The ACLU of Indiana (ACLU-IN) seeks a mission-driven applicant for the position of Development Associate. This new role will aid the organization in meeting its ambitious fundraising goals. This is a new role, designed for a professional early in their career, looking for a meaningful opportunity in a proven, growing, and vibrant organization that makes profound differences in the lives of people across our state.
The American Civil Liberties Union is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country. The ACLU of Indiana is a statewide affiliate of the national ACLU. The ACLU-IN takes pride in our reputation of over 60 years of fighting for the rights of all Hoosiers. And now – with ongoing challenges to civil liberties at the national level, and an increased local and state focus in the battles for our rights and our democracy –it is a vital time to join us and make a meaningful, positive, and long-term impact on the future of Indiana and the United States.
The Development Association position will help power the organization’s legal, advocacy, and education efforts in its core issue areas, including reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, voting rights, Freedom of Speech, criminal legal reform, and more. The focus of this role is to process and track donations, assist in managing the Salesforce database and donor data, conduct research and aid in qualification of new donors, help plan and execute local events, and provide operational support to the Development Director and Executive Director. Overtime, this role will take on select, frontline fundraising experience in support of broadening the organization’s donor base. The position reports to the Director of Development and works closely with other ACLU-IN departments to achieve development objectives. This position will be based in Indianapolis.
Duties and Responsibilities
Operations and Logistical Support
The Development Associate will play a critical role in creating and strengthening relationships between the ACLU of Indiana and our more than 14,000 member-donors. Weekly work will include, but not be limited to:
- Prepare and send written and electronic gift acknowledgements to donors.
- Provide operation support for various development activities, including but not limited to updating donor information and logging solicitor activity into the database, and preparing donor lists for mailings.
- Ensure timely data entry and communications tracking in Salesforce database.
- Generate reports and create dashboards to inform fundraising strategy and targeted solicitation efforts.
- Conduct initial qualification of new donors using databases and web-based search tools.
- Assist in preparing briefing and strategy memos in advance of meetings with donors and prospects as well as post-meeting notes and follow-ups.
- Gather technical information (financial statements, budget, board/staff list, etc.) required for grant applications.
- Assist with all stewardship, event, and solicitation mailings done within the affiliate.
- Provide strategic and logistical support for development department participation in both ACLU-IN and community-driven events.
Donor Communications
- Collaboratively produce donor communications focusing on ACLU of Indiana’s issues and opportunities.
- Maintain working knowledge of local and national programmatic priorities and issues as they occur.
- Build and strengthen relationships with donors through communication via phone, email, video conference, mail, and in-person contacts, including small donor-driven events.
- Assist in stewardship and cultivation of grassroots and midlevel donors.
- Conduct regular one-on-one qualification conversations with donors in order to identify and engage emerging prospects.
- Participate in identifying and engaging select grassroots and mid-level donors with a goal of moving them into a portfolio.
- Periodically represent the organization at events across the state, including delivering remarks on goals, programs, and progress.
Planning and Evaluation
- Partner with the Director of Philanthropy on donor identification, portfolio assignment, diversification, and movement through the major gifts pipeline.
- Participate in annual Development Planning.
- Serve as a thought partner in collaboration with development director and leadership team, proactively bringing essential strategy and solutions to ongoing challenges and opportunities.
- Attend weekly calls hosted by National ACLU Development team and employee groups.
- Actively engage ACLU of Indiana team through regular staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and periodic special events.
Required Qualifications:
- Expertise using any database or large data-set for data entry and reporting purposes.
- Practice with manipulating and analyzing large data sets in excel.
- Willingness to, and comfort with, regularly communicating project needs and deadlines to supervisor, peers, donors, or other interested parties.
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines;
- Commitment to good customer service, confidentiality, and accuracy of sensitive records.
- Attention to detail to ensure accuracy in communications, data entry, and reports
- Proficiency with office technology, including but not limited to the Microsoft suite.
- Must be available for limited weekend and evening responsibilities.
- Must be available for limited, statewide travel.
- Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and respect for differences of races, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, ability, and socio-economics circumstance and class.
Preferred Qualifications:
The following experiences are particularly valuable—please be sure to address these in your resume or cover letter. We encourage you to apply even if you do not have every qualification.
- Experience and working knowledge of Salesforce.
- Experience in database reporting
- Experience working closely in, or with, a fundraising department (in a professional or volunteer capacity), including a nonprofit or political campaign context.
- Proven track record of responding to customer/client inquiries via email or phone.
- Experience managing multiple demands and changing priorities.
- Ability to translate complex issues into compelling messages or stories, particularly for a donor audience.
- Experience with events management or support of events.
- Knowledge of Indiana’s political and cultural landscape, including different geographic regions and/or specific donor communities.
- Knowledge of and values alignment with contemporary movements in the philanthropic sector, such as community-centric fundraising.
Compensation:
The salary range for this position is $42,000 to $52,000.
Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including experience, skill set, qualifications, and other job-related reasons.
Excellent benefits include 10 days paid vacation and 10 paid sick/personal days; medical and dental insurance; life insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance; 401(k) with matching contribution; employer contribution to Health Savings Account; and, generous paid holidays.
To Apply:
If you are excited about bringing your talents and skills to the ACLU-IN, send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to: hr@aclu-in.org. Please put "Development Associate" in the subject line.
Your letter should explain ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualification specified above. We also invite applicants to include in their letter how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and our work.
Applications will be reviewed as received. Candidates are encouraged to apply immediately. The interview process will include a minimum of three interviews with members of the ACLU of Indiana team.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to gender, gender identity or expression, race, sexual orientation, color, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, criminal history, and veteran status.