Senior Director of Major Gifts

Washington, DC, United States

Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

The DLCC's mission is to win Democratic majorities and build Democratic power in state legislatures. To grow governing power, we battle to win and hold majorities, build their capacity to be self-sustaining and expand the map to grow governing power. As the official party committee dedicated to state legislatures, we also represent and elevate our ballot level on the national stage.

Over the last decade, a reimagined and reinvigorated Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has reversed electoral trends and shifted the competitive state legislative map in this new decade. While fighting from behind due to Republicans' massive war chest, rigged maps, and historic headwinds, the DLCC still managed to outperform in 2022-culminating in a historic midterm election cycle in which Democrats flipped four chambers red to blue and the President's party did not lose a single chamber for the first time in modern history.

The DLCC is an all-of-the-above committee that operates year-round, providing funds for the full scope of campaign work and running significant independent advertising to win races. The data, targeting, organizing, digital, communications and fundraising support, and strategic expertise we provide to states is invaluable. Winning state legislatures doesn't happen in a single election - they are multi-cycle plays, and the DLCC's work with our caucuses helped deliver these stunning results this year and laid the groundwork for future Democratic wins.

With our 'Path to the Majority' strategy, which seeks to win back 50 state legislative chambers by 2030, the DLCC has proven we can beat the odds when we have the resources we need to win. When the DLCC secures new majorities, Democrats move quickly on an agenda that protects fundamental freedoms and builds an economy for all.

The DLCC has momentum, and we cannot let up. Extreme MAGA Republicans are showing no signs of slowing down their anti-democratic crusade and there's a long fight ahead of us that will require more investment, attention, and resources for state legislative races. Every victory at our level of the ballot is a win for the future of the Democratic Party, and this year, we're capitalizing on our progress so far to defend our ground and keep expanding the map for Democratic power.

Alongside our mission, we also value our team. We are explicit about our culture and values and how they impact our work and collaboration with others. The DLCC staff, along with our Board of Directors, are committed to holding ourselves to a standard of respect, inclusion, growth, and performance that meets the political and organizational requirements of the future we want to build.

Senior Director of Major Gifts

The Senior Director of Major Gifts is responsible for all aspects of the Major and Mid-Level Gifts fundraising for the DLCC, which includes high- and mid-level individual donors, foundations, and organizational giving. The Senior Director of Major Gifts reports to the Vice President of Development and works closely with the Deputy VP, Development - Donor Stewardship, and President to be innovative, creative, risk-tolerant, and results-focused. The major gifts team raises funds ($1,000 and above) through call time, virtual and in-person meetings, hosting events, and other tactics.

The DLCC is located in Washington, DC, and our office has taken on a hybrid model for staff effective January 2022. This position would ideally be based in the Eastern or Central time zones, though others may be considered.

The Senior Director of Major Gifts is expected to model the values of the DLCC:

CREDIBILITY: We are respected and trusted in words and actions.

INCLUSIVE: The DLCC values the unique experience and perspective of all who work here. We strive to make all contributors feel welcomed, valued, and respected. We focus on outcomes, recognizing different people approach opportunities and challenges differently.

INITIATIVE: We exhibit high levels of creativity in our work and need all team members to proactively contribute ideas to move our work forward.

RESULTS DRIVEN: Our team undertakes projects professionally and executes them fully and to completion.

RISK: We identify opportunities to employ new ideas and tactics, and execute these ideas when we believe the potential reward outweighs the risk. We evaluate, learn, and improve our strategy, both when the risks pay off and when they do not.

TEAMWORK: We work collaboratively, additively, and in sync with our colleagues. Our individual work considers the needs, capacity, and expertise of those we work alongside.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage the national major and mid-level gifts fundraising plan and programming, including supporting, evaluating, coaching, and holding team members accountable to meet project, departmental, vertical, or individual personnel outcomes.

Managing external fundraising consultants and collaborating with donor advisors including coordinating consulting contracts as necessary

Supervise an in-house major gifts staff of 3 with the authority to delegate mid-level gifts and other programming across the pipeline structure

Build and maintain relationships with donors and external partners including the management of a personal donor portfolio of 50-100.

Provide regular input, recommendations, and analysis of vertical strategic priorities to meet vertical fundraising goals.

Actively engage and contribute to departmental and cross departmental projects, programs, and other collaborative opportunities with the lens providing a top tier donor community experience. Lead the planning of trips, coordinate donor meetings, and manage and participate in call time and other tactics necessary to meet fundraising goals.

Manage major and mid-level donor prospecting and research efforts.

