Individual Philanthropy Officer

Who We Are

Children’s Law Center is a mission-driven organization focused on providing high-quality legal services to children and families in DC. As an organization, we envision a world in which all children have a strong foundation of family, health and education and are free from poverty, trauma, racism and other forms of oppression. Our mission is to do this work together with DC children and families, Children’s Law Center uses the law to solve children’s urgent problems today, improve the systems that will affect their lives tomorrow and strengthen our community so that change endures. A key part of our mission is to challenge and reduce ways in which racism and other biases – structural and interpersonal – prevent each of us, our organization and the systems in which we work from providing children a strong foundation from which to thrive.

Our greatest assets are our people. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our ability to provide the best outcomes for our clients and our community. Staff members at Children’s Law Center advance the organization’s mission through their leadership, result-oriented mindset and commitment to cultural humility. We are looking for individuals who like to be challenged to grow both personally and professionally and value the opportunity to make a difference in their community. Children's Law Center's continued success depends on recruiting and retaining individuals who possess and exemplify these attributes.

Program Description

The Development team at Children’s Law Center (CLC) is charged with raising philanthropic dollars to fund the essential work that our staff do each year to carry out the mission of the organization. Development staff build relationships and steward local, regional and national foundations, law firms, corporations and individuals who give annual and multi-year gifts.

In 2026, the Development team’s goal is to secure $7M through a diverse set of appeals, events, campaigns and personal solicitations. In preparation for the organization’s 30th anniversary, the Development team implemented an essential and ambitious new strategic framework. CLC aims to scale up charitable revenue to reach $9M annually in five years.

Job Summary

The Individual Philanthropy Officer is primarily a direct fundraiser, making appeals personally as well as through a network of volunteer fundraisers. This position plays a critical role in CLC’s individual giving program by managing a portfolio of donors and prospects by engaging in strategic cultivation, stewardship and personalized solicitations.

Role Responsibilities

Fundraising – 80%

• Build a robust pipeline of prospective Kite Club members with the goal of increasing $1,500+ donors from 300 to 450 by 2028.
• Engage a portfolio of approximately 50 lower- and mid-level Kite Club members comprised of mostly individual donors as well as several family foundations and corporate supporters.
• Identify, develop and draft materials to support Kite Club solicitations.
• Create event and/or engagement strategies to steward and cultivate relationships.

Logistical Support and Prospect Research – 20%

• Engage a portfolio of approximately 150 lower- and mid-level Kite Club members comprised of mostly individual donors and several family foundations.
• Work with Development Associate to review, qualify and cultivate donors under $1,000 to build a robust pipeline of prospective Kite Club members (annual mid-level donors) giving between $1,500 to $5,000 with the goal to manage relationships and continue to upgrade donors.
• Work with volunteers to cultivate their networks and actively support their cultivation and solicitation moves.
• Create event and/or engagement strategies to steward and cultivate relationships.
• Work with the Director of Individual Philanthropy to strategize and implement plans to steward donors.
• Support the Director of Individual Philanthropy with the cultivation and solicitation of donors to the Tenacity and Transformation Campaign.

Required Skills and Experience

• 4-7 years’ experience with fundraising and individual solicitation, with 4+ years of in person (face to face or via phone/virtual meeting) experience with individuals preferred. Individuals with 4-7 years of sales and business development experience are also encouraged to apply.
• Experience with fundraising/Customer Relationship Management software (e.g., DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge).
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 or 2016, especially Word & Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience executing fundraising strategies to build relationships with individual donors in a nonprofit setting, with a preference for experience in a legal or policy context. Experience executing sales or business development is also welcome.
• Experience successfully pitching, soliciting, closing and stewarding donors or customers making gifts of $1,000 - $10,000 or more.
• Experience writing fundraising appeals or sales pitches, collateral, reports and other development or sales-related materials for print and digital platforms.
• Experience with prospect research, including working with wealth screening tools.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience with volunteer management.
• Proficient at managing multiple assignments through clear and direct communication.
• Adept at working independently and as a team member.
• Ability to work efficiently and problem-solve.
• Strong capability to work well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent professional judgment and ability to maintain confidential information.
• Experience with events management preferred.

Organizational Competencies

• Cultural Humility – an openness to self-reflection and to understanding and respecting other cultural experiences and points of view and viewing individuals as experts in their own culture and experiences.
• Giving and Receiving Feedback – the ability to be self-reflective, give and receive appreciative, coaching, constructive, interpersonal and evaluative feedback.
• Conflict Management – a process which is designed to guide individuals and groups from the moment of conflict to the implementation of an identified solution. This process incorporates skills and techniques, including recognizing points of conflict, identifying the facts and feelings involved to get to the root of the issue, investigating equitable solutions, implementing and evaluating solutions, and supporting and guiding others throughout the process.

Hybrid Working Conditions

Children’s Law Center is currently operating on a hybrid work schedule. Employees are required to work in-person from Children’s Law Center’s office a minimum of two days per week. At least one of these days must be either Tuesday or Wednesday. The hybrid work schedule is subject to change based on organizational needs and/or best practices for health and safety. Hybrid work expectations may vary depending upon role responsibilities.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Children’s Law Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Background Checks

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

EEO

Children’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and existing employees. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about our company and our career opportunities (https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/).

Our Commitment

Children’s Law Center is dedicated to building a world that is inclusive in approach and has equal opportunities and equitable outcomes for all. Our organization is committed to developing and supporting a robustly diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community, where all members can create and feel a sense of belonging. Through our collective deliberate efforts, we work toward racial and social justice for children and families in DC.

Children’s Law Center offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and short- and long-term disability insurance; employer-provided retirement contributions; flexible spending plans; and vacation, sick, holiday, family and medical leave. You can find more details about Children’s Law Center’s comprehensive benefits package at https://childrenslawcenter.org/get-involved/careers/employee-benefits/.

Children’s Law Center is a 501(c)(3) organization. Employees with federal student loan debt can apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. For more information, go to https://myfedloan.org/borrowers/special-programs/pslf.