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About the Role

The Senior Major Gifts Officer (SMGO) is primarily responsible for acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting assigned individual donors and prospects with the potential to give $5,000+ annually, with a focus on upgrading donors to $25,000+. This role will establish and manage a growing portfolio of prospects by designing and developing solicitation strategies, identifying gift opportunities, and personally soliciting gifts while stewarding major gift donors. The SMGO will work to expand Lambda Legal's donor programs and volunteer leadership activities, managing relationships, communications, and individual giving plans with leadership donors and volunteer committees. This position is part of an Individual Philanthropy team implementing a comprehensive development program.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors ($5,000+) with a focus on upgrading donors to $25,000+.
Develop and implement customized cultivation and solicitation strategies for each donor, including personalized outreach and in-person meetings.
Acknowledge contributions and coordinate annual report recognition for gifts received from donors in assigned portfolio.
Work with national staff to coordinate input into grant proposals for local foundations and prospective foundation grantors.
Meet or exceed annual revenue goals for major gifts fundraising and meet key metrics for donor engagement and prospect development.
Handle administrative management of portfolios in the database (i.e. pulling reports, donor and pledge entry, etc).
Identify major donor prospects via local networks and Lambda’s database and steward and solicit said prospects.
Attend events regularly to engage with donors and prospects.
Create personalized stewardship plans for major donors, with an eye on their annual giving, event giving, planned giving, and corporate connections.
Develop deep knowledge of donors’ interests, motivations, and giving capacity.
Serve as primary relationship manager for major donors and volunteer fundraising committees in the assigned markets.
Support and manage annual solicitation of donors in assigned portfolio by the Chief Executive Officer, Board, National Leadership Council (NLC) members, other key volunteers, and other Lambda Legal staff.
Identify and secure major donor prospect meetings for senior staff and organizational leadership.
Leverage existing networks in support of Lambda Legal’s Mission.
Work with Lambda Legal staff, Board, NLC members and other volunteers to execute fundraising and cultivation events in assigned markets and additional ones, as determined, including leading fundraising efforts for major fundraising events in their markets.
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.
Provide support for regional events by coordinating and gathering necessary items from the office, assembling materials, and preparing attendee name tags.
Work with Lambda Legal staff to track, enter, and analyze event data within Major Gifts purview.
Collaborate in-office with the Regional Director and Office Manager/Regional Program Coordinator to strategize on donor engagement and coordinate logistics for upcoming events.
Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

5+ years of demonstrated success in a major gift or planned gift fundraising function.
Experience soliciting and closing five and six figure gifts.
Proven success cultivating and expanding donor relationships, with a track record in portfolio management, analysis, and revenue forecasting.
Demonstrated ability to lead by example in portfolio management, model best practices, and provide peer mentorship within the major gifts team.
Excellent written and interpersonal communications skills, with the ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build authentic, long-term relationships.
Experience engaging racially and gender diverse groups, volunteers, and boards, with knowledge of LGBTQ+ and/or philanthropic communities.
High emotional intelligence and sound judgment in developing donor strategies and navigating complex internal and external relationships.
Flexible, adaptive, and collaborative work style; able to contribute to both strategic and tactical fundraising efforts.
Self-directed and accountable, with the ability to thrive both independently and in highly collaborative team environments.
Strong organizational, time management, and critical thinking skills, with sharp attention to detail.
Highly proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and Raiser’s Edge (or similar CRM database).
Deep commitment to Lambda Legal’s mission and values, with high energy and passion for advancing equity and justice.
Campaign and annual giving experience direct fundraising experience in a non-profit setting, particularly in legal or political advocacy.
Experience planning and/or staffing LGBTQ+ fundraising efforts and events in the Northeastern region.

Skills

Major gift fundraising
Planned gift fundraising
Donor cultivation
Donor solicitation
Portfolio management
Revenue forecasting
Relationship building
Communication
Interpersonal skills
Strategic planning
Tactical fundraising
Organizational skills
Time management
Critical thinking
Attention to detail
Microsoft Office
Raiser's Edge (or similar CRM database)
Event fundraising
Event coordination
Volunteer management

Location

New York, NY (Headquarters)

Work Type

Hybrid

Experience Level

Senior
5+ years of demonstrated success in a major gift or planned gift fundraising function
5 years of experience (minimum for salary scale)
30+ years of experience (maximum for salary scale)

Salary/Compensations

$113,891 - $153,956

Benefits

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 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
Annual professional development funds
$50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Premium subscription to the Calm App
Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service (4 weeks for non-exempt, 8 weeks for exempt)

About the Company

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.
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.
Believes that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds.
Recognizes the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class.
Prioritizes a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work they do, but also in how they work together as an organization.

Equal Opportunity

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.