Development Director, DC Affordable Law Firm
DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF) seeks a dynamic fundraising professional to serve as the organization’s first Development Director.
DCALF delivers accessible justice to modest-income DC residents who do not qualify for traditional sources of free civil legal services and cannot afford standard representation and fills critical gaps by using innovative programming to expand access to justice and empower lower-income community members with unmet legal needs. DCALF provides a wide-range of no-cost and low-cost family law, probate, estate planning, and immigration legal services to DC residents and individuals navigating DC legal issues.
DCALF was founded by volunteers in 2015 to help close the access to justice gap in the District of Columbia for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney independently but do not qualify for services from area free legal service providers. Since these beginnings, DCALF has grown exponentially to a budget of $4.2M, a staff of 27, and a robust cadre of volunteers and pro bono partners who help the organization serve more than 450 clients annually and reach hundreds more through community education and engagement. Learn more at www.dcaffordablelaw.org.
Leadership Opportunity
DCALF’s first Development Director will help to build upon this momentum as an integral part of the Leadership Team, working alongside the Executive Director, Legal Director, and Chief Operating Officer. The right candidate will craft and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy to help diversify and grow DCALF’s funding base of private and public funding sources. This go-getter will staff the organization’s Board of Directors, represent DCALF’s interests at public events and with prospective partners, and be comfortable working with traditional and non-traditional media outlets. While having the ability to think broadly and outside the box, this candidate will also have the ability and be willing to manage the small, essential daily functions of a successful development department.
This role requires a dynamic and strategic leader with a passion for the mission and a proven track record in nonprofit development. Specific areas of responsibility include:
Development Strategy & Planning
- Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising plan with diverse revenue sources.
- Develop revenue projections to inform the annual budget; monitor contributed goals and annual giving trends to course correct as necessary.
- Report regularly to the Leadership Team and board of directors on fundraising progress against goals, pipeline activity, and other pertinent developments.
- Manage relationships, contracts, and deliverables with department consultants, such as contracted grant writing support, graphic designers, web developers, event vendors, etc.
Fundraising Responsibilities
- Implement the annual development plan, including developing and managing initiatives, appeals, and campaign, and cultivating a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and individual donors.
- Steer a donor stewardship process that deepens donors’ understanding of DCALF’s mission and vision.
- Grow portfolio of corporate donors and firm-wide fundraising campaigns, and coordinate engagement opportunities with program staff.
- Manage the grant pipeline in partnership with contracted grant writing support and team leadership to ensure the submission of timely LOIs, proposals, and grant reports.
Communications and Public Relations:
- Manage DCALF’s social media channels, website, and branding; ensuring regular and meaningful communication.
- Manage, draft, and implement all department communications, including e-newsletters, e-appeals, Giving Days, crowdfunding campaigns, and direct mail appeals.
- Represent the organization at public events and speaking engagements.
- Ensure ethical storytelling in line with DCALF’s values of racial equity and access to justice.
Development Operations:
- Work with the Leadership Team to develop and track grant budgets and financial reporting and compliance, track awarded dollars to ensure proper invoicing for pledge payments, and track and report individual and corporate donations.
- Manage DCALF’s Network for Good fundraising software for gift entry, pledge payment reminders, timely tax receipts, mailing lists, gift reports, etc.
- Set and move management plans that reflect organizational capacities and stewardship efforts; review CRM reports with the Leadership Team to ensure effective cultivation efforts.
Organizational Leadership:
- Lead effort of development department to operate and fundraise through a racial equity lens.
- Foster a culture of philanthropy and camaraderie within the organization.
- Model organizational values of collaboration, creativity, and equity.
- As a Leadership Team member, provide support, collaboration, and thought-partnership in a wide range of issues involving the strategic vision, operations, and growth plan for the organization.
Requirements and Qualifications
The most competitive applicants will have many of the following attributes:
- At least five years in nonprofit fundraising, with experience managing all aspects of a development operation.
- Proven track record of successful fundraising, including experience with major gifts, corporate, foundation, and individual fundraising, annual campaigns, and grant writing for diverse sources; familiarity with DC’s philanthropic community is considered a plus.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively in various situations and with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills.
- Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment and possess the self-motivation necessary to work independently.
- Demonstrated comfort working alongside a wide variety of stakeholders, from community members to high-net-worth donors.
- Ability to lead within the organization to staff, within the Leadership Team, and to the Board of Directors.
- Willingness to learn and carry out DCALF’s commitments to accessible justice and racial equity.
- Experience with CRM, website, and email platforms; fluency in Microsoft 365 and Excel required; experience working with Network for Good, Canva, and Squarespace preferred.
- A positive attitude, commitment to camaraderie, and demonstrable leadership skills.
Location
DCALF is currently working in a hybrid remote/in-person model. Due to this position’s responsibilities, the selected candidate will be required to work in-person at DCALF’s offices for a minimum of two days per week. This is a non-exempt, full-time position, Monday-Friday. This position may also require regular attendance at in-person community engagement events outside of working hours, in the District of Columbia or immediate surrounding jurisdictions.
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time salaried, exempt position. To uphold organizational pay equity standards, the flat salary for this position is $130,000 for the first year of employment with a benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, ample paid time off, retirement plan, and more.
Application Process
DCALF has retained the services of Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving nonprofits. See the full executive profile and application information at . For best consideration, apply by mid-July, 2024. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search.
Equal Employment Opportunity
DCALF is an equal opportunity employer. DCALF does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, family status, or any other category protected by law.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20006