Position: Senior Development Officer Department: Development
Reports to: Development Director
Position Overview:
The ACLU of Georgia seeks a Senior Development Officer (SDO), a frontline fundraiser who establishes and builds strong, authentic, long-term partnerships with donors and foundations, bringing them closer to our work. As the state affiliate of the national ACLU, our mission is to preserve and expand the individual rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Constitution, and related civil rights laws.
Under the supervision of and working closely with the Development Director, the Senior Development Officer is responsible for managing a portfolio of prospective and current donors and foundations with the capacity to make contributions of $10,000 or more in current and deferred gifts. The SDO qualifies, cultivates, solicits, stewards, and grows relationships with major donors and foundations, moving them through the giving pipeline and developing strategies to sustain and increase their support.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Manage a portfolio of 100 current individual and foundation donors. Actively cultivate, solicit, and steward each account, tracking progress in the CRM to meet goals for revenue growth.
- Contribute to the department’s grant writing, working cross-departmentally with program staff on timely proposals and reports.
- Engage and inform donors about the organization’s work through regular updates and meetings.
- Develop, execute and track individual plans to cultivate and solicit each donor/prospect in the portfolio.
- Maintain up-to-date and accurate database records for assigned donors, recording all interactions including detailed meeting reports in CRM.
- Provide executive-level support to senior program staff in preparation for solicitation or stewardship, including briefing materials for donor meetings.
- Prepare highly personalized proposals, stewardship reports, correspondence, and other engagement opportunities for donors.
- Maintain deep knowledge of Georgia and national ACLU programs and activities.
- Attend ACLU-GA events as requested.
- Other duties as assigned by the Development Director.
Required Education and Experience:
- Five+ years' experience in nonprofit fundraising, including at least three years of individual major gifts experience, or equivalent experience.
- Proven track record of soliciting and closing gifts of $10,000 or more.
- Demonstrated success in achieving revenue goals.
Desired Skills/Abilities:
- Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written persuasive communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to connect with donors and other stakeholders from different backgrounds and build relationships across differences.
- Exceptional attention to detail, ability to manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Strong proficiency in Salesforce, Blackbaud, or similar CRM.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Able to occasionally work evenings and weekends and to travel statewide to visit donors when feasible.
- Flexibility and ability to work under pressure.
- A strong commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU of Georgia.
- Ability to work with and center historically marginalized or oppressed communities of different cultures and backgrounds. This includes having a mature understanding of how structural racism, sexism, and prejudice against all kinds of marginalized communities pervade our society.
Hybrid/Remote Office Schedule:
The ACLU of Georgia operates in a hybrid work environment. Staff are to work in person at the Atlanta office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week. Remote work is permitted on other days, provided job responsibilities are met.
Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods of working on a computer.
Compensation:
The ACLU of Georgia offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLUGA’s compensation scale. The anticipated salary range for this position is $95,000-$115,000 depending on experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits include paid vacation, sick time, and holidays; medical, vision and dental insurance; life and long-term disability insurance; Flexible Spending Account; Qualified Student Loan Payment Match; and 401(k) Defined Contribution Retirement.
The ACLU Foundation of Georgia is an equal opportunity / fair chance employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLUF-GA 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, or record of arrest or conviction. This offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of the E-Verify process and verification of employment eligibility.
Skills Required
- Five or more years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, including at least three years of individual major gifts experience, or equivalent experience.
- Proven track record of soliciting and closing gifts of $10,000 or more.
- Demonstrated success in achieving revenue goals.
- Outstanding interpersonal, oral, and written persuasive communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to build relationships with donors and stakeholders from different backgrounds.
- Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Strong proficiency in Salesforce, Blackbaud, or a similar CRM.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends and travel statewide to visit donors when feasible.
- Commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU of Georgia.
- Ability to work with historically marginalized or oppressed communities across cultures and backgrounds.
What We Do
The ACLU of Georgia is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, statewide civil liberties organization and an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. Founded in 1963 to protect voting rights, it enhances and defends the civil liberties and rights of all Georgians through legal action, legislative and community advocacy, and civic education and engagement. Powered by members, donors, and volunteers, its priorities include voting rights, criminal legal reform, reproductive justice, and speech and privacy.







