About the Organization
At the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina (ACLU-SC), we envision a just South Carolina where We the People means all of us. To bring this vision to life, we advocate, litigate, educate, and mobilize to defend and advance the civil rights and civil liberties of all South Carolinians. Whether we’re defending free speech, enhancing voting rights, reforming the criminal legal system, advocating for housing justice, or protecting transgender kids—our employees engage in meaningful work.
The ACLU-SC is an affiliate of the ACLU, a federated organization. When people refer to the ACLU, that generally includes the national office as well as a nationwide network of autonomous and independent ACLU Affiliates, of which the ACLU of South Carolina is one.
The ACLU-SC is headquartered in Columbia and has a distributed team with staff working in communities across South Carolina. The Donor Relations Officer can be based anywhere in South Carolina; candidates based in or willing to relocate to Columbia are strongly preferred. All team members spend significant time traveling throughout South Carolina.
The ACLU-SC is a highly rewarding place to work for those interested in protecting our fundamental civil rights and civil liberties. To learn more about the work of the ACLU-SC and the ACLU, please visit www.aclusc.org and www.aclu.org.
About the Position
The Donor Relations Officer will serve as a key member of the ACLU of South Carolina’s Development team. Reporting to the Development Director, the Donor Relations Officer will be an out-the-door fundraiser with a portfolio of 40-50 donors and grantmaking organizations. The Donor Relations Officer will also be primarily responsible for development operations, including gift entry, data hygiene, gift acknowledgements, reporting, and donor research. Finally, as the second-ever member of the Development team of the ACLU-SC, the Donor Relations Officer will actively identify and execute other giving opportunities as they arise. The Donor Relations Officer will have a deep passion for civil rights and civil liberties and will strongly champion the ACLU-SC's vision of a South Carolina where "We the People” means all of us.
Responsibilities
Supporter Portfolio Management
Expand the number and giving levels of supporters capable of giving at mid-levels ($1,000+) and higher in South Carolina.
Qualify new prospects for assignment to portfolio, create a comprehensive strategy for each donor/prospect in the portfolio, and execute that strategy in a way that donors are respected, retained, and inspired to increase their support.
Partner with colleagues from the national ACLU to research donors/prospects, advance key relationships, and identify new prospects.
Develop and write grant applications and reports by coordinating with key staff members within funder timelines.
Actively identify, and respond to, other giving opportunities as they arise.
Donor Stewardship
Oversee backend development of quarterly Supporter Briefings that connect existing donors with the story and impact of our work.
Partner with Development Director to conceptualize and write monthly updates covering breaking news and ongoing programming of ACLU-SC.
Project-manage small-scale events, including engaging with event host(s), drafting invitation language, managing event RSVPs, and identifying caterers and other relevant vendors.
Ensure Development department adheres to outlined goals around timely donor acknowledgement.
Development Administration
Enter and maintain records in donor database, including entry of gifts, interactions, and contact and research information.
Perform routine data clean-up projects to ensure records are accurate and consistent.
Create fundraising reports and mailing list reports.
Maintain alignment between National ACLU and ACLU-SC donor communication systems.
Work with Finance department to project-manage annual reconciliation process with National ACLU.
Prepare briefing memos in advance of meetings with donors and prospects, as directed by Development Director and Executive Director.
Cultural Responsibility
Bring an understanding of racial injustice and the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity into our approach to development.
Commit to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture.
Engage in relationship building with program staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Qualifications and Skills
The Donor Relations Officer must demonstrate the following qualifications and skills:
A commitment to and enthusiasm for civil rights and civil liberties.
Demonstrated commitment to diversity and to valuing differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
Ability to learn systems including Microsoft Office, Salesforce, ResearchPoint, Springboard, and others, with a strong preference for demonstrated experience in at least one fundraising database system.
At least two years of experience with nonprofit fundraising, including gift solicitation or development operations.
Experience with and ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information.
Advanced interpersonal skills and enthusiasm for building strong, professional relationships with donors, staff, board members, volunteers, and the public.
Adept in communicating professionally, quickly, and effectively in person, on the phone, via email, and in writing about sensitive topics including financial matters, giving processes, giving mechanisms, and more.
Demonstrated organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
High-level attention to detail, wherein you often notice things that other people miss.
Ability to work independently and collaborate with others as part of a team.
Ability to think proactively, anticipate problems, develop creative and effective solutions, and take the initiative to facilitate smooth operations for all staff confidently.
A drive for racial justice and an understanding of the ways white privilege can harm communities.
Ability to travel within the state of South Carolina and work occasional evening, weekends, and irregular hours.
Compensation
The ACLU of South Carolina offers a competitive compensation package. The starting salary for this position is $65,000. In addition to an annual salary, full-time staff receive health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance as well as access to a 401k plan with employer matching. Time off benefits include 22 days of vacation time and 12 days of sick time.