Development Director

SUMMARY

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) seeks an ambitious fundraising professional to be our next development director. This position is perfect for someone passionate about defending and advancing civil rights and liberties in Tennessee and the South. The right candidate will be a seasoned fundraiser, intentional planner, implementor, empathetic leader, collaborative and supportive teammate, and community and relationship builder.

The development director, a member of ACLU-TN’s operational leadership team reporting directly to the executive director, will lead and continue to develop a program that generates transformational gifts to support ACLU-TN’s current goals and future endeavors. The development team currently comprises this role plus a part-time development consultant, with administrative and data entry support from our operations department.

ACLU-TN’s office is in Nashville, TN, a rapidly growing city with a rich history in social justice and a fantastic music, arts, culture, and food scene. Staff work in a hybrid environment, with eight in-office days required per month. Candidates outside Tennessee will be considered for this position with the understanding that relocation to the state will be required. This position involves travel throughout Tennessee for donor visits.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead and Implement Fundraising Strategy

• Develop, lead, and evaluate a comprehensive annual development plan and budget that focuses on major gift fundraising with ambitious goals and clear metrics for cultivating major donors (gifts of $5,000 and greater), deepening donor commitments, and securing long-term support.
• Develop and execute special cultivation and stewardship opportunities for supporters, provide executive-level support to senior staff in preparation for donor contact, and participate in donor cultivation events.
• Develop and implement a five-year growth plan that includes the addition of another position within the ACLU-TN development department.
• Strategically engage ACLU-TN program staff in donor outreach and cultivation.
• Staff the ACLU-TN Board of Directors’ development committee.
• Serve as a thought partner with the executive director and operational leadership team, proactively bringing strategy and solutions to ongoing challenges and opportunities.
• Coordinate with the National ACLU development department and the ACLU nationwide development network.
• Oversee migration from Salesforce to new database in June 2026 in conjunction with the National ACLU development department.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy among ACLU-TN staff, board, donors, and volunteers.

Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 75-125 donors creating individual goals and a comprehensive plan for each donor based on their history of giving and the organization’s knowledge of that donor’s potential.
• Solicit major annual and planned gifts through individual meetings with donors and prospects in collaboration with National ACLU.
• Staff the development responsibilities of the executive director, which include focusing and prioritizing the executive director’s development-related time and duties, scheduling meetings with donors, partnering on meetings with donors, etc.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date database documentation of donor activities, moves, and interactions within the development director and executive director portfolios, including data entry and hygiene maintenance.

Donor Communications

• Collaborate with the communications team on the ACLU-TN annual report and other materials and communications to donors and members to inspire increased philanthropic support.
• Stay informed about programmatic priorities and key civil liberties issues in TN and nationally to effectively communicate ACLU’s impact to donors.
• Manage and write communications (personalized proposals, reports, letters, emails, etc.) to current and prospective donors about ACLU-TN's mission, activities, and successes in a compelling, inspiring, and motivating way, in keeping with approved affiliate messaging.
• Coordinate with program leadership to identify valuable stories to share with donors.

Grants Management

• Oversee grants program, including grants from National ACLU, as well as researching prospective foundations, tracking applications and LOI deadlines, partnering with operational and programmatic leadership to write grant applications and ensure regular reporting schedules, and preparing grant reports and other communication with funders based on donor interests and program progress.
• Build grants program to achieve growth in the number of grants we apply for and receive each year.

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage and supervise the development consultant and, over time, additional development staff, in a collaborative and goal-oriented way.
• Oversee the operations team’s gift processing and donor database management workflows. Set clear goals and outcomes, support the team in achieving goals, and regularly evaluate team progress.
• Provide the tools, training, and support to encourage professional growth.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and attributes.

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a development role, ideally in a rapidly evolving institution with progressive responsibility, and a proven track record of securing visits with prospective donors and soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts in the $10,000+ range.
• Experience building a team and managing staff.
• A commitment to and history of setting and achieving aggressive fundraising goals.
• Successful experience converting donors/prospects into major donors and experience soliciting special, multi-year campaign commitments and planned gifts.
• Proficiency with donor database management and systems to track goals, metrics, and progress.
• Experience working across departments to create donor communications that result in donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation.
• Experience successfully building and growing grants, major gifts, corporate giving, planned gifts, and individual giving programs.
• Demonstrated support of ACLU’s mission and values.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to simplify complex themes and activities into a short, compelling presentation or written piece.
• A commitment to Community Centric Fundraising (CCF) principles and a belief that fundraising must be grounded in social and racial justice and equity.
• Ability to travel within Tennessee and work occasional evenings, weekends, and irregular hours.

Additionally valuable:

• Understanding of Tennessee’s philanthropic community.
• Experience with advocacy or community-based nonprofit organizations.
• CFRE or relevant credentials.
• Experience soliciting 501(c)4 non-tax-deductible gifts.
• Proficiency in Salesforce and/or Blackbaud.

COMPENSATION

The development director will receive a starting salary between $92,000 and $ 102,000 with an offer based on individual experience and abilities. New team members also receive excellent benefits, including 100%-employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance; 401(k) Plan including up to 5.5% employer contribution; annual professional development funds; and paid sick, vacation, and holiday leave. ACLU-TN reserves the right to alter or eliminate employee benefit plans and programs. This position is full-time, salaried, and overtime-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable Tennessee law.

APPLY

If you’re excited about devoting your talents and skills to the ACLU of Tennessee, please submit your resume, letter of interest, and three professional references, including at least one prior supervisor. All applications are processed through the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee Career Page (JazzHR). See their privacy policy.

Hiring Timeline

• Monday, June 30: Priority Deadline
• Week of July 7: Phone Screens
• Week of July 14: Interviews Begin
• By the end of July: Offer Extended

Phone calls or requests for meetings will not be accepted. Priority will be given to completed applications received by the priority deadline of Monday, June 30, 2025.

A Note to Potential Candidates: We recognize that potential candidates with identities that have been historically excluded from the fundraising field may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. We consider lived experience, volunteer work, and transferable work skills valuable. We also recognize that diverse experiences and a diverse staff enhance our ability to carry out our mission. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

ABOUT

ACLU-TN, the state affiliate of the National American Civil Liberties Union, is a private, non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization dedicated to defending and advancing civil liberties and civil rights through advocacy, coalition-building, litigation, legislative lobbying, community mobilization, and public education.

ACLU has been a leader in moving freedom forward in Tennessee for over nine decades. In 1925, when John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a Dayton, TN public school classroom, ACLU cooperating attorney Clarence Darrow defended him. In the era of segregation, ACLU spoke out for racial justice and the right to assemble, including representing Dr. Martin Luther King during the sanitation workers’ strike in Memphis. In the wake of daily assaults on civil liberties and civil rights, ACLU-TN continues to show up and lead in the courtroom, at the Capitol, and in communities across the state to fight for criminal legal reform; voting rights; racial justice; LGBTQ equality and visibility; free speech; reproductive justice; and more.

ACLU-TN is an equal-opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Tennessee 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, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people; Indigenous people; people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, non-binary, gender-nonconforming, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities; protected veterans; and formerly incarcerated individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

ACLU-TN Tennessee makes every effort to ensure that its recruitment and employment practices provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, full employment opportunities in all positions. ACLU-TN is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Please do not hesitate to inquire at operations@aclu-tn.org if you need accommodations during the application or interview process.