Individual Philanthropy Officer
International Refugee Assistance Project
Operations
Washington, DC, USA · New York, USA · Remote
Posted on Dec 20, 2024
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. With humility and ambition, IRAP is collaborating with clients, partnering with refugee-led and community-based organizations, providing direct legal services, sharing legal information, and advocating for systemic change.
IRAP is seeking an Individual Philanthropy Officer to help IRAP’s Development team achieve revenue goals, build enduring supporter relationships, maximize donor engagement and generosity over time, and grow our base of funders by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors and prospects; and by contributing to Development department-wide projects. Reporting to and in coordination with the Director of Individual Philanthropy, the Individual Philanthropy Officer devises, manages, and implements a year-round engagement plan and solicitation strategy for a portfolio of individuals giving in the $1,000-24,999 range; and helps advance overall Individual Philanthropy program and Development objectives, including through individual prospect research, donor/prospect communications, and collaboration on cultivation/stewardship events.
Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of donors of $1,000-24,999. Develop donor-centric cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; personally engage with donors to strengthen relationships and close gifts; and maximize donor retention and generosity over time.
- Analyze data and conduct donor/prospect research to drive the strategic evolution of the portfolio, continually broaden IRAP’s individual donor/prospect base, and identify major ($25,000+) gift prospects. Work with development and/or executive leadership to create and execute strategies to cultivate and solicit certain major gift prospects.
- Collaborate with the Director of Individual Philanthropy on building out individual donor programs at all levels, from grassroots to major gifts, with emphasis on year-round engagement (including via digital communications and virtual/in-person events) and moving supporters up the giving ladder.
- Strategize with the Director of Individual Philanthropy to proactively identify geographic areas and opportunities to organize and execute in-person cultivation events and/or arrange individual visits and roundtable meetings connecting IRAP leadership, program, and development staff with existing supporters and prospective donors.
- Write effective donor/prospect communications including proposals, reports, updates, and correspondence in a range of tones.
- Take a substantial role in shaping and executing IRAP’s End-of-Year Appeal, in collaboration with Development and Communications colleagues.
- Oversee and help grow the recurring monthly donor program, and help grow the peer-to-peer fundraising program, and collaborate with colleagues to foster the philanthropic engagement of attorneys at pro bono partner firms and alumni of IRAP student chapters.
- Monitor a Daily Revenue Tracker and thank individual donors. Collaborate with the Development Assistant to ensure timely and accurate tax receipts are provided, as needed.
- Help manage Development’s VIP list (comprising $1,000+ donors and others) and communications; and respond to inquiries from VIP individuals to the department’s general email address.
- Utilize Salesforce database to pull analysis reports, create lists for donor campaigns and communications, and maintain up-to-date records of donor and prospect interactions and preferences.
- Contribute to Development reporting and forecasting for fundraising from individuals.
- Keep template acknowledgement and solicitation materials updated, and help maintain Individual Philanthropy digital files.
- Participate in department-wide projects and perform additional duties, as assigned.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- At least four years of full-time development experience, including three years of frontline fundraising experience or commensurate relevant experience.
- Experience with higher-level major gifts and/or growing a grassroots donor base would be a plus.
- Commitment to advancing IRAP’s mission and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) work; passion for the legal and human rights of displaced people; and enthusiasm to collaborate and engage with diverse individuals within the organization and community.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of $1,000-24,999 donors and prospects – including personally closing gifts in this range, and stewarding donors for sustained and increased giving – is required.
- Strong skills in developing strategy, building donor and colleague relationships, development writing, verbal communication, leveraging virtual/in-person events for cultivation and stewardship, conducting donor and prospect research, and maintaining and utilizing data effectively.
- Knowledge of and commitment to fundraising best practices, and familiarity with the range of giving vehicles.
- Enthusiasm to take initiative, openness to input and feedback, sound judgment, and respect for confidentiality.
- Highly organized, with strong project management skills and attention to detail.
- Strong time management skills, ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume workload, and flexibility and responsiveness in a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Suite and Google Apps, Raiser’s Edge or a similar CRM database, iWave or a comparable prospect research tool, Luminate Online or another mass email program, and Mailmeteor or other Gmail merge extensions.
Qualifications
Education:
Experience:
Values, Competencies, Skills:
Job-related Requirements
- This position is based in NY, DC and may be remote within the US.
- This position requires the ability to travel within the US and to occasionally work outside of normal work hours (including some evenings and weekends).
- This position may require periodic office availability and requires periodic in-person availability.
Benefits
- Fully paid family health insurance.
- Retirement options.
- Extensive PTO (20 or more vacation days, 22 and more public/ org-wide holidays).
- Comprehensive leave time for sickness.
- Disability and parenting (5 months of parental leave).
- Reimbursement for work-from-home equipment.
- Generous opportunities for professional development.
IRAP’s benefits vary across office locations, and IRAP seeks to offer equitable and generous benefits to all employees.
IRAP is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, IRAP will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please refer to your request in the cover letter.
IRAP is an equal-opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. IRAP does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all local, state, and federal laws related to the Fair Chance Act.