclusion, and Partnership.

This role may require the ability to:

• Sit for extended periods with occasional standing and walking
• Type, file, and/or handle office equipment
• Lift and carry materials
• Read documents, conduct computer work and document review
• Conduct consultations, meetings, and have telephone communications

Salary & Benefits

We offer a competitive salary and excellent, comprehensive benefits. We also offer a casual and congenial work environment.

Salaries at Earthjustice are determined by working location and are commensurate with the experience required. The annual salary range for this role in Los Angeles, CA is $146,200 – $162,400.