Position Opening
Development Associate
February 2008

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a national public interest organization, is the leading defender of our rights and liberties guaranteed under the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

The ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ), a private, non-profit organization, is the state’s guardian of freedom that works to promote and defend civil liberties in New Jersey. To achieve our mission, we manage legal, legislative and public education programs on a broad range of constitutional issues including discrimination, free speech, religious freedom, reproductive rights, GLBT rights, and privacy. Founded in 1960, the ACLU-NJ is headquartered in Newark. It has 14,000 members and an annual budget of $1.5 million. Our staff includes 15 full-time staff plus a number of regular in-office volunteers and interns. To learn more about the work of the ACLU and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit www.aclu-nj.org and www.aclu.org.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The ACLU-NJ’s Development Associate will assist the Development Director in creating a robust development department to fully realize the giving capacity of New Jerseyans and increase the annual financial support for the ACLU-NJ’s programs and operations. The successful candidate will find ample opportunity for professional growth within the ACLU-NJ and the larger ACLU family and will enjoy the satisfaction of working with the most influential organization working to preserve our democracy.

The Development Associate’s responsibilities will focus on major gifts ($1,000+) annually and the annual fund ($250+ donors) and will include researching prospective major donors; coordinating donor cultivation and special event activities; helping develop and produce cultivation, solicitation and acknowledgment packages; maintaining databases and records; and handling donor inquiries.

In addition to working in a strong and cooperative atmosphere at the ACLU-NJ, the Development Associate will join a network of development professionals that includes the National ACLU’s New York headquarters and 53 affiliates nationwide.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Major Gifts. Support the department’s annual Major Gifts Campaign to raise $400,000+ by identifying major gift prospects, preparing training and campaign materials for solicitors and donors, providing superior customer service to potential donors, tracking solicitor and donor progress, and drafting correspondence and reports as requested.

Annual Fund Campaign. Manage the day-to-day operations of the annual fund campaign and efforts to secure renewable gifts of $250+. Coordinate work of campaign volunteers, maintain up-to-date donor records, ensure timely mailings and marketing strategies, manage the production of mailings, and provide reports to the development director.

Donor Cultivation. Work with the Development Director, volunteer leaders, and program staff to develop and implement cultivation strategies for individuals and groups of donors. This includes small events, communications strategies, specialized print materials and more as required.

Reports and record-keeping. Maintain confidential fundraising information on databases and hold primary responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the database information. Assist in the preparation and distribution of reports.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Development experience with non-profit, advocacy or other community-based groups
• Interest in and enthusiasm for civil liberties and civil rights
• Strong people skills. Effective interpersonal and communication abilities, especially listening skills for and discerning solicitor and donor interests and concerns. The ability to communicate effectively and respectfully on the phone and in person with donors, board members, volunteers, staff, and the general public
• Ability to manage and follow through on assignments independently with minimum supervision
• Superior talent in attention to detail
• Advanced organization and time management skills
• A demonstrated ability to write clearly and precisely. Strength in proofreading and visual review. Excellent word processing, vocabulary, letter writing, and other office skills
• Strong skills in use of computers for database management and word processing
• Experience making database queries and exporting from a database into a word or excel document. Experience with fundraising software a plus
• Successful experience in juggling multiple priorities and multi-faceted projects at various stages of completion. Capacity to understand the development role of timing and immediacy and, establish realistic daily and weekly objectives. Good problem solving skills
• A confident, business-like and professional presentation
• Flexibility and a willingness to take on new tasks as the responsibilities of the position evolve
• A commitment to the confidentiality of donor records and ethical fundraising practices
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends or irregular hours

COMPENSATION AND TERMS:
The ACLU-NJ offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU-NJ compensation scale.

TO APPLY:
Send a letter of interest and résumé to:

Human Resources
Job ID 9733
ACLU-NJ
P.O. Box 32159
Newark, NJ 07102

Faxed or e-mailed application materials will not be accepted. Résumé reviewed upon receipt. Position will remain open until the right person is found.