Major Gifts Officer

Position: Major Gifts Officer

Department: Development

Office Location: The ideal candidate is located in Los Angeles, CA, but we are open to candidates who live within 3 hours of the Los Angeles office by ground transportation or ferry.

Work Type Designation: Hybrid

• Will collaborate in-office with the Regional Director, Office Manager/Regional Program Coordinator, and National Events Manager to strategize on donor engagement and coordinate logistics for upcoming events, ensuring alignment on donor needs and event execution; this will include event-based coordination in office including, but not limited to, gathering necessary items from the office, assembling materials, and preparing attendee name tags. Some meetings will also be held in the office with local committees (e.g., event host committee, emerging leaders, etc).
• Hybrid schedule to be determined with supervisor.

Reports To: Regional Director

Union Status: D4. This is a union position.

Annual Salary Range: $87,327 - $132,793. The salary for this role will be determined by a candidate's years of relevant experience related to the position, as well as their geographic region. Our salary scale steps start at 1 year or less and go up to 30+ years of experience.

Travel: Up to 30% within the region (including evenings, weekends, and events)

FLSA Status: Full-Time / Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Who We Are

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. Our 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. We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization.

Major Gifts Officer

Lambda Legal seeks a dynamic Major Gifts Officer (MGO) to join its Development Department. The MGO reports to the Regional Director. This position is primarily responsible for acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting assigned individual donors and prospects with potential to give $1,500 or more annually, with a heightened focus on individual giving and upgrading donors to Major Donor levels ($5,000+). This role will establish and manage a growing portfolio of prospects by designing and developing solicitation strategies; identifying gift opportunities that match donors’ interests; and personally soliciting gifts and continually stewarding major gift donors.The MGO will work to expand Lambda Legal's Liberty Circle ($1,500+) Donor Program and volunteer activities in their assigned area/market. This role will also be responsible for managing relationships, communications, and individual giving plans with leadership donors and managing volunteer leadership committees in their assigned markets.The successful candidate will be a nonprofit fundraising professional with a track record of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with individual donors. This is an exciting opportunity for a fundraiser that is prepared to excel in a fast-paced environment.

What you'll do:

The MGO reports to the Regional Director. The MGO role requires someone to take initiative and have a keen attention to detail to support our donor moves management processes, reporting, and a metrics driven workflow. This includes face-to-face meetings and interaction with individual donors, as well as direct solicitations and managing cultivation events/touch points and house parties. This role involves planned giving and working with corporate, foundation, and law firm partners as needed though the primary focus is on development relationships with individuals. A key goal for this role is increasing Leadership Donor revenue in each assigned market and for overall portfolio. The MGO works as a team with other staff under the leadership of the Regional Director to plan and execute a wide variety of development relationships and activities.The following is a list of the core responsibilities of the MGO:

Major Donor Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors ($1,500+), with a focus on upgrading Major Donor levels ($5,000+).
• 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 and 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 in service of these goals.
• Handling administrative management of portfolios in the database (i.e. pulling reports, donor and pledge entry, etc).
• Identify via local networks and Lambda's database major donor prospects and steward and solict said prospects.

Donor Relationship Building

• 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, NLC members, other key volunteers, and other Lambda Legal staff. This includes identifying and securing major donor prospect meetings for senior staff and organizational leadership.

Events Fundraising and Coordination

• Work with Lambda Legal staff, Board, National Leadership Council (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 to ensure a smooth and professional event experience.
• 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, ensuring alignment on donor needs and event execution.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Who you are: Requirements:

• 3+ years of demonstrated success in a major gift or planned gift fundraising function, and experience coordinating fundraising events.
• Experience soliciting and closing gifts.
• Proven experience having expanded and cultivated existing donor relationships over time.
• 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.
• Flexible, adaptive, and collaborative work style; able to contribute to both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
• 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.

Nice-to-haves:

• Campaign and annual giving experience
• Experience soliciting and closing $5,000+ gifts
• 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 Western Regional area.

Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves. Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable.All employees at Lambda Legal are expected to adhere to ethical conduct in all interactions and tasks, ensuring a positive and respectful workplace environment.

Why Work at Lambda Legal?

You get to do meaningful, life-changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include:

• 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 Time Off:
  • 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 at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)

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Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog and Instagram.

Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.

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We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include:

• 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 Time Off:
  • 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 at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)