Development Coordinator

Summary:

This is a time for real growth and opportunity at Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center as we build up our development function and team. This position is critical to the organization by identifying and pursuing new funding partners and sponsors to meet long-term fundraising goals to advance the work of MacArthur Justice Center. As a member of the Development Team, the Development Coordinator is responsible for cultivating relationships with prospective and existing contributors, managing the CRM database, and assisting the Director of Development with all fundraising events from planning to sponsorship support. This position assists the Director of Development in expanding awareness of MacArthur Justice Center across all constituencies, supporting the creation of internal development infrastructure for the organization, and manages a portfolio of donors ranging from individual donors, law firms, corporate sponsors, and foundation prospects.

Who We Are:

MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights organization. We represent people who have been harmed by America’s criminal legal system, seeking to vindicate their rights, elevate their story, and hold people with power accountable. We do this primarily through cutting-edge litigation and advocacy across the country, on end-to-end issues in the criminal legal system, from policing, to prosecutorial discretion, to rights of indigent defendants, to mass incarceration, to prison conditions, to wrongful convictions and the death penalty.For more information on our work, visit www.macarthurjustice.org.

The criminal legal system disproportionately harms people of color, people from low-income communities, people who were formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We strongly encourage people who identify within these and other communities underrepresented in the legal profession to apply. All applicants must have and be committed to the cultural competence required to work with clients, co-workers, and community partners who come from different backgrounds and experiences.

What You’ll Do:

Prospecting & Pipeline Growth

• Conduct deep-dive research on individual, corporate, and foundation prospects using tools like LinkedIn, Foundation Directory, Grantstation, or WealthEngine.
• Identify alignment between prospect interests and organizational programs to "warm up" leads for the Director.
• Build and track a robust prospect pipeline in the CRM"
• Monitor giving trends and donor lists of peer organizations to identify new funding opportunities.

Database Integrity & Infrastructure Building

• Continuously improve CRM workflows (EveryAction) to better track donor journeys and automate routine tasks
• Execute all gift entries and coding with 100% accuracy to ensure data integrity.
• Build and scrub segmented donor lists for appeals to ensure the right message reaches the right audience
• Coordinate "Standard Operating Procedures" for the development department (e.g., how we acknowledge gifts, how we code prospects)
• Support efforts to receive and maintain high status on charity engines like Guidestar and Charity Navigator

Giving Campaigns & Donor Communications

• Coordinate the production of seasonal direct mail and digital appeals (e.g., Year-End, Giving Tuesday).
• Draft compelling narratives for email sequences, social media posts, and physical mailers that drive individual donations.
• Create high-impact, personalized thank-you letters and impact reports within 48 hours of a gift
• Gather "mission stories" and data from program staff to show donors the direct results of their campaign contributions.

Fundraising Events

• Support fundraising events by managing RSVPs, vendor contracts, and on-site registration.
• Assist the Director in developing event sponsorship packages and tracking outreach
• Act as the primary point of contact for sponsors to ensure they receive all promised benefits

Administrative & Strategic Support

• Prepare monthly fundraising reports for the Director to track progress against goals

Qualifications

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Business Administration, Non-Profit Management, or a related field preferred.

Skills and Experience:

Required

• • Two or more years of related experience in a non-profit environment required, at least three preferred.
  • Direct experience with EveryAction or other CRM
  • Proven ability to conduct independent research using tools like LinkedIn, Foundation Directory Online, or GuideStar to identify and qualify donor leads.
  • Exceptional writing and storytelling skills; ability to draft compelling donor acknowledgments and pitch decks with minimal supervision
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadlines, particularly coordinating logistics for events and other teams
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience working in a deadline driving, face-paced environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Products, including SharePoint, OneDrive, Word, Excel, and Outlook required.

Preferred

• • Direct experience managing an individual giving program
  • Direct experience with law firms and sponsorship cultivation strategies
  • Experience with event-specific software such as Eventbrite, Classy, GiveSmart, or Cvent
  • Basic experience gathering data or drafting narratives for foundation grant applications
  • Experience working in culturally and racially diverse environment

Travel:

• • Occasional travel to MJC’s other offices may be required.
  • Occasional travel for organization-wide gatherings (e.g., All Staff Retreat).

LOCATION

MJC operates on a hybrid schedule and requires some days in the office each week. The Development Coordinator must reside within commuting distance to our Washington, DC office.

TO APPLY

Please submit the following:

• A cover letter addressing your experience relevant to the considerations above and
• A resume.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through April 16, 2026 or until the position is filled.

The starting salary range for this position is $66,000 – $74,000, commensurate with years of experience and includes an excellent benefits package that includes employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, EAP, FSA plans, 401K, and a generous paid-time-off policy.

Learn more about our benefits at macarthurjustice.org/benefits/

MJC is a (PSLF) eligible employer. For more information visit:

studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service#qualifying-employment

Employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, EAP, FSA plans, 401K, and a generous paid-time-off policy.

Learn more about our benefits at macarthurjustice.org/benefits/