Director of Donor Relations

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has a new position
for a Director of Donor
Relations to join its fundraising leadership
team. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this person will
have responsibility for strategic volunteer engagement, event
strategy and execution, and centralized stewardship. This newly
created director will be responsible for building out a new,
centralized donor relations function for the growing SELC
fundraising team.

It is an exciting time to join SELC’s development team, which is
currently going through a strategic refresh and expansion to
support the organization’s long-term goals.  This new Director
of Donor Relations role will augment our existing donor engagement
tools and develop new programs to move donors further along in
their commitment to SELC to help meet the plan’s bold goals. This
is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally
recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the
most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the
South and the nation.     

This is a full-time, exempt position with a preference for the
individual to work in our Charlottesville, VA headquarters office,
but we will consider other SELC
offices for any qualified applicants unable to relocate to
Charlottesville. SELC currently has a hybrid work model that offers
employees the flexibility to work at home up to two days a week.
This is a position with region-wide focus and responsibility that
requires occasional, well-planned travel. All employees must reside
in our region. SELC will provide relocation reimbursement for those
relocating for an SELC position.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Supervise the Senior Manager of Events and Engagement.
• In conjunction with the Chief Development Officer and
  fundraising leadership team, develop a staffing plan for engagement
  and stewardship with the possibility of needing to recruit and
  supervise additional team members.
• Building on an existing program of high-touch events, determine
  strategy for donor and prospect engagement through events and
  metrics to track the success of events.
• Lead the program development for the Next30
  Committee.  Advance and execute a plan to deepen the
  impact of this group of forward-looking, next-generation
  environmental leaders and
  philanthropists.   
• Develop and execute a strategy to cultivate and steward SELC’s
  former board members in partnership with fundraising
  colleagues. 
• Partner with the Senior Development Officer for Legacy Gifts to
  expand and execute a planned giving stewardship program.
• Collaborate with individual and foundation fundraising teams to
  create new programs and projects aimed at deepening donors’
  commitment to SELC’s mission and move them further along in their
  relationship to the organization. Initiate plans for new and
  impactful engagement and stewardship tactics for all donor segments
  including foundations, major donors, and annual supporters.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of
  education and experience.
• 8+ years of fundraising or related experience,
  preferably in event planning, volunteer engagement, and/or
  stewardship.
• Creative and strategic thinker. You love
  thinking through strategies of how to engage donors and you’re
  creative in considering new approaches to make change.
• Project management skills. You bring
  demonstrated success in setting priorities, coordinating multiple
  projects, handling details, and working effectively under
  pressure.  
• Strong communicator and writer. This
  position will require clear and constant communication with
  internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly organized. You are self-driven and have
  excellent time management skills. You feel confident shifting
  priorities in a fast-paced environment, including managing several
  efforts at once.
• Collaborative. Proven ability to work
  with a wide range of individual styles, both in the office with
  colleagues, and externally with donors and volunteer
  leaders.  
• Budget & resource management
  skills. Expertise in budgeting along with abilities
  to diligently allocate and manage resources are needed in this
  role.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and
  inclusion. You have a genuine interest in and
  commitment to helping SELC create and foster a more diverse,
  inclusive, and equitable workplace. You engage in ongoing personal
  learning and are eager to contribute to our organizational efforts
  in this area.

Desired Qualifications:

• 3+ years of people leadership experience, with
  a consistent track record of success managing and mentoring
  individuals in-person and remotely and developing high-performing
  teams.
• Commitment to environmental, climate, and environmental
  justice issues. Familiarity and experience engaging donors
  about climate change and energy issues is a plus, or a willingness
  to quickly learn and develop knowledge on these issues.

About SELC:

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s
most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South.
With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental
challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to
protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and
people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of
over 200, including more than 130 policy and legal experts, and is
headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, with offices in Asheville,
Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond,
and Washington, DC.

At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and
connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe in
an equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the rich racial
and cultural diversity of our region and allows diverse
perspectives to come to the forefront. We approach our work with
the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves to high standards
with an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We
value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest
when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role
to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic,
and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful
results. We believe in these values and in the power of SELC. We
hope you consider joining us. Learn more at https://www.southernenvironment.org/.

Compensation & Benefits:

SELC offers salaries competitive with other leading
environmental nonprofits nationally and provides an excellent
benefits package. The starting salary range for this position is
$125,000-$138,000, commensurate with experience. For more details
about our benefits package, please visit our Careers page.

SELC is a PSLF (Public
Service Loan Forgiveness) eligible employer. 

SELC will provide relocation reimbursement for those relocating
for an SELC position, up to a specific dollar amount and contingent
on the move being at least 50 miles from the current primary
address.

To Apply:

To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed
to an online application where you may upload your application
materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume. The
initial deadline for receipt of complete applications is April 12,
2024. However, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis
until the position is filled. Please state SELC office preferences
in your cover letter, if not Charlottesville.

APPLY
NOW

SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering
an inclusive workplace environment. We are eager to welcome new
team members who share this commitment. We still have much progress
to make, but our goal is to create and maintain a staff that, at
every level, reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of the
communities where we work and the clients that we serve. Persons of
all backgrounds—including people of color, women, people with
disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ candidates—are strongly
encouraged to apply.