Major Gifts Officer

Position: Major Gifts Officer

Department: Development

Office Location: Chicago, IL

Work Type Designation: Hybrid

• Generally, employees can live within the Combined Statistical Area (CSA) boundaries of the Office of Record as long as they reside within three (3) hours of their Office of Record by ground transportation or ferry. Work from Office and Hybrid employees must be able to commute to the Regional Office as their schedule demands.
• Will collaborate in-office with the Regional Director, Office Manager/Regional Program Coordinator, and National Events Manager to strategize on donor engagement and coordinate logistics for upcoming events, ensuring alignment on donor needs and event execution; this will include event-based coordination in office including, but not limited to, gathering necessary items from the office, assembling materials, and preparing attendee name tags. Some meetings will also be held in the office with local committees (e.g., event host committee, emerging leaders, etc).
• Hybrid schedule to be determined with supervisor.

Reports to: Midwest Regional Director

Union Status: D4

Annual Salary Range: $81,224 - $125,995. The salary for this role will be determined by a candidate's years of relevant experience related to the position, as well as their geographic region. Our salary scale steps start at 1 year or less and go up to 30+ years of experience.

Travel: Up to 30% within the region

FLSA Status: Full-Time / Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Who We Are

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC. We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization.

Major Gifts Officer

Lambda Legal seeks a dynamic Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to join its Development Department. The MGO reports to the Regional Director. s. This position is primarily responsible for acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting assigned individual donors and prospects with potential to give $1,500 or more annually, with a heightened focus on individual giving and upgrading donors to Major Donor levels ($5,000+).

The MGO will work to expand Lambda Legal's Liberty Circle ($1,500+) Donor Program and volunteer activities in their assigned area/market. This role will also be responsible for managing relationships, communications, and individual giving plans with leadership donors and managing volunteer leadership committees in their assigned markets.

The successful candidate will be an experienced nonprofit fundraising professional with a track record of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with individual donors. This is an exciting opportunity for a fundraiser that is prepared to excel in a fast-paced environment.

What you’ll do:

The MGO reports to the Regional Director. The MGO role requires someone to take initiative and have a keen attention to detail to support our donor moves management processes, reporting, and a metrics driven workflow. The following is a list of the core responsibilities of the MGO:

• Manage Leadership Donor fundraising programs in assigned markets, including acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting donors and prospects with potential to give $1500 or more annually, with a heightened focus on individual giving and upgrading donors to Major Donor levels ($5,000+). This includes face-to-face meetings and interaction with individual donors, as well as direct solicitations and managing cultivation events/touch points and house parties;
• Work to increase planned giving in the areas covered and increasing Leadership Donor revenue in each assigned market and for overall portfolio. The MGO works as a team with other staff under the leadership of the Regional Director to plan and execute a wide variety of development relationships and activities;
• Serve as the "point person" for individual donors and prospects, local corporate and law firm event sponsors, and volunteer fundraising committees in their assigned market areas and in other markets nationally, as assigned;
• Work with Lambda Legal staff, Board, National Leadership Council (NLC) members and other volunteers to execute fundraising and cultivation events in assigned markets and additional ones, as determined. The MGO will also manage volunteer leadership committees and Leadership Donor fundraising plans, including identifying and securing event sponsorships (individual and firm/corporate), in assigned markets and others, as determined;
• Support and manage annual solicitation of donors in assigned portfolio by the Chief Executive Officer, Board, NLC members, other key volunteers, and other Lambda Legal staff. This includes identifying and securing major donor prospect meetings for senior staff and organizational leadership. The MGO will acknowledge contributions and coordinate annual report recognition for gifts received from donors in assigned portfolio and work with national staff to coordinate input into grant proposals for local foundations and prospective foundation grantors;
• Provide administrative support for regional events by coordinating and gathering necessary items from the office, assembling materials, and preparing attendee name tags to ensure a smooth and professional event experience;
• Collaborate in-office with the Regional Director and Office Manager/Regional Program Coordinator to strategize on donor engagement and coordinate logistics for upcoming events, ensuring alignment on donor needs and event execution;
• Additional duties as assigned

Who you are:

With the understanding that no one person will offer every desired skill and characteristic outlined below, compelling candidates will offer much of the following:

• Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• 3+ years of demonstrated success in a major gift or planned gift fundraising function, and experience coordinating fundraising events desired.
• Proven experience having expanded and cultivated existing donor relationships over time; campaign and annual giving experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience working with racially and gender diverse volunteers and groups.
• Experience working closely with Board and key volunteers and knowledge of LGBTQ+ and/or philanthropic communities in assigned areas is required.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and interpersonal.
• Ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build authentic long-term relationships.
• Flexible, adaptive, and innovative work style; a collaborator who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
• Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside the organization.
• High energy and passion for Lambda Legal’s mission is essential.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office applications and Raiser’s Edge database.
•  Ability to interact with all levels of the organization and to excel in an environment that emphasizes teamwork and collaboration.

Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves. Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable.

All employees at Lambda Legal are expected to adhere to ethical conduct in all interactions and tasks, ensuring a positive and respectful workplace environment.

Why Work at Lambda Legal?

You get to do meaningful, life-changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include:

• Medical benefits that begin on your start date
• Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
• Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment)
• Paid Time Off:
  • Paid Vacation (15 Days)
  • Sick Leave (12 Days)
  • Personal Leave (3 Days)
  • Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
  • Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
  • Floating Holiday (1 Day)
• 12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
• Health Reimbursement Account
• $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
• Annual professional development fund
• Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Premium subscription to the Calm App
• Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)

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Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog and Instagram.

Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV-affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender-diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply.

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