Implement a systematic plan for follow-up and donor cultivation.

Develop and manage the role of the DLCC Board of Directors, other state legislators, and surrogates in major gifts fundraising as needed.

Support the Vice President in the building of an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive

Advise Vice President, Development on organizational priorities, including Board of Directors recruitment, organizational goals, and departmental staffing needs.

Team Management

Supervised employees: Associate Director of Major Gifts and Deputy Director of Major Gifts.

Ensure cross-departmental information necessary for direct reports to meet objectives is shared and understood.

Regularly attend training and pursue continued education in supervision skills.

Uphold DLCC expectations for supervisors.

Act with integrity and awareness of one's power as a leader.

Maintain a harassment-free and inclusive workplace for team members.

Cultivate and guide the professional growth of the team by establishing and maintaining thoughtful opportunities to learn, grow, and receive constructive feedback.

Ensure work is aligned and prioritized based on DLCC's organizational strategy, coordinated-side political strategy, and priorities within a given state, chamber, and/or target.

Represent the DLCC externally at conferences and events.

Advise the Vice President on DLCC communications and messaging as they relate to fundraising.

Provide departmental leadership in the absence of the Vice President.

Outcomes

DLCC's major gifts program grows, increasing the number of donors in the program and the overall revenue raised.

DLCC's major gift donors are actively engaged through emails, calls, events, and meetings.

Direct reports are efficiently managed and well mentored in career.

Staff perform to a high standard, continuously improve, and have high satisfaction levels.

Qualifications

Minimum eight years of experience in fundraising and development for political or advocacy goals, including Democratic political campaigns and/or organizations with an advocacy mission. Major gift, c4/3, and foundation fundraising experience is a plus.

Proven success in identifying new major donor prospects and cultivating, maintaining, and expanding an organization's relationships with major donors.

Communicate effectively in both writing and verbally.

Experience managing both staff and consultants.

Entrepreneurial, adaptable, and both innovative and risk-taking approach to program development and strategic planning.

Experience in a highly collaborative environment and ability to work across verticals and departments.

High energy, results-focused, bold, future-focused and passionate about the mission of the DLCC.

Physical Requirements

The DLCC is committed to supporting employees of varying abilities and to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to thrive at the DLCC.

The requirements of this role, related to its physical demands, described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

All DLCC employees must be able to operate a computer and use a cell phone. For roles at the DLCC that include frequent business travel expectations, we can discuss reasonable alternatives to travel in some instances. Most roles also require communicating with key external stakeholders of the organization in person, via the telephone, or via email. Applicants with questions about accommodations may request to speak with our ADA liaison, Nytoyia Laughlin.

Essential functions of the role include:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to communicate using the telephone, email, and in person with stakeholders.

This position requires the employee to travel to donor meetings up to 30% of the time to attend events, meetings, and conferences offsite, hosted by key collaborators in a variety of physical settings.

How to Apply

The salary for the Senior Director of Major Gifts is $130,000 - $155,000 on an annualized basis, commensurate with experience and qualifications. The DLCC offers a generous benefits package, including:

More than 25 days of paid time off, including for Federal holidays, time off around Federal holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Years, vacation, sick, and personal days.

Fully paid health/vision/dental insurance for the employee + spouse/partner + dependents.

Up to 6% retirement employer contribution.

Employer contribution of $500 to employee's Flexible Spending Account and opportunity to withhold pre-tax income for Dependent Care Account.

Up to $5,000 employer-paid Health Reimbursement Account for IVF-related costs or Adoption Assistance, and up to $2,500 for employer-paid Health Reimbursement Account for out-of-pocket dental and orthodontic expenses.

Up to $2,500 in reimbursement for travel costs to access medical care.

Monthly $100 student loan payment benefit.

Monthly $100 mobile phone reimbursement.

and more.

To apply for this position, please complete an electronic application by June 21, 2024. The DLCC may review applications after this deadline in limited circumstances, but this is not a guarantee that your application will be considered if it is not submitted by June 21, 2024. Only complete applications through the application portal will be accepted. You must also include a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to be considered for this position. When an applicant with a disability needs accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for this position, they may request it in writing by emailing jobs(at)dlcc.org. No calls, please. Applicants will be screened on a rolling basis.

The DLCC is committed to an inclusive and equitable environment and diversity among its staff and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to engaging, retaining, and supporting a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. The DLCC is an equal opportunity employer and it is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, personal appearance, marital status, family responsibilities, genetic information, or any other legally protected basis. The DLCC will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination and any such conduct is strictly prohibited.

